Technical SEO: How to find technical issues that are killing your UX.

In this blog, I'm going to show you exactly how to find and solve technical issues that are killing your website's user experience. ‍

This is extremely important since technical SEO is widely regarded as the foundation of SEO success.

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For example, if your website loads slowly, can't be crawled by Google spiders, has broken pages, or broken links … then your website simply will not rank. 

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So I’m going to lay out the five main categories that most (but not all) technical SEO issues fall under. 

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We'll then go over the most common issues for each category and how to solve them without losing your sanity in the process.

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Let's dive in… 

Category 1: Crawlability

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Crawlability refers to the ability of search engine bots to access and explore the content on a website. It’s crucial for ensuring that search engines can effectively index and rank a website's page in their search results.

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Here’s 3 of the most common “Crawlability” issues… 

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1. Blocked or Inaccessible Pages

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Search engine bots may encounter pages on your website that are blocked from indexing through the robots.txt file or other directives. 

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Solution: Review your website's robots.txt file to ensure important pages are not unintentionally blocked.

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2. Improper Use of No-Index Tags

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The no-index meta tag is used to instruct search engines not to index a particular page. Incorrect no-index tags might exclude crucial pages from search engine results.

Solution: Organize your pages, ensuring no-index tags are only on pages that shouldn't be indexed, and remove the tag from pages that should be searchable.

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3. Faulty Website Architecture

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Poor website architecture can make it difficult for search engine bots to navigate and index your website effectively.

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Solution: Tidy up your website's structure, make important pages easily reachable, and organized.

Category 2: Site Speed and Performance

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Site speed is crucial for providing a positive user experience and achieving higher search engine rankings. 

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Fast-loading websites enhance user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates, and encourage conversions. 

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The three common issues are:

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1. Large File Sizes

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Large files can slow down your website.

Solution: Compress and optimize files to reduce their size without compromising quality. Use image compression tools, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and consider implementing lazy loading techniques.

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2. Excessive HTTP Requests

Too many requests can also slow down your site.

Solution: Combine and minimize files to reduce the number of HTTP requests. Leverage browser caching and consider using content delivery networks (CDNs).

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3. Slower Response Times

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Slow server responses negatively impact user experience.

Solution: Optimize server configurations and resources, enable gzip compression, and choose a reliable hosting provider.

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Category 3: Mobile Friendliness

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1. Slow Mobile Page Speed

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Slow mobile pages can frustrate users.

Solution: Make your site responsive, optimize content for mobile, and ensure easy navigation.

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2. Poor Mobile Navigation

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Complicated mobile navigation confuses users.

Solution: Simplify menus, use clear labels, and add breadcrumb navigation.

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3. Interstitial Pop-Ups

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Annoying pop-ups hinder user experience.

Solution: Use mobile-friendly alternatives and ensure pop-ups are easy to dismiss.

Category 4: URL Structure and Redirects

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1. Non-Descriptive or Unclean URLs

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Messy URLs can impact SEO.

Solution: Optimize URLs by making them concise and keyword-rich.

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2. Broken or Incorrect Redirects

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Broken redirects harm user experience.

Solution: Ensure redirects are set up correctly to maintain a smooth user experience.

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3. Redirect Chains or Loops

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Complicated redirects confuse search engines.

Solution: Simplify redirects to avoid unnecessary delays.

Category 5: Duplicate Content and Canonicalization

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1. Duplicate Content

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Repeated content confuses search engines.

Solution: Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page.

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2. Duplicate Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

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Repeated tags and descriptions hinder SEO.

Solution: Ensure each page has unique and descriptive tags and descriptions.

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3. Lack of Canonicalization

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Different versions of URLs may cause confusion.

Solution: Implement canonicalization by specifying the preferred version of a page.

RECAP:

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Category 1: Crawlability

1. Blocked or Inaccessible Pages
2. Improper Use of No-Index Tags
3. Faulty Website Architecture

Category 2: Site Speed and Performance

1. Large File Sizes
2. Excessive HTTP Requests
3. Slower Response Times

Category 3: Mobile Friendliness

1. Slow Mobile Page Speed
2. Poor Mobile Navigation
3. Interstitial Pop-Ups

Category 4: URL Structure and Redirects

1. Non-Descriptive or Unclean URLs
2. Broken or Incorrect Redirects
3. Redirect Chains or Loops

Category 5: Duplicate Content and Canonicalization

1. Duplicate Content
2. Duplicate Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
3. Lack of Canonicalization

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That covers the 5 main categories of technical SEO issues. 

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Remember, a strong user experience on your website is crucial for SEO success.

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 I hope you found this blog post valuable.

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-Hamse