Technical SEO is a field of SEO (search engine optimization) that involves optimizing a website for overall search visibility, and some factors that affect this. Both newcomers to SEO, as well as those who are experienced, can apply technical SEO to their site. This will help out the site succeed for the future. We will go over what is technical SEO, as well as how to ensure it is done properly on your site in this article.
What Is Technical SEO?
- 1 What Is Technical SEO?
- 2 On-Page SEO
- 3 Technical SEO Checklist
- 4 Technical SEO for the Future
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Technical SEO Optimization
- 5.1 1. How long does it take to see results from technical SEO improvements?
- 5.2 2. Can I do technical SEO myself, or do I need to hire a professional?
- 5.3 3. What’s the difference between technical SEO and on-page SEO?
- 5.4 4. How do I know if my website has technical SEO problems?
- 5.5 5. Is mobile optimization really that important for technical SEO?
- 5.6 6. How much should I budget for technical SEO improvements?
- 5.7 7. What are the most critical technical SEO factors I should prioritize first?
- 5.8 8. How often should I perform technical SEO audits on my website?
Understanding what is technical SEO is simple. Technical SEO just focuses on the technical aspects of your site. These technical aspects are going to help you increase your ranking in the search engine results page. In fact, these technical aspects will also please the site visitors. Having a simple site that is smooth and user friendly is more important than the actual SEO. Pleasing your site visitors should be a priority. So, using technical SEO will be beneficial to your site. Once we discuss all of its aspects, you will be a pro at it in no time.
SEO Services
Not everyone has the time to apply technical SEO, or any SEO to their website. Whether it is content writing SEO services, or technical SEO services, it is widely available. Some of the price ranges for technical SEO can be $200 and up. This could prove to be costly for some websites. Others will have no issue paying for that up front. Either way, having options for SEO Services is good. SEO Design Chicago offers technical SEO services, if you need help. We have helped other companies improve their search ranking with our services.
On-Page SEO
When asking what is technical SEO, it is important to also know what type technical SEO is. Technical SEO is considered on page SEO. On-page SEO means that the SEO is implemented on your site, and not outside of your site. It puts you directly in control of what happens. Your website is controlled by you. Actions such as the increase of keywords can help out the SEO of your site. Now, one thing to be aware of when doing on-page SEO is how user friendly your site is. Too many keywords can make the site difficult to comprehend. While conducting on-page SEO may be a way to apply technical SEO, it is not the only method that works. There are other methods that also work as well.
Other SEO Methods
Technical SEO is not the only way to improve the SEO of your website. There are other methods that can also get the job done. Some of these methods include local SEO, as well as off page SEO. Social media is another platform that can help your website grow and attract more visitors. Local SEO is optimizing your site for the Google search results page, and to help you gain more visitors. Off-page SEO is just referring to the actions you take outside of your website so that you can gain more visitors and higher ranking. These methods, along with technical SEO, can combine to make your site a great place to visit.
Social Media Presence
Social media is widely used by many people all over the world. Having a social media account for your business increases its reach to potential customers. Social media alone will not increase your ranking on results pages. What it will do is increase your company’s visibility. It can also increase the amount of traffic to your website. Having more traffic is great for your website. If someone searches for a brand name, a prominent social media page could be one of the first results. If your page has a link to your website, then users can access the site in that way. Creating social media and managing the accounts is one step to success for a business.
Technical SEO Checklist
There are multiple tools out on the internet that promise the best technical SEO. Unfortunately, many cost money, and others will not be able to help you. So, having a technical SEO checklist is important. The technical SEO checklist will ensure that each factor of your site’s technical SEO is fulfilled.
- Set up your Google Search Console Tool
- Set up Google Analytics Tool
- Include your keyword in your URL
- Reduce the length of your URLs
- Use your keywords in your H1, H2, and H3 tags
This checklist of the basics of technical SEO can help you improve your site. It not only improves your site for your SEO, but for the experience of visitors. Having a technical SEO checklist should be a priority for your website. You can add to it over time, and always go back and see if anything else can be improved.
The Importance of Keywords
One of the most important aspects of your website is keywords. A keyword is how your site is found by the crawlers of Google. Keywords are especially important for content marketing. These keywords are typed by users into a search engine such as Google. Then, if your site has a good amount of keywords on it, it will rank higher once this search is done. Be careful about placing too many keywords. Some of this content can become boring to read if it keeps repeating a keyword. A primary keyword strategically placed a few times should be enough to tell a search engine what your site is about.
Why is Technical SEO So Important?
You may be wondering on the importance of technical SEO by this point. Well, technical SEO is pretty important for websites. The architecture of your website will help the Google search crawlers crawl better. In turn, this will lead to a smoother rise in search rankings. There is no plug-in that will automatically make your website have perfect technical SEO.
This should not discourage you. As we have discussed, technical SEO is possible to do by yourself. Using Google’s tools will help your site. Google wants its users to have access to the best possible websites. A site that is slow, unresponsive, and cluttered with keywords is not an example of this. Next, we will discuss a few ways to apply technical SEO right away.
Mobile Optimization
Mobile phones are everywhere. People love their phones. They are easy to access, easy to use, and fast. Well, in order for your website to have mobile visitors, it should have the same characteristics. Websites that are easy to access, easy to use, and fast tend to also rank higher on search engine results pages.
For a quick insight on your website’s speed, check out Google PageSpeed Insights. If your speed seems to be too slow, then there are some things you can do. You can enable compression, browser caching, or optimize the images better. Then, make sure that it looks good from a mobile device. If the text does not fit on the screen, then it is not optimized properly. Making sure your site has mobile optimization is one of the first steps of technical SEO.
SSL Certificates
An SSL certificate is a big part of your site. SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates provide an extra layer of security for the visitors of your site. The most important thing that an SSL certificate does for your site is that it verifies identities. It can be called an investment. SSL certificates are unfortunately not free. Their cost does pay for itself though. Purchasing the certificate will help increase the ranking of your site. It also provides a layer of protection to your site’s visitors. Therefore, applying an SSL certificate should be a priority.
You Won’t Make It to the Top Right Away
So, what now? You did all of the techniques you could, and made a great website. Everything seems to look polished and cleaned up on your site. But, you are still not at the top of the search rankings. Technical SEO may be applied quickly, but your site will not make it to the top instantly. This progress will take time. Consistent audits will ensure that your website stays high in rankings when it gets there. Remember to be patient!
Technical SEO for the Future
With the tips we have discussed, your website can go very far! Doing on page SEO for your site can make or break its position in the search engine results page. There are many different methods to ensure that your site runs smoothly. Running consistent audits is one of the most important methods. Either way, you will have to have a smooth site to attract an audience. Today, the internet has many methods that provide you with the right tools to help you and your site. Use them for success in the future, and to get to the top rankings in Google.
Frequently Asked Questions About Technical SEO Optimization
1. How long does it take to see results from technical SEO improvements?
Technical SEO improvements typically show results within 2-6 months, though some changes may be visible sooner. Quick fixes like page speed optimization and mobile responsiveness can impact rankings within 4-8 weeks. More comprehensive changes like site architecture improvements may take 3-6 months to show significant results. The timeline depends on factors like your website’s current state, competition level, and how many technical issues need addressing. Search engines need time to recrawl and reindex your site after changes. Remember that technical SEO provides the foundation for other SEO efforts, so while results may not be immediate, they’re essential for long-term success. Monitor your progress using Google Search Console and Analytics to track improvements over time.
2. Can I do technical SEO myself, or do I need to hire a professional?
Many basic technical SEO tasks can be done yourself, especially if you’re comfortable with technology and willing to learn. Tasks like setting up Google Search Console, optimizing URLs, adding SSL certificates, and basic mobile optimization are achievable for most website owners. However, more complex issues like server configuration, advanced site architecture, and technical audits may require professional expertise. Start with the basics using the technical SEO checklist, then assess whether you need help with more advanced issues. If your website is large, complex, or generates significant revenue, investing in professional technical SEO services (typically $200+ per month) may be worthwhile for the expertise and time savings.
3. What’s the difference between technical SEO and on-page SEO?
Technical SEO focuses on the backend, structural elements that help search engines crawl, index, and understand your website – like site speed, mobile optimization, SSL certificates, and URL structure. On-page SEO deals with content-related optimizations on individual pages, such as keywords, meta titles, headers, and internal linking. Technical SEO is like building a strong foundation for your house, while on-page SEO is like decorating the rooms. Both are forms of on-site optimization (controlled by you), as opposed to off-page SEO which involves external factors like backlinks. You need both technical and on-page SEO working together – technical SEO ensures search engines can access your content, while on-page SEO helps them understand what that content is about.
4. How do I know if my website has technical SEO problems?
Start with free tools like Google Search Console, which identifies crawling errors, indexing issues, and mobile usability problems. Google PageSpeed Insights reveals site speed issues and mobile optimization problems. Look for warning signs like declining organic traffic, poor mobile performance, slow loading times, broken links, or difficulty getting new pages indexed. Conduct regular technical audits checking for SSL certificates, XML sitemaps, robots.txt files, and proper URL structures. If you notice that competitors with similar content are ranking higher, technical issues might be holding you back. Many SEO tools offer free technical audits that can identify major problems affecting your search visibility.
5. Is mobile optimization really that important for technical SEO?
Yes, mobile optimization is crucial for technical SEO because Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning they primarily use your mobile site version for ranking and indexing. With over 60% of searches happening on mobile devices, a poor mobile experience directly impacts your rankings and user engagement. Mobile optimization includes responsive design, fast loading times, easy navigation, and readable text without zooming. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site’s mobile performance. Poor mobile optimization can result in higher bounce rates, lower rankings, and lost conversions. Even if your audience primarily uses desktop, Google’s algorithms still prioritize mobile-optimized sites, making mobile optimization essential for all websites.
6. How much should I budget for technical SEO improvements?
Technical SEO costs vary significantly based on your website’s complexity and current state. DIY approaches cost mainly your time plus small expenses like SSL certificates ($10-100/year) and premium tools ($50-200/month). Professional technical SEO services typically range from $200-2,000+ monthly, depending on site size and issues complexity. One-time technical audits cost $500-5,000. For small businesses, start with free tools and basic improvements, then invest in professional help for complex issues. E-commerce or large websites often benefit from ongoing professional technical SEO services. Consider the potential ROI – technical SEO improvements can significantly increase organic traffic and conversions, often paying for themselves through improved search performance.
7. What are the most critical technical SEO factors I should prioritize first?
Start with these high-impact technical SEO priorities: ensure your site has an SSL certificate (HTTPS), optimize for mobile responsiveness, improve page loading speed, set up Google Search Console and Analytics, create and submit an XML sitemap, and fix any crawl errors. Next, focus on URL structure optimization, proper header tag usage (H1, H2, H3), and internal linking structure. These foundational elements have the biggest impact on search visibility. Address any duplicate content issues and ensure your robots.txt file is properly configured. Once these basics are solid, move on to more advanced optimizations like structured data markup, Core Web Vitals improvements, and technical content optimizations.
8. How often should I perform technical SEO audits on my website?
Perform basic technical SEO checks monthly and comprehensive audits quarterly. Small websites can get away with quarterly full audits, while larger, frequently updated sites benefit from monthly reviews. Set up monitoring in Google Search Console to catch issues as they arise – check it weekly for new errors or warnings. After major website changes, updates, or migrations, conduct immediate technical audits to ensure nothing broke. Seasonal businesses should audit before peak periods. Use tools to automate monitoring of critical factors like page speed, uptime, and crawl errors. Regular auditing helps catch and fix issues before they significantly impact your search rankings, ensuring your technical SEO foundation remains strong as your website evolves.
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