The uncomfortable truth: you can’t succeed without technical SEO

A stunning website won’t get you far if search engines can’t crawl, index, or understand it. Technical SEO is the behind-the-scenes magic that makes sure your site is built for both users and search engines.

Having a website without technical SEO is like building a house on shaky foundations—no matter how great it looks, it won’t stand the test of time. If your rankings are stuck or traffic is lagging, technical issues are often the hidden culprit.

You’ve got a few choices: hire a developer (pricey), work with an agency (also pricey), or tackle it yourself (daunting, but doable). But before you start throwing money at the problem, wouldn’t it help to know what you actually need?

That’s where this guide comes in. By understanding the fundamentals of technical SEO, you’ll be able to:

✅ Identify and fix common technical issues before they tank your rankings
✅ Make informed decisions when hiring an SEO expert (and avoid wasting money)
✅ Speak the language of search engines so you can future-proof your site

Let’s break it down.

Technical SEO explained (no-fluff)

Here’s the essential breakdown of Technical SEO without the industry jargon or unnecessary complexity. If you’re looking for the straightforward, actionable version that actually delivers results, you’re in the right place.

WTF are we talking about here? (definition)

Technical SEO involves optimizing a website’s infrastructure to help search engines crawl, index, and interpret content effectively.

What’s this  trying to accomplish? (goals)

Improve crawlability, indexing, site speed, mobile-friendliness, site structure, and user experience.

What actually works? (best practices)

• “Optimize site loading speed
• Implement structured data (Schema markup)
• Ensure mobile responsiveness
• Create and submit XML sitemaps
• Implement HTTPS (secure connection)
• Maintain clear URL structures
• Fix broken links (404s) and redirects
• Optimize Robots.txt and meta tags”

Where do most people get it wrong? (common mistakes)

• Ignoring mobile optimization
• Slow page loading speeds
• Poor URL structure and duplicate content
• Incorrect use of canonical tags
• Blocking important resources in Robots.txt
• Overlooking HTTPS implementation

When should you focus on technical SEO? (use cases)

• Website migrations/redesigns
• Improving site load times and performance
• Resolving indexing and crawling issues
• Ensuring compatibility with search engine guidelines

How much will this move the needle? (impact on rankings)

High impact (foundational to SEO performance).

How long until I see some movement? (timeframe for results)

Short to medium-term (improvements typically noticeable within weeks to months).

What should be in your SEO toolkit? (tools + software)

• Google Search Console
• Screaming Frog
• SEMrush Site Audit
• Ahrefs Site Audit
• PageSpeed Insights
• GTmetrix

How do you know if it’s working? (metrics to track)

• Crawl errors
• Indexing status
• Page load speed (Core Web Vitals)
• Mobile usability
• Structured data validation
• Server response codes

Who’s crushing it with technical SEO? (examples of successful implementation)

• Airbnb significantly improved search visibility through comprehensive technical SEO improvements, focusing heavily on structured data and crawlability.
• Pinterest increased organic traffic substantially after addressing crawl budget and site speed optimizations.

Who should you be listening to? (experts)

• John Mueller (Google)
• Aleyda Solis
• Barry Adams

Is this something you can DIY? (difficulty level)

Intermediate to advanced (requires technical knowledge and expertise).

What’s this going to set you back? (cost considerations)

Medium to high, depending on complexity (typically requires skilled professionals or agencies, budget range from hundreds to several thousand dollars).

Technical SEO: Where to go from here?

You’ve got the technical SEO basics down, but the search landscape changes faster than Google can update its algorithm.

Stay ahead with deep dives from the Loganix blog:

Or if you’d rather spend your time growing your business instead, get in touch with our team. We’ve helped hundreds of businesses just like yours climb the rankings with proven strategies.