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What exactly is an SEO audit? Why should you do it? And what is the best way to do it? In this article, I\u2019ll give a high-level overview of how an SEO audit can:<\/p>\n
Jump to a section here:<\/p>\n
An SEO audit is a website analysis that looks at issues hindering search engine rankings and areas needing improvement to gain more visibility in the search results and drive organic search traffic.<\/p>\n
In this article<\/a>, I outlined the three levels of SEO audits:<\/p>\n The \u201cGood\u201d SEO Audit:<\/strong> A software tool uncovers superficial SEO issues (many of which may be useful). The tool produces a one-size-fits-all generic report. Appropriate for when you don\u2019t have an auditing budget, or you want to check some basics yourself before starting with an agency. Never a waste, but not a deep dive.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The \u201cBetter\u201d SEO Audit:<\/strong> An SEO vendor or practitioner offers additional SEO insights but without many solutions. They can identify problems that data analytics alone can\u2019t uncover. Without in-depth solutions, this only points to possible trouble areas, but sometimes that is all you need.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The \u201cBest\u201d SEO Audit:<\/strong> An SEO agency performs an in-depth technical audit. It requires the labor and expertise of a seasoned SEO analyst(s) who specializes in technical website analysis and SEO business strategy. This is a manual review supported by tools, and it takes many hours.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In all cases, an SEO audit results in a report that addresses the things that need to be fixed. Some SEO vendors build in a consultation service as part of the SEO audit to help clients with things like:<\/p>\n An SEO audit looks at many areas of a site that could impact search engine optimization. Every SEO vendor is different, but here\u2019s a sample of what an SEO audit looks at:<\/p>\n An SEO audit is the best first step in creating an SEO strategy based on your specific website, niche, and business goals.<\/p>\n Whether you are recalibrating your SEO, redesigning a site, or starting out with a new website, an SEO audit can help you optimize every area. This ensures the site is primed to compete in the search results.<\/p>\n A thorough audit takes time. (Here at Bruce Clay Inc., we spend up to 160 hours preparing, delivering, and following up on each audit.) SEO expertise is not a core competency of many businesses. That\u2019s why hiring an SEO vendor can be useful.<\/p>\n Even when a brand has an in-house SEO team, getting an outside analysis can help solve the tough SEO problems.<\/p>\n Learn more: See these case studies<\/a> to learn more about how an SEO audit improves search engine rankings, organic traffic, and revenue.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n To perform an SEO audit, you can either use software tools or hire an SEO professional, consultant, or agency.<\/p>\n The results you get will vary based on which option you choose. Goals and budgets are often a factor when it comes to which option a company chooses (using tools or hiring a consultant or agency).<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just looking to use tools, I outlined my five favorite audit tools in this article<\/a>:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going to hire someone, an SEO audit can be a standalone service or a way to test out an agency or consultant before a longer-term engagement.<\/p>\n In fact, Google recommends<\/a> asking for an SEO audit as a first step before hiring potential SEO agencies and consultants (and includes key advice about \u201cguaranteed\u201d first-place rankings):<\/p>\n Ask for a technical and search audit for your site to learn what they think needs to be done, why, and what the expected outcome should be. You’ll probably have to pay for this. \u2026 Your prospective SEO should be able to give you realistic estimates of improvement, and an estimate of the work involved. If they guarantee you that their changes will give you first place in search results, find someone else.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This advice is often wrongly interpreted as \u201cdemand a free audit\u201d from a potential SEO company. If you do run into a company that does a free audit, it\u2019s likely a surface-level report run from software tools.<\/p>\n With countless variables in the search engine algorithms, a free audit is usually of minimal value and seldom proves the value of the SEO agency.<\/p>\n To put this into perspective, when we do a professional SEO audit, we manually check a long list of items that help us discover SEO issues. This can take hundreds of hours over 10 weeks as part of a six-month program.<\/p>\n After the delivery of the report and discussions of the findings, we work with the client\u2019s internal team for three months to mentor, consult, guide, and confirm the implementation of our findings.<\/p>\n That is an effective SEO audit. A \u201cpush-the-easy-button audit\u201d is simply not going to get you top-three rankings. Do not be surprised by the results you did not get for the work you did not do.<\/p>\n Read more: How to Evaluate an SEO Company Using Google’s Own Guidelines<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n An SEO audit is a website analysis that looks at issues hindering search engine rankings and offers areas for improvement. This is so that website owners can gain more visibility in the search results and drive organic search traffic. (Even more revenue!)<\/p>\n SEO audits are the best first step in creating an SEO strategy based on your specific website, niche, and business goals \u2014 no matter what stage the website is in.<\/p>\n To perform an SEO audit, you can either use software tools or hire an SEO professional, consultant, or agency. Of course, the results you get will vary based on which option you choose.<\/p>\n Here’s where you can find out more about our professional SEO Site Audit<\/a> or contact us for a free quote<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Search Engine Optimization is essential for online success, yet getting started may be daunting. It is therefore vital that you gain an understanding of all the different types of SEO audits available and select an audit that best meets your individual requirements so that your SEO strategy meets them all.<\/p>\n Level 1: Basic SEO Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the entry-level audit suitable for beginners or those with limited resources. It focuses on fundamental issues like meta tags, keyword optimization, and site speed. A basic audit is a great starting point, ensuring your website’s essential SEO elements are in place.<\/p>\n Level 2: Technical SEO Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n For more in-depth insights, a technical SEO audit is the next step. This audit assesses technical aspects, such as website structure, mobile-friendliness, and indexing. It’s ideal for businesses with medium-sized websites seeking to enhance user experience and technical performance.<\/p>\n Level 3: On-Page SEO Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n This audit hones in on your content. It evaluates keyword usage, content quality, and internal linking. If your goal is to improve your content’s visibility and relevance, an on-page SEO audit is invaluable, especially for content-heavy websites.<\/p>\n Level 4: Comprehensive SEO Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n At the highest level, the comprehensive SEO audit covers everything. It includes elements from the previous levels and adds competitive analysis, backlink assessment, and an in-depth examination of your entire digital footprint. This level suits businesses committed to dominating their niche and outperforming competitors.<\/p>\n Choosing the Right Level for You<\/strong><\/p>\n The best level of SEO audit for your needs depends on your goals, budget, and website complexity. Start with a basic audit if you’re just getting started or have limited resources. Gradually progress to higher levels as your site grows and your objectives become more ambitious.<\/p>\n The different levels of SEO audits cater to various needs and stages of online development. Consider your current situation, long-term goals, and available resources when selecting the right audit level.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure<\/strong><\/p>\n What exactly is an SEO audit? Why should you do it? And what is the best way to do it? In this article, I\u2019ll give a high-level overview of how an SEO audit can: Improve search engine rankings Drive organic search traffic Increase revenue Jump to a section here: What is an SEO audit? Why […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":80414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1232],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>Why Do an SEO Audit?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>How To Do an SEO Audit<\/h2>\n
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![\"Don't](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/quote-seo-work-you-didnt-do-722px.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>SEO Audit: The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n
<\/a>FAQ: What are the different levels of SEO audits, and which one suits my needs best?<\/h3>\n
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