What is Technical SEO?

You’ve got engaging content and killer backlinks, but your website might still be falling short when it comes to search engine rankings. What gives?

Say hello to technical SEO, the hidden magic that propels websites beyond just high-volume keywords and a solid backlink profile. We’re talking about revving up page speed, maximizing crawlability, and unmasking your technical prowess.

Ready to skyrocket your SEO efforts? Let’s tackle these burning questions:

1. What is technical SEO?
2. Why should you care?
3. Which technical SEO skills should you conquer ASAP?

What is Technical SEO?

Let’s get straight to it—technical SEO, what’s the go?

Technical search engine optimization is the science behind whipping your website’s architecture into shape. This process includes making optimization adjustments so that a site is easily crawlable and indexable by search engines like Google and more user-friendly for visitors. The process of technical SEO optimization involves practices like making tweaks to URL structure, mobile responsiveness, and structured data markup—just to name a few.

Learn more: SEO glossary 250+ terms explained.

Why is Technical SEO Important?

As we just touched on, by nailing technical SEO, you’re allowing search engines to crawl, index, and understand your site with ease.

So why does this matter?

When search engines like Google crawl a site that ticks all the right boxes—fast loading times, mobile-friendliness, and easy navigation—they’ll reward it with high visibility and, consequently, organic traffic. After all, Google is in the business of making its user experience as frictionless and enjoyable as possible, so it makes sense that they would favor and rank websites that are technically sound.

Technical SEO vs. SEO

Technical SEO is a critical component of overall SEO efforts, complementing on-page and off-page strategies to create a well-rounded optimization plan. To grasp the differences between technical SEO and the broader discipline of SEO, here’s a quick overview of these three main components:

1. On-page SEO aims to create content that is engaging, valuable, and relevant to the target audience. This involves a focus on optimizing individual web pages to climb up the search results ladder. You’ll be dabbling in keyword research, content optimization, proper use of headings, and meta tags to make it all happen.
2. Off-page SEO refers to activities outside of your website that influence its ranking in search results. We’re talking link-building strategies, social media engagement, and online reputation management. The name of the game? Establishing authority, credibility, and trust with search engines and users alike.
3. Technical SEO, as we’ve covered, focuses on enhancing the infrastructure and performance of a website to improve its crawlability, indexability, and user experience. This includes optimizing page speed, mobile-friendliness, site architecture, structured data, and more.

Learn more: On-page SEO vs. off-page SEO.

Let’s Dive Deeper: Technical SEO Cornerstones

We’ve got the basics down, so let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of technical SEO.

Site Architecture

Picture your website like a city, and site architecture as the roadmap helping both search engines and users navigate through it. A well-structured site makes it easy for everyone to find their way around, leading to happy users and search engine bots. Achieve this by prioritizing clear navigation, logical URL structure, and a solid internal linking strategy.

Site Speed

We’ve all been there—waiting for a page to load that takes an eternity, then hitting the back button in frustration. Page load time is a critical factor in user experience, and search engines know it. Optimize your site speed by compressing images, using a reliable web host, and leveraging caching to ensure your site is lightning-fast and keeps your visitors engaged.

Mobile-Friendliness

With smartphones practically glued to us 24/7, it’s no surprise that mobile-friendliness is a top priority for search engines. You want your website to look and function smoothly on mobile devices to keep users satisfied and coming back for more. Implement responsive design, ensure your site’s features work well on mobile, and test your site on different devices to stay ahead of the game.

Crawlability and Indexability

What good is a website if search engines can’t find it? Crawlability and indexability are all about making sure search engine bots can easily discover, explore, and understand your site’s content. Keep an eye on your site’s robots.txt file and sitemap, and use proper HTML tags to guide search engines and help them index your content efficiently.

Structured Data and Schema Markup

Structured data and schema markup are like secret languages between your website and search engines. The use of this extra layer of information helps search engines understand your content better and potentially boost your appearance in search results with rich snippets. Use schema.org markup to give search engines the inside scoop on your content and increase your chances of standing out in the crowd.

Learn more: what is schema?

Technical SEO Tools

So, you’re all geared up and ready to tackle technical SEO like a pro. But hold up—you’re going to need some tools in your arsenal to help you navigate the complexities and optimize your site like a champ.

Check out these must-have technical SEO tools to get you started.

Google Search Console

You might already be using Google Search Console in your SEO workflow, but did you know that this tool is also super helpful for technical SEO tasks? It gives you valuable insights into how your site is performing, helps you monitor crawl errors, and even lets you submit your sitemap directly to Google.

Screaming Frog

Get ready to unleash the power of the frog. Screaming Frog is a handy website crawler that’ll sniff out technical SEO issues like broken links, missing metadata, and duplicate content. It’s like having a detective on your side, tirelessly investigating your site and helping you fix pesky technical issues.

Google PageSpeed Insights

Speed is the name of the game, and Google PageSpeed Insights is your trusty sidekick. This tool analyzes your site’s performance on both desktop and mobile devices, offering valuable suggestions on how to optimize your site’s speed.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is possibly the most comprehensive SEO tool on the market, boasting a suite of features for both technical and non-technical SEO. Use their Site Audit tool to uncover technical issues and dive deep into their wealth of data to optimize your site’s performance.

Semrush

Last but definitely not least, Semrush is another all-in-one SEO platform that offers a trove of tools and insights. With its Site Audit feature, you can identify and fix technical SEO issues, track your site’s performance, and even uncover how your competitors’ strategies are performing.

Learn more: 20+ technical SEO tools.

Conclusion: Staying on Top of Technical SEO

We’ve covered a lot, so let’s boil it down to the essentials. To stay on top of your technical SEO game, you’ll want to:

1. Conduct regular audits to spot and fix any lurking issues.
2. Stay up-to-date with the ever-changing world of SEO and industry updates.
3. And most importantly, partner with a reliable SEO agency to guide you through the maze of optimization.

If you’re ready to supercharge your website’s performance and unlock its full potential, look no further than us, Loganix. Allow us to handle the more technical aspects of your site while you sit back and watch your rankings soar.

🚀 Don’t wait another minute—improve your website’s performance with Loganix’s SEO services today! 🚀