Introduction
Explanation of technical SEO and its importance
Technical SEO refers to optimizing a website’s technical elements to improve its search engine visibility and user experience. It focuses on improving a website’s health, site speed up, mobile-friendliness, site structure, indexing, and crawlability, among other things.
Technical SEO is important because search engines run on complex algorithms to decide which websites to rank high on search engine result pages. A website optimized for technical SEO will be more likely to rank higher in search results, which can lead to increased traffic and conversions.
For example, website speed is a critical technical SEO element in digital marketing. A website that loads quickly will likely keep visitors engaged and reduce bounce rates. Google has also indicated that website speed is a ranking factor in its algorithm, so optimizing website speed can lead to improved search rankings.
Overview of the guide’s content and purpose
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of technical SEO and its importance for improving a website’s search engine visibility and user experience. The focus will cover a range of technical elements relevant search results here, including website and site speed optimization, site speed and mobile optimization, site structure and navigation, indexing and crawling target keywords, technical on-page SEO, and Google News optimization.
The guide will begin with an introduction to technical SEO and its importance, providing context for why optimizing the technical elements of a website is crucial for SEO success. From there, the guide will delve into each specialized detail component of technical stuff, explaining why it’s important, how to measure it, and techniques for optimizing it.
By the end off page one of the guide, readers will deeply understand technical SEO and its impact on search engine results page website performance and link quality. They will have learned various techniques for optimizing technical elements and can apply these techniques to improve their website’s search engine visibility and user experience.
Website Speed Optimization
Importance of website speed for SEO and user experience
Website speed is an essential technical element of SEO and user experience. From an SEO perspective, website speed is a ranking factor that search engines use to determine which websites should rank higher in search results. In addition, faster website speed can improve crawlability and indexing, which can help search engines more effectively discover and index website content.
From a user experience perspective, website speed is crucial for keeping visitors engaged and reducing bounce rates. Research has shown that users are likelier to leave a website that takes too long to load, leading to lost traffic and revenue. A website that loads quickly can also improve engagement, as users are more likely to explore and interact with content on a responsive and fast site.
How to measure website speed
There are several tools available to measure website speed; below, you can check details about them:
Google PageSpeed Insights: This is a free tool from Google that measures the speed of desktop and mobile versions of a website. It delivers a score from 0 to 100 for speed, user experience, and suggestions for improving website speed.
GTmetrix: This is another free tool that provides detailed reports on website speed and performance. It provides insights on page load times, page sizes, other metrics, and suggestions for optimization.
Pingdom: This tool offers a free website speed test and paid plans for more advanced monitoring and optimization. It provides insights on website speed, uptime, and performance and alerts for website downtime.
WebPageTest: This free website speed test tool provides detailed reports on website performance. It offers advanced features such as multi-location testing and video capture of website load times.
Lighthouse: This is an open-source tool from Google built into the Chrome browser. It provides detailed reports on website speed, accessibility, and performance, as well as suggestions for optimization.
Techniques for optimizing website speed (minifying code, optimizing images, reducing HTTP requests, etc.)
Minify Code: Minifying code involves removing unnecessary characters, spaces, and lines from HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. It can help reduce the file size of these files and improve website speed.
Optimize Images: Optimizing images involves compressing and resizing images to reduce their file size. It can reduce the overall page size and improve website speed.
Reduce HTTP Requests: HTTP requests are made by a browser to retrieve website resources such as images, scripts, and stylesheets. By reducing the number of HTTP requests, website owners can improve website speed. This can be achieved by combining multiple files into one, using CSS sprites, and using lazy loading for images.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN is a network of servers that deliver website content to users from the server that is closest to them. This can help reduce website load times, especially for users far from the website’s server.
Enable Browser Caching: Browser caching involves storing website resources on a user’s browser so that they do not need to be reloaded every time they visit the website. It can help improve website speed and reduce server load.
Use a Fast Web Host: Choosing a web host that is fast and reliable can have a significant impact on website speed. Website owners should look for a web host that offers quick page load times, high uptime, and good support.
Mobile Optimization
Importance of mobile optimization for SEO and user experience
Mobile optimization is crucial for both SEO and user experience. From an SEO perspective, mobile optimization has become increasingly important as more and more users browse the internet on mobile devices. In 2015, Google announced that mobile-friendliness was a ranking factor. In 2018, it rolled out mobile-first indexing, meaning that it now primarily uses the mobile version of a website for indexing and other ranking factors.
A mobile-friendly website can improve search engine visibility and higher search rankings and enhance crawlability and indexing by search engines. On the other hand, a website that could be optimized for mobile devices may have a higher bounce rate, lower search rankings, and reduced visibility in search results.
From a user experience perspective, mobile optimization is critical for keeping site visitors engaged and reducing bounce rates. Research has shown that users are likelier to abandon a website not optimized for mobile devices, leading to lost traffic and revenue. A mobile-optimized website can improve user engagement, as users are more likely to explore and interact with content on a responsive site that is easy to navigate on a mobile device.
Techniques for creating a responsive website design
Use a Responsive Framework: A responsive framework like Bootstrap or Foundation can help simplify creating a responsive website design. These frameworks provide pre-built responsive components and CSS styles that can be used to create a mobile-friendly layout.
Design for Mobile First: Designing for mobile first means creating a layout optimized for mobile devices and then scaling up for larger screens. This can help ensure the website is optimized for the most common screen sizes and device types.
Use Fluid Layouts: Fluid layouts use percentage-based widths and heights instead of fixed pixel values. This allows the layout to adjust to the size of the device screen, resulting in a responsive design.
Implement Breakpoints: Breakpoints are points in the layout where the design will adjust to accommodate different screen sizes. Website owners can create an optimized design for all devices by defining breakpoints for different device sizes.
Optimize Images: Optimizing images for different device sizes and screen resolutions can help improve website speed and user experience. You can use responsive image techniques, such as srcset and size attributes.
Test and Iterate: It is helpful for the website design to create an effective, responsive design. This process involves testing the website on different devices and screen sizes, adjusting as needed, and refining the design over time.
How to optimize page speed for mobile devices
Optimizing page speed for mobile devices is critical for improving user experience and search engine visibility. Here are some techniques for optimizing page speed for mobile devices:
Use a Responsive Design: A responsive design that adjusts to the screen size can help improve page speed for mobile devices. This can be achieved by using fluid layouts, optimized images, and breakpoints to change the layout for different screen sizes.
Minify Code: Minifying code involves removing unnecessary characters, spaces, and lines from HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. This process helps reduce the file size of these files and improve page speed for mobile devices.
Optimize Images: Optimizing images involves compressing and resizing images to reduce their file size. It will reduce the overall page size and improve page speed for mobile devices.
Reduce HTTP Requests: HTTP requests are made by a browser to retrieve website resources such as images, scripts, and stylesheets. By reducing the number of HTTP requests, website owners can improve page speed for mobile devices. This can be achieved by combining multiple files into one, using CSS sprites, and using lazy loading for images.
Enable Browser Caching: Browser caching involves storing website resources on a user’s browser so that they do not need to be reloaded every time they visit the website. This can improve page speed for mobile devices and reduce server load.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A server network delivers website content to users from the server closest to them. This can help reduce page load times for mobile devices, especially for users far from the website’s server.
Optimize Above-the-Fold Content: Above-the-fold content refers to the content that is visible on a user’s screen without the need for scrolling. Website owners can improve page speed and reduce bounce rates by optimizing above-the-fold content for mobile devices.
Mobile-friendly testing tools and resources
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test is a free tool that analyzes a website’s mobile-friendliness and provides suggestions for improvement.
Google’s PageSpeed Insights: Google’s PageSpeed Insights analyzes a website’s performance on desktop and mobile devices and provides suggestions for improvement.
MobileTest.me: MobileTest.me is a free tool that allows users to test their website’s responsiveness on various mobile devices.
BrowserStack: BrowserStack is a paid tool that allows users to test their website’s functionality on various mobile devices and browsers.
Responsive Design Checker: Responsive Design Checker is a free tool allowing users to test their website’s responsiveness on various screen sizes and devices.
Mobile First Index Checker: Mobile First Index Checker is a free tool that lets people to check if Google’s mobile-first index has indexed their website.
W3C Mobile Checker: W3C Mobile Checker is a free tool that checks a website’s compliance with mobile web standards.
AMP Validator: AMP Validator is a free tool that checks a website’s compliance with the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project, which aims to improve mobile page speed.
Site Structure and Navigation
Explanation of site structure and its impact on SEO
Site structure refers to the organization of a website’s content and pages on page factors. A well-organized site structure can significantly impact a website’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
The following are some of the ways site structure can impact SEO:
Indexability: A clear and organized site structure can help search engine crawlers to discover and index a website’s pages quickly. Improving the website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) is best.
User Experience: A well-structured website makes it easy for users to navigate and find the information they seek. Best UX improves user engagement and reduces bounce rates, which can, in turn, boost search engine rankings.
Link Juice Distribution: A good site structure helps distribute PageRank evenly across the website’s pages, which can improve the authority of individual pages and enhance the overall ranking potential of the website.
Keyword Targeting: A clear site structure can help website owners to create targeted content and optimize individual pages for specific keywords.
Internal Linking: Site structure plays a critical role in determining the internal linking structure of a website. Internal linking helps distribute PageRank and improves user engagement and navigation.
To optimize a website or web developer’s site structure for SEO, website owners should follow best practices such as:
Create a clear hierarchy of pages, with the homepage at the top and subpages organized underneath.
Create descriptive, keyword-rich URLs.
Use header tags to create a clear hierarchy of content.
Ensure that each page has a unique title and meta description.
Use internal linking to connect related content and distribute PageRank.
How to create a logical hierarchy of pages
Creating a logical hierarchy of pages is an essential step in organizing a website’s content and optimizing its site structure for SEO. Here are some steps to make a logical order of pages:
Define the website’s main purpose and goals: Determine the primary objectives of the website and identify the key pages that will help achieve those goals.
Group similar pages: Categorize the website’s pages into related groups based on content, function, or purpose.
Create a sitemap: Map out the website’s pages in a hierarchical structure, starting with the homepage at the top, followed by main categories, subcategories, and individual pages.
Use descriptive and keyword-rich URLs: Each page should have a unique and descriptive URL that accurately reflects the page’s content and includes relevant keywords.
Use header tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to organize content into a logical hierarchy and help search engines understand the importance and context of each section.
Prioritize important pages: Place the most important pages at the top of the hierarchy, such as the homepage, landing pages, and main category pages.
Use internal linking: Use internal linking to connect related content and distribute PageRank across the website.
Techniques for optimizing URL structure
Optimizing the URL structure is an essential aspect of on-page SEO, and it can help search engines better understand a website’s content. Here are some techniques for optimizing URL structure:
Use descriptive URLs: URLs should be descriptive, reflect the page’s content, and include relevant keywords. Avoid generic or meaningless URLs like “page-1” or “article-123”.
Keep URLs short and straightforward: Shorter URLs are easier to remember and share and perform better in search results. Keep URLs simple and avoid including unnecessary information.
Use hyphens to separate words: Use – to split words in the URL, as search engines can easily distinguish hyphens as word separators. Avoid using underscores or other characters.
Avoid using special characters: Special characters, such as %, $, &, or ?, can cause problems for search engines, so avoid using them in URLs.
Use lowercase letters: It is better to use lowercase letters in URLs. Some servers are case-sensitive, and uppercase letters can cause errors.
Remove stop words: Stop words are common words like “and,” “the,” and “a,” and they don’t add value to the URL. Remove stop words to keep URLs short and focused on the relevant keywords.
Avoid keyword stuffing: Don’t stuff URLs with too many keywords; this can look spammy and harm the website’s SEO. Instead, use a few relevant keywords to describe the page’s content.
How to use internal linking to improve site structure and navigation
Internal linking is linking to other pages within the same website. Using internal and external links, links pointing and linking effectively can help improve a website’s site structure, user experience, and SEO. Here are some ways to use internal and external, internal links pointing and linking to improve site structure and navigation:
Create a straightforward navigation menu: A menu should be clear and easy to use, with links to the most important pages in the website’s hierarchy.
Use descriptive anchor text: The text used for internal links should be descriptive and relevant to the linked page’s content. This way, you can help users and search engines understand the clink’s context.
Link to related content: Internal links should be used to connect related content on the website, making it more straightforward for users to guide and discover relevant information.
Prioritize important pages: Internal links should prioritize the website’s most important pages, such as the homepage, landing pages, and main category pages.
Use header and footer links: Links in the header and footer of a website can provide users with quick access to important pages, such as contact information or the website’s main categories.
Monitor and update internal links: Over time, the content and structure of a website can change, and internal links can become outdated or broken. It’s essential to regularly monitor and update internal links to ensure they are working correctly and directing users to the correct pages.
Indexing and Crawling
Indexing and crawling are critical aspects of search engine optimization (SEO) that help search engines discover, understand, and rank the content on a website. Here’s an overview of indexing and crawling:
Crawling: Crawling is the process by which search engines discover and analyze the content on a website. Search engines use bots, also known as spiders or crawlers, to automatically visit and explore the pages on a website. The bots follow links from one page to another, collecting information about the website’s content, structure, and organization.
Indexing: Search engines use this process to add web pages to their index, a massive database that searches engines use to retrieve relevant results for search queries. After the search engine spiders or bots crawl a website, they analyze the content and store it in the search engine’s index. When a user performs a search query, the search engine uses its index to find relevant results.
Here are some tips for optimizing website indexing and crawling:
Use a sitemap: A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on a website and helps search engines understand the structure and organization of the website.
Submit your sitemap to search engines: Submitting it to search engines can help them discover and index all the pages on your website.
Use robots.txt: A robots.txt file tells search engine bots which pages on your website they should crawl and which pages they should ignore.
Optimize website speed: Slow loading times can negatively impact crawling and indexing. Optimize website speed by minimizing code, compressing images, and reducing HTTP requests.
Use descriptive and keyword-rich meta tags: Meta tags provide information about a web page to search engines. Use descriptive and keyword-rich meta titles and descriptions to help search engines understand the content of a page.
Use internal linking: Internal linking helps search engine bots discover and analyze the content on a website. Use internal links to connect related content and distribute PageRank across the website.
indexing and crawling impact on SEO
The impact of indexing and crawling on SEO is significant. If search engine bots cannot crawl a website, or if a website’s pages are not indexed, the website may not appear in search results, resulting in lower visibility in search traffic and less organic traffic. By ensuring that a website is crawlable and adequately indexed, website owners can improve their website’s visibility in search results, attract more organic traffic, and increase their revenue.
How to create and submit a sitemap
A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on a website and helps search engines understand the structure and organization of the website. Here’s how to create and submit a sitemap:
Create a sitemap: Several tools are available to help create a sitemap, such as the Yoast SEO plugin, Google XML Sitemap plugin, or XML Sitemap Generator. Choose a tool that best suits your needs and generate a sitemap for your website.
Verify your website with Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a free tool that allows website owners to monitor their website’s performance in search results. To submit a sitemap to Google, you must verify your website with Google Search Console.
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console: Once you’ve verified your website with Google Search Console, you can submit your sitemap to Google. To do this, go to the “Sitemaps” section in Google Search Console and enter the URL of your sitemap. Click “Submit” to submit your sitemap to Google.
Submit your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools: If you want to submit your sitemap to Bing, you can do so by using Bing Webmaster Tools. After verifying your website with Bing Webmaster Tools, go to the “Sitemaps” section and enter the URL of your sitemap. Click “Submit” to submit your sitemap to Bing.
Submit your sitemap to other search engines: While Google and Bing are the most popular search engines, submitting your sitemap to other search engines is also a good idea. Look for the “Webmaster Tools” section on different search engines’ websites and follow the instructions to submit your sitemap.
Here are step-by-step instructions for creating a sitemap on the top 10 CMS platforms:
WordPress
Install a sitemap plugin: There are several sitemap plugins available for WordPress, such as Yoast SEO, Google XML Sitemaps, or All in One SEO Pack. Choose a plugin that best suits your needs and install it on your WordPress website.
Activate the sitemap plugin: After installing it, activate it by going to Plugins > Installed Plugins and clicking the “Activate” button next to the sitemap plugin.
Configure the sitemap plugin settings: Once the sitemap plugin is activated, configure the plugin settings to generate the sitemap. The settings may vary depending on the plugin. Still, generally, you can specify the pages and posts to include in the sitemap, exclude specific pages or posts, and set the priority and frequency of updates for each page or post.
Generate the sitemap: After configuring the plugin settings, generate the sitemap by clicking the “Generate Sitemap” button or following the plugin’s instructions.
View the sitemap: Once it is generated, view the sitemap to ensure it includes all the pages and posts you want to have. The sitemap is usually located at www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
Shopify
Log in to your Shopify account.
Click “Online Store” in the left-hand menu, then click “Preferences.”
Scroll down to the “Search engine listing preview” section, and click “Edit website SEO.”
Scroll down to the “Sitemap” section, and click “Generate sitemap.”
A message will appear saying, “Sitemap generation in progress.” Once the sitemap is generated, a link will appear to download the sitemap.xml file.
Click the link to download the sitemap.xml file to your computer.
Rename the file to “sitemap.xml” if it is not already named.
Open your preferred FTP program (e.g., FileZilla) and connect to your Shopify server.
Navigate to the root directory of your Shopify store.
Upload the sitemap.xml file to the root directory.
Go to Google Search Console and sign in to your account.
Click on your website property, then click “Sitemaps” in the left-hand menu.
Click on the “Add/Test Sitemap” button.
Enter “sitemap.xml” in the field, and click “Submit.”
Wix
Log in to your Wix account and go to your dashboard.
Click “Marketing Tools” from the left menu and click “SEO.”
Click “Get Found on Google” and select the “create a sitemap” button.
Wix will automatically generate a sitemap for your website.
You can customize your sitemap by selecting which pages you want to include or exclude from the sitemap.
Once you have customized your sitemap, click “Save and Submit” to submit your sitemap to Google.
You can check if your sitemap has been submitted by going to your Google Search Console account and checking the “Sitemaps” section.
Squarespace
Log in to your Squarespace account and go to the “Pages” section.
Click the “Settings” button for the page you want to add to the sitemap.
Scroll down to the “SEO” section and click on “Edit” next to “Search engine description.”
Add a description for the page in the “Description” field.
Click on “Save” to save the changes.
Repeat steps 2-5 for all the pages you want to add to the sitemap.
Go to the “Settings” section in the main menu and click “Advanced.”
Click “External API Keys” and choose “Google Search Console.”
Click “Connect Google Search Console” and follow the instructions to connect your Squarespace site to your Google Search Console account.
Return to the “Advanced” section and click “SEO.”
Click on “XML Sitemap” and then click on “Enable XML Sitemap.”
Squarespace will automatically generate a sitemap.xml file that lists all the pages on your website.
To submit the sitemap to Google, copy the sitemap URL from the “XML Sitemap” section.
Go to your Google Search Console account and click “Sitemaps.”
Click on “Add a new sitemap” and paste the sitemap URL into the field.
Click “Submit” to submit your sitemap to Google
Magento
Log in to your Magento Admin Panel.
Go to System > Configuration > Catalog > XML Sitemap.
Set “Enabled” to “Yes” to enable the sitemap.
Configure the settings under the “Generation Settings” section. You can include/exclude specific types of pages, such as categories, products, and CMS pages.
Set the “Frequency” and “Priority” for each page type.
Under the “Search Engine Submission Settings” section, set “Enabled” to “Yes” to allow Magento to submit the sitemap to search engines automatically.
Click “Save Config” to save your settings.
Click “Generate Sitemap” to generate the sitemap.
Once the sitemap is generated, you can download it by clicking “Download” or view it by clicking “View.”
Joomla
Log in to the Joomla administrator dashboard.
Click “Extensions” in the top menu bar and select “Manage” from the drop-down menu.
Click on the “Install” tab at the top of the page.
Click the “Upload Package File” tab and then the “Choose File” button.
Select the Joomla sitemap extension you want to install and click the “Upload and Install” button.
Once the extension is installed, click “Components” in the top menu bar and select “XML Sitemap” from the drop-down menu.
Click the “New” button to create a new sitemap.
Enter the name of the sitemap and select the pages you want to include in the sitemap.
Set the frequency at which the pages are updated and the priority of the pages.
Click on the “Save & Close” button to save the sitemap.
Click on the “Generate” button to generate the sitemap.
Once the sitemap is generated, click the “Download” button to download the sitemap file.
Submit the sitemap file to search engines like Google or Bing to help them discover and index all the pages on your website.
Drupal
Install and enable a sitemap module: Several sitemap modules are available for Drupal, such as XML Sitemap or Simple XML Sitemap. Install and enable the module of your choice.
Configure the sitemap module: After enabling the sitemap module, go to Configuration > Search and metadata > XML Sitemap to configure the module. Choose the content types, taxonomies, and settings you want to include in your sitemap.
Generate the sitemap: Once you have configured the sitemap module, you can generate the sitemap by clicking the “Regenerate” button on the XML Sitemap settings page. It will generate an XML file that lists all the pages on your Drupal website.
Submit the sitemap to search engines: After generating it, you need to submit it to search engines to help them discover and index all the pages on your website. To submit the sitemap to Google, go to Google Search Console and add your sitemap URL to the “Sitemaps” section. To present the sitemap to Bing, go to Bing Webmaster Tools and add your sitemap URL to the “Sitemaps” section.
BigCommerce
Log in to your BigCommerce account.
In the left-hand menu, click “Storefront” and select “SEO & Search.”
Click on the “XML Sitemap” tab.
Click the “Generate Sitemap” button. It will create a sitemap file with all your store’s products, categories, and web pages.
Once the sitemap has been generated, you can view the sitemap by clicking the “View Sitemap” button. You can also download the sitemap by clicking the “Download Sitemap” button.
To submit the sitemap to search engines, copy the sitemap URL and paste it into your search engine’s webmaster tools.
Weebly
Log in to your Weebly account and navigate to the website editor.
Click “Pages” in the top navigation bar and select “SEO” from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down to the “Sitemap” section and toggle the “Show Sitemap” button to the “On” position.
You can also include pages hidden from navigation by toggling the “Show Hidden Pages” button to the “On” position.
Click “Generate Sitemap” to create the sitemap for your Weebly website.
Once the sitemap is generated, preview it by clicking the “Preview” button.
To submit your sitemap to search engines, click on “View Sitemap” and copy the URL of the sitemap page.
Paste the URL of your sitemap into the search engine’s webmaster tools, such as Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools.
PrestaShop
Log in to your PrestaShop dashboard.
Go to Preferences > SEO & URLs from the main menu.
Under the “Set Up URLs” section, ensure the “Friendly URL” option is enabled.
Scroll to the “XML Sitemap” section and click the “Generate Sitemap” button.
Choose the options you want to include on the “Generate Sitemap” page, such as categories, products, manufacturers, suppliers, and CMS pages.
Create your sitemap on the “Generate Sitemap” button.
Once the sitemap is generated, you can download it by clicking the “Download Sitemap” button.
Upload the sitemap to your website’s root directory.
Submit the sitemap to search engines like Google and Bing using their webmaster tools.
How to use a robots.txt file to control indexing
WordPress:
To enable indexing for WordPress, follow these steps:
Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Settings > Reading.
Make sure that the “Search Engine Visibility” option is unchecked.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a plugin such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Shopify:
To enable indexing for Shopify, follow these steps:
Log in to your Shopify dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Online Store > Preferences.
Scroll to the “Search engine listing preview” section and check the “Enable search engine indexing” option.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Wix:
To enable indexing for Wix, follow these steps:
Log in to your Wix dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Settings > SEO (Google).
Ensure the “Allow search engines to include your site in search results” option is checked.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Squarespace:
To enable indexing for Squarespace, follow these steps:
Log in to your Squarespace dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Settings > SEO.
Ensure the “Hide Site from Search Engines” option is unchecked.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Magento:
To enable indexing for Magento, follow these steps:
Log in to your Magento dashboard.
Go to Stores > Configuration > General > Design > Search Engine Robots from the main menu.
Ensure the “Default Robots” option is set to “INDEX, FOLLOW.”
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Joomla:
To enable indexing for Joomla, follow these steps:
Log in to your Joomla dashboard.
From the main menu, go to System > Global Configuration > Site.
Ensure the “Search Engine Friendly URLs” and “Use URL Rewriting” options are enabled.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Drupal:
To enable indexing for Drupal, follow these steps:
Log in to your Drupal dashboard.
Go to Configuration > Search and metadata > Robots.txt from the main menu.
Make sure that the “Generate a robots.txt file” option is enabled.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
BigCommerce:
To enable indexing for BigCommerce, follow these steps:
Log in to your BigCommerce dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Storefront > My Themes > Customize > Edit HTML/CSS > robots.txt.
Ensure that the “User-agent: *” and “Disallow: ” options are absent.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Weebly:
To enable indexing for Weebly, follow these steps:
Log in to your Weebly dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Settings > SEO.
Ensure the “Hide this site from search engines” option is unchecked.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
PrestaShop:
To enable indexing for PrestaShop, follow these steps:
Log in to your PrestaShop dashboard.
From the main menu, go to Preferences > SEO & URLs.
Make sure that the “Friendly URL” option is enabled.
Save changes and generate a new robots.txt file using a third-party tool such as Robots.txt Generator.
Upload the robots.txt file to your website’s root directory.
Techniques for improving crawlability (fixing broken links, removing duplicate content, etc.)
Improving crawl ability is an essential aspect of technical SEO that can help ensure that search engines can easily find and index all of the pages on your website. Here are some techniques for improving crawlability:
Fix broken links: Broken links, or links that lead to pages that no longer exist, can harm your website’s crawlability. Use a tool like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify broken links and fix them by updating or removing them.
Remove duplicate content: Duplicate content can also hurt your website’s crawlability. Use a tool like Siteliner or Copyscape to identify and remove or consolidate the same content.
Use canonical tags: If you have multiple versions of a page (e.g., a printer-friendly version and a regular version), use canonical tags to indicate which version is the original and should be indexed by search engines.
Improve internal linking: Internal linking can help ensure that all pages on your website are easily accessible to search engines. Ensure all pages have at least one internal link pointing to them and that your site structure is logical and easy to navigate.
Optimize your robots.txt file: A file that informs search engines which pages they can and cannot crawl on your site. Ensure you are not accidentally blocking pages you want to be indexed.
Use structured data: Structured data helps search engines in understanding the content on your site. Use tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to add structured data to your website.
Technical On-Page SEO
Explanation of technical on-page SEO and its importance
Technical on-page refers to optimizing the technical elements of individual web pages to improve their visibility and relevance to search engines. It includes optimizing the website’s structure, code, and content to ensure that it is easily crawlable and indexable by search engines.
The importance of technical SEO lies in the fact that it is one of the critical factors determining a website’s visibility in google results pages (SERPs). When a website is well-optimized from a technical standpoint, it becomes easier for search engine’s crawlers to access and understand its content. It can result in higher keyword rankings, in SERP, driving more website traffic.
In addition to improving the website’s visibility and rankings, technical on-page SEO can improve the user experience by making the website more accessible, faster, and easier to navigate. A well-optimized website can help to increase user engagement, reduce bounce rates, and ultimately lead to higher conversions and sales.
Overall, the technical aspects of your site performs is essential to any successful SEO strategy. Optimizing the technical elements of individual web pages can improve their relevance and visibility to search engines, increase user engagement, and drive more traffic and conversions to your website.
How to optimize page titles and meta descriptions
Use relevant keywords: Page titles and meta descriptions should include relevant keywords accurately describing the page’s content. It helps search engines understand what the page is about and can improve its visibility in search results.
Keep titles and descriptions concise: Page titles should be no more than 60 characters, and meta descriptions should be 155 characters long. It ensures that they are fully displayed in search results and are not truncated.
Write compelling titles and descriptions: Page titles and meta descriptions should be written compellingly, encouraging users to click through to the page. It can include using action-oriented language, highlighting unique selling points, and providing a clear benefit to the user.
Use modifiers and numbers: Including modifiers such as “best,” “top,” and “review” in page titles and meta descriptions can make them more compelling and increase click-through rates. Similarly, using numbers can help to break up the text and make it more visually appealing.
Avoid duplicate titles and descriptions: Each page on your website should have a unique page title and meta description. The duplicate titles and descriptions can confuse search engines and result in lower rankings.
Techniques for optimizing header tags and content structure
Use header tags appropriately: Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) should indicate the structure and hierarchy of the content on the page. The main header (H1) shows the main topic or keyword of the page, while subheadings (H2, H3, etc.) indicate subtopics and supporting information.
Include relevant keywords: Header tags and content should include relevant keywords that accurately describe the page’s content. It helps search engines understand what the page is about and can improve its visibility in search results.
Use bullet points and lists: These can make the content more visually appealing and easier to read. It can also break up long blocks of text and make the content more scannable for users and search engines.
Optimize content length: Content length should be optimized to provide enough information to be valuable to the user and concise enough to maintain their attention. Typically, content should be at least 300 words, but it can vary depending on the topic and audience.
Use internal linking: Internal linking can help to establish a clear content hierarchy and provide additional context to users and search engines. It can also distribute link equity throughout the website and improve the overall SEO performance of the site.
How to use schema markup to improve search engine understanding of content
Schema markup is a form of structured data added to web pages to provide additional information about the content on the same page. Below, you can check some steps for using schema markup to improve search engine understanding of content:
Identify relevant schema types: There are many different types of schema markup available, including styles for products, reviews, events, and more. Choose the schema type most relevant to the content on the page.
Add schema markup to HTML: Once you have identified the relevant schema type, you can add the schema markup to the HTML of the page. It can be done manually or using a tool like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.
Include relevant information: Within the schema markup, include relevant information about the content on the page, such as the name of the product, the price, and the availability. Search engines can use this information to provide more detailed search results.
Test schema markup: Once the schema markup has been added to the HTML, use a testing tool like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to verify that the markup has been implemented correctly and provides the desired information.
Monitor performance: Monitor the version of the pages with schema markup to see any improvements in search rankings or click-through rates. Adjust the schema markup as necessary to improve performance.
Google News Optimization
Explanation of Google’s algorithm for News and its impact on website traffic and visibility
Google News is a specialized search engine aggregates news articles and other content from thousands of sources worldwide. It is a different platform from Google’s leading search engine and is designed to deliver relevant news articles to users based on their interests and search queries.
Google News can have a significant impact on website traffic and visibility. When a website’s articles are included in Google News, they can appear at the top of search results and reach a much wider audience. It can lead to increased traffic to the website and higher visibility for the brand or organization.
Websites should follow specific guidelines and best practices to have a better chance of being included in Google News. These include:
Creating original content: Google News favors websites that regularly produce high-quality content. The content should be timely, informative, and relevant to the target audience.
Optimizing article headlines and descriptions: Article headlines and descriptions should be clear, concise, and accurately reflect the article’s content. They should also include relevant keywords to help Google understand the article’s topic.
Providing clear author and publication information: Google News favors articles attributed to a specific author and publication. It helps to establish credibility and trust with users.
Structuring articles for readability: Articles should be structured in a way that is easy to read and navigate. It includes using subheadings, bullet points, and other formatting techniques to break up long blocks of text.
Methods for optimizing website content for Google News
require following specific guidelines and best practices. Here are some strategies for optimizing website content for Google News:
Focus on news-worthy topics: Google News is designed to deliver relevant news articles to users, so it is essential to focus on news-worthy issues. It includes breaking news, events, and trending topics relevant to your audience.
Create high-quality, original content: Like regular SEO, and Google News favors websites that produce high-quality content. It means creating well-researched, informative articles that provide value to your target audience.
Use clear and concise headlines: Headlines should be clear, concise, and accurately reflect the article’s content. They should also include relevant keywords to help Google understand the article’s topic.
Write for a specific audience: Identify the target audience for your content and write in a way tailored to their interests and needs. It can increase engagement and shares, leading to better visibility in Google News.
Follow Google News content guidelines: Google News has specific content guidelines that websites must follow to be included in the platform. These guidelines include requirements for original content, clear attribution, and accurate metadata.
Utilize structured data markup: Structured data markup, such as schema markup, can provide additional context and information about your content to Google. It can improve visibility and click-through rates in Google News.
The process to include your website in Google News
Including your website in Google News can be a valuable way to increase traffic and visibility for own site and your content. Here are some steps you can take to get your website included in Google News:
Meet the Google News publisher guidelines: Google News has specific guidelines that publishers must follow to be considered for inclusion. These guidelines include requirements for original content, clear attribution, and accurate metadata. Make sure your website meets these guidelines before submitting it to Google.
Create a Google News publisher account: To be included in Google News, you must first create a Google News publisher account. You can do this by going to the Google News Publisher Center and following the instructions to set up your account.
Submit your website to Google News: Once you have a publisher account, you can submit your website to Google News for consideration. To do this, go to the Publisher Center dashboard and click “Request Inclusion” in the left-hand menu. Follow the instructions to submit your website for review.
Monitor your website’s performance in Google News: Once it is included in Google News, it is essential to monitor its performance to ensure that it meets Google’s guidelines and delivers quality content to users. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s traffic and engagement within Google News.
Conclusion
Recap of key takeaways from the guide
To recap, here are the key takeaways from the manual:
Technical SEO is essential for improving website performance and user experience. It includes website speed, mobile optimization, site structure, indexing and crawling, and technical on-page SEO.
Website speed is critical for both SEO and user experience and can be improved through techniques such as minifying code, optimizing images, reducing HTTP requests, and utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs).
Mobile optimization is crucial for SEO and user experience and can be achieved through responsive design, mobile-friendly testing, and mobile-specific optimizations.
Site structure, indexing, and crawling can be improved by creating a logical hierarchy of pages, optimizing URL structure, creating and submitting sitemaps, and utilizing robots.txt files.
Technical on-page SEO includes optimizing page titles and meta descriptions, header tags, content structure, and schema markup.
Google News is an essential platform for website visibility and traffic and can be optimized by creating news-worthy content, following Google News guidelines, and utilizing structured data markup.
Optimizing for technical SEO is an ongoing process that requires attention to detail and a commitment to best practices. By implementing these techniques and following the guidelines outlined in this guide, website owners and SEO professionals can improve their website’s performance, visibility, and user experience.
Additional resources for improving technical SEO
Below, you can check resources for improving technical SEO:
Google Search Console: It is a free tool provided by Google that allows website owners to monitor their website’s performance in search results, identify technical issues, and receive alerts about potential problems.
Screaming Frog: Screaming Frog is a desktop tool that crawls websites and identifies technical issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and missing metadata.
GTmetrix: GTmetrix is a website speed testing tool that provides detailed reports on website performance, including recommendations for optimizing page speed.
Moz Pro: Moz Pro is an all-in-one SEO tool that includes features for technical SEO, including website audits, keyword research, and link analysis.
SEMrush: SEMrush is another comprehensive SEO tool that includes features for technical SEO, such as website audits, backlink analysis, and keyword research.
W3C Markup Validation Service: The W3C Markup Validation Service allows website owners to check their website’s HTML and CSS for errors and ensure that their code meets web standards.
PageSpeed Insights: PageSpeed Insights is a free tool provided by Google that analyzes the content of a web page and generates suggestions to make that page faster.
Pingdom: Pingdom is a website speed testing tool that provides detailed reports on website performance, including recommendations for optimizing page speed.
Ahrefs: Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO tool that includes features for technical SEO, including website audits, backlink analysis, and keyword research.
Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free tool provided by Google that allows website owners to track website traffic and user behavior and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
SEOQuake: SEOQuake is a browser extension that overviews crucial SEO metrics, such as Google PageRank, Alexa Rank, and backlinks.
Google Structured Data Testing Tool: The Google Structured Data Testing Tool allows website owners to test their structured data markup and ensure it is correctly implemented.
Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin that includes features for technical SEO, including optimizing page titles and meta descriptions, creating XML sitemaps, and implementing schema markup.
Bing Webmaster Tools: Bing Webmaster Tools is a free tool provided by Bing that allows website owners to monitor their website’s performance in search results, identify technical issues, and receive alerts about potential problems.
Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a free tool provided by Google that allows website owners to manage and implement website tags, such as tracking codes and analytics scripts, without having to modify the website’s code.
Lighthouse: Lighthouse is an open-source tool provided by Google that allows website owners to improve the quality of their web pages by auditing for performance, accessibility, and best practices.
ContentKing: ContentKing is a website monitoring tool that provides real-time updates on website changes and technical issues, such as broken links and missing metadata.
SEO Site Checkup: SEO Site Checkup is a website audit tool that checks for common technical SEO issues, such as broken links and missing metadata, and provides recommendations for improvement.
