Technical SEO Audit: Essential Steps for 2025

Digital Marketing

Feb 23, 2025

Learn essential technical SEO audit steps for 2025, focusing on crawling, indexing, site speed, mobile optimization, and more for improved rankings.

A technical SEO audit ensures your website is search-engine-friendly and delivers a great user experience. In 2025, key areas to focus on include:

Crawling & Indexing: Use tools like Screaming Frog and Google Search Console to find and fix crawl errors, broken links, and indexing issues.
Site Speed: Optimize Core Web Vitals (LCP ≤ 2.5s, CLS ≤ 0.1) and improve load times with tools like PageSpeed Insights.
Mobile Optimization: Ensure responsive design, proper font sizes, and mobile usability to meet Google’s mobile-first indexing standards.
Technical Fixes: Add schema markup, secure your site with HTTPS, and fix redirect chains.
SEO Tools: Leverage tools like Screaming Frog, Semrush, and Google Search Console for detailed audits.

Quick Tip: Regular audits (every 6 months or more often for larger sites) keep your site competitive in search rankings. Start by addressing crawling and indexing issues, then move on to performance and mobile optimization.

9 Must-Know Technical SEO Practices for 2025

Step 1: Check Website Crawling and Indexing

For your website to perform well in search engines, it needs to be crawled and indexed properly. Crawling allows search engines to discover your content, while indexing ensures it can appear in search results.

Using Screaming Frog for Site Crawls

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a useful tool for spotting technical problems that might impact your site's performance. The free version lets you crawl up to 500 URLs, which is great for smaller websites.

Here’s how to run a crawl analysis:

Set Up and Start Crawling

Enter your website's URL into Screaming Frog. Enable the 'Crawl Fragment Identifiers' option (Config > Spider > Advanced), and start the crawl.
Check Response Codes

Go to the Response Codes tab and filter for 'Client Error (4XX)' to identify pages with errors. Use the Inlinks tab to see which pages are linking to these error pages.

The table below outlines common errors and how to fix them:

| Error Type | What to Check | Action Required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 404 Errors | Broken external links | Replace or remove |
| Broken Jump Links | Internal anchor links | Update fragment identifiers |
| Redirect Chains | Multiple redirects | Use direct 301 redirects

After resolving crawl issues, move on to fixing indexing problems using Google Search Console.

Fixing Index Issues in Google Search Console

Google Search Console provides a Page Indexing report that shows how Google processes your website's pages. This tool is helpful for identifying indexing issues that could prevent your content from showing up in search results. A 'Not indexed' status doesn’t always mean there’s a problem, but you should investigate each case.

Focus on these steps:

Check Indexing Status

Use the Page Indexing report to find URLs with indexing issues.
Validate Your Fixes

Once you’ve made changes, click 'Validate fix' in the console to trigger Google’s reprocessing. This may take up to two weeks.
Fix Server and Redirect Issues

Address server errors and redirect chains that could block indexing.

To improve indexing:

Replace broken links with 301 redirects for any permanent URL changes.
Use the noindex directive for pages you don’t want to appear in search results, instead of relying on robots.txt.
Submit detailed sitemaps through Google Search Console to help search engines crawl your site more effectively.

Step 2: Check Site Speed and Core Web Vitals

Once you've verified proper crawling and indexing, the next step is to focus on your site's performance. In 2025, site speed and Core Web Vitals are key ranking factors. Did you know only 2% of pages achieve a perfect 100 on PageSpeed Insights? Even a score of 50 places you in the top 25%. This step ensures your site isn't just crawler-friendly but also provides a quick and seamless user experience.

Speed Up Your Website

Use PageSpeed Insights to evaluate your site's performance and identify areas for improvement. Key areas to optimize include:

Image Optimization
Images often account for a large portion of a webpage's load time, contributing 38% to a mobile page's weight if not optimized.

| Optimization Type | Best Practice | Tool Recommendation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Format Selection | Use JPEG for photos, PNG for logos | <a href="https://tinypng.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://tinypng.com/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">TinyPNG</a>, <a href="https://imageoptim.com/mac" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://imageoptim.com/mac","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">ImageOptim</a> |
| Lazy Loading | Load images only when needed | Native HTML <code>loading="lazy"</code> |
| Progressive Loading | Use the "blur up" technique | <a href="https://ewww.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://ewww.io/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">EWWW Image Optimizer</a> Cloud |
| Compression | Reduce file sizes | <a href="https://kraken.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://kraken.io/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">Kraken.io</a>, <a href="https://imagify.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://imagify.io/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">Imagify</a> |

Server-Side Optimization
Enable GZIP compression to reduce file sizes and improve load times. As of November 2024, nearly half (49.5%) of websites use GZIP.

"GZIP allows you to send larger files more efficiently by making them smaller and therefore faster across all the connections of the Internet".

Track Core Web Vitals Scores

After improving site speed, keep an eye on Core Web Vitals to ensure a smooth experience for users. These metrics measure how quickly and reliably your site loads and responds.

| Metric | Good Score | Needs Improvement | Poor Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | ≤ 2.5s | 2.5s – 4s | > 4s |
| First Input Delay (FID) | ≤ 100ms | 100ms – 300ms | > 300ms |
| Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) | ≤ 0.1 | 0.1 – 0.25 | > 0.25

Starting in March 2024, INP (Interaction to Next Paint) will replace FID as a Core Web Vitals metric. To prepare for this change, test your site using PageSpeed Insights, average results from 3–5 tests, and monitor Total Blocking Time as an indicator for INP improvements.

Step 3: Check Mobile Website Performance

With mobile devices driving over 70% of online traffic, optimizing your site for mobile use is now a must for SEO. Thanks to Google's mobile-first indexing, the mobile version of your website plays a direct role in its search ranking.

Identify Mobile Website Issues

Google Lighthouse is a great tool to uncover mobile performance problems that can hurt both visibility and user experience. Pay close attention to these areas:

| Issue Type | Recommended Size | Impact on SEO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Font Size | >=16px | Makes text easier to read, reducing bounce rates |
| Tap Targets | >=44px | Improves ease of interaction |
| Viewport Width | Device width | Ensures content displays correctly

Some common mobile issues include:

Content that’s too wide, causing horizontal scrolling
Buttons or links that are too small to tap easily
Text that’s hard to read without zooming in
Pop-ups that block the main content

Fixing these problems often means adopting a responsive design that works well across different screen sizes.

Create a Mobile-Friendly Design

Google prefers responsive designs when evaluating mobile optimization. Focus on these key aspects:

Content Consistency: Make sure the mobile version mirrors critical desktop elements like structured data, meta descriptions, internal links, and main content.

Technical Setup: Fine-tune your mobile configuration with these best practices:

| Element | Best Practice | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Viewport Settings | <code><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"></code> | Ensures content scales properly |
| Image Optimization | Use responsive images with <code>srcset</code>

Performance Tweaks: Aim for load times under 2.5 seconds. Reduce JavaScript usage, optimize image loading, and ensure your server responds quickly.

Failing to meet mobile optimization benchmarks can lead to a steep drop in search rankings - or worse, complete removal from search results. Regularly test your site with tools like Lighthouse and track performance metrics using Chrome DevTools to stay ahead.

Step 4: Technical SEO Deep Dive

A thorough SEO audit includes key elements that help search engines index your site effectively. This step takes a closer look, offering detailed techniques to strengthen your SEO setup.

Build and Submit XML Sitemaps

XML sitemaps help search engines crawl and index your pages more efficiently. Focus on these key factors when optimizing:

| Element | Best Practice | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| URL Limit | Max 50,000 URLs per sitemap | Keeps within search engine limits |
| File Size | Under 50MB uncompressed | Ensures smooth processing |
| Priority Tags | 0.0 to 1.0 scale | Highlights page importance |
| Change Frequency | Matches content updates | Guides how often pages are crawled

For larger sites, use multiple sitemaps and link them with an index file. Don’t forget to reference the updated sitemap in your robots.txt file.

Once your sitemap is in good shape, shift your focus to fixing any broken links on your site.

Remove Broken Links

Broken links can harm both user experience and SEO. Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify and fix them. Focus on these two areas:

Internal Links

Check your internal links to ensure they guide users and crawlers effectively, making the best use of your crawl budget.
External Links

Enable "Crawl Fragment Identifiers" to spot broken jump links. For redirect chains, filter 3XX responses in the "Destination URL" column.

Check Your Robots.txt File

After fixing broken links, review your robots.txt file to control crawler access. This file helps search engines focus on the right parts of your site.

Here’s an example of a basic robots.txt configuration:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/
Disallow: /login/
Disallow: /internal-search/
Allow: /blog/
Sitemap: https://www.yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml

Make sure your robots.txt file is clear and supports your SEO goals.

Step 5: SEO Tools Guide

In 2025, having the right tools can make or break your technical SEO audits. Different tools cater to various needs and budgets, so choosing wisely is key.

Top SEO Audit Tools

Here’s a quick comparison of some popular tools for technical SEO audits:

| Tool | Key Features | Best For | Starting Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Screaming Frog | Site crawling, technical analysis, GSC integration | Detailed technical audits | Free (500 URLs), $259/year |
| Google Search Console | Index status, Core Web Vitals, mobile usability | Essential monitoring | Free |
| Semrush | All-in-one SEO suite, AI-powered features | Broad audits | $139.95/month |
| <a href="https://ahrefs.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://ahrefs.com/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">Ahrefs</a> | Technical audits, competitive analysis | Advanced SEO strategies | $129/month |
| <a href="https://seranking.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-framer-link="Link:{"url":"https://seranking.com/","type":"url"}" data-framer-open-in-new-tab="">SE Ranking</a> | Affordable, rank tracking | Small to midsize businesses | $52/month |

Screaming Frog’s latest version (21.0, codenamed 'towbar') launched in February 2025, introducing several upgrades.

Where to Learn More

Want to step up your technical SEO game? Dive into these resources:

Official Documentation: The Google Search Console Help Center provides step-by-step guides, while Screaming Frog’s documentation explores advanced crawling techniques.
Expert Insights: Nikki Halliwell, Technical SEO Lead at Journey Further, shares:
"Screaming Frog is an invaluable tool for conducting comprehensive website audits and optimising your website for SEO performance."

Tips for Success

Most SEO professionals spend between $30 and $150 monthly on tools to stay ahead. Using a combination of tools can give you a fuller picture of your site’s technical health. Many companies perform detailed technical audits once or twice a year.

Incorporating these tools and resources into your workflow ensures you stay on top of your site's technical performance.

Conclusion: Summary and Action Steps

Let’s break down the key points and action plan to keep your site performing at its best.

Key Steps to Focus On

Regular technical SEO audits remain critical in 2025 to ensure your site stays competitive in search rankings. Address issues in this order for maximum impact:

Verify tracking: Ensure analytics and conversion tracking are accurate.
Crawling optimization: Make your site easily navigable for search engines.
Indexing status: Confirm important pages are indexed properly.
Security measures: Protect your site with HTTPS and other security protocols.
Response code issues: Fix broken links and server errors.
Mobile compatibility: Optimize your site for mobile users.
Structured data: Add schema markup to enhance search visibility.
Page speed: Improve load times for better user experience and rankings.

With these priorities in mind, create a schedule to keep everything running smoothly.

Set Up an Audit Routine

Tailor your audit frequency to your website type for effective monitoring:

| Website Type | Audit Frequency | Review Frequency |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Local Business | Every 6 months | Monthly health checks |
| E-commerce Sites | Weekly mini-audits | Daily monitoring

"SEO audits are essential for maintaining and enhancing a website's visibility and performance on search engines." – Melody Sinclair-Brooks, Content Marketing Manager, AgencyAnalytics

Adopt a two-pronged approach for ongoing success:

Comprehensive audits: Perform these every six months to address major issues.
Mini audits: Conduct monthly to tackle smaller, routine fixes.
Weekly monitoring: Use Google Search Console to track changes after major updates.