What’s up SEO fam!

I hope you’re doing well and ready to take another deep dive into the world of SEO. This week, we’re moving into territory that might sound intimidating but is actually pretty manageable once you break it down: Technical SEO.

Think of it as the behind-the-scenes magic that helps your site shine on the front end. If you’re ready, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get to it. My coffee is in hand while writing this post!

Dad Joke:

When does a joke become a dad joke?

Well, during the delivery it becomes apparent.

So dumb yet so good 🤣

SEO Tip #7

Technical SEO ensures that your site is easy for search engines to crawl and index. You can have the most well-optimized content, but if your site isn’t technically sound, you’ll struggle to rank.

Let’s break down the essential elements and go step by step.

Step 1: Create and Submit an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is like a roadmap for search engines, helping them find and index the key pages of your site. If you don’t have one yet, don’t worry—it’s easy to set up.

How to create an XML sitemap:

1. Use a plugin or tool: If you’re on WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can generate a sitemap for you automatically.

2. Access your sitemap: After installing the plugin, navigate to the plugin settings, and you’ll usually find the sitemap under the “General” tab or “Sitemap” section.

3. Check your sitemap URL: It will typically be found at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml.

Submit your sitemap to Google:

1. Go to Google Search Console and log in.

2. On the left-hand side, click on “Sitemaps”.

3. Enter the URL of your sitemap and hit “Submit”.

4. Check back in a few days to ensure there are no errors in the index coverage report.

Step 2: Optimize Your Robots.txt File

Your robots.txt file tells search engine crawlers which parts of your site they can and can’t access. It’s essential to get this right so that you don’t accidentally block important pages.

How to optimize your robots.txt file:

1. Locate your robots.txt file: You can usually find it at yourwebsite.com/robots.txt.

2. Edit with care: Use a text editor or your website’s CMS to make changes.

3. Include directives: Here are some common lines to include:

   • Allow all crawlers:

     makefile

     Copy code

     User-agent: * Disallow:

   • Block a specific folder (e.g., your admin section):

     javascript

     Copy code

     User-agent: * Disallow: /admin/

4. Check for errors: Use Google Search Console’s “URL Inspection” tool to see how Google interprets your robots.txt file.

Pro Tip: Avoid blocking JavaScript and CSS files, as Google needs access to these to understand your site’s layout and functionality.

Step 3: Ensure Mobile-Friendliness

Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means it looks at the mobile version of your site first when determining rankings. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on valuable traffic.

How to check and improve mobile-friendliness:

1. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool: Go to Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and enter your URL.

2. Review the results: The tool will tell you if your page is mobile-friendly and point out any issues.

3. Optimize your site:

   • Responsive Design: Ensure your site’s design adapts to different screen sizes.

   • Readable Fonts: Use font sizes that are easy to read on smaller screens.

   • Clickable Elements: Make sure buttons and links are large enough and not too close together.

Pro Tip: Regularly check your site’s mobile performance in Google Search Console under “Mobile Usability” to catch any issues early.

Step 4: Secure Your Site with HTTPS

Site security is more important than ever, and Google considers HTTPS a ranking factor. If your site still uses HTTP, it’s time to make the switch.

Steps to secure your site with HTTPS:

1. Get an SSL Certificate: You can get a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt or purchase one from your hosting provider.

2. Install the SSL Certificate: Follow your host’s instructions for installation. Most modern hosts have a one-click install option.

3. Update internal links: Ensure all internal links use HTTPS instead of HTTP.

4. Set up redirects: Use a 301 redirect to automatically send traffic from HTTP to HTTPS.

5. Check for mixed content: Use tools like Why No Padlock to identify any pages that have non-secure (HTTP) elements and update them.

Step 5: Monitor Your Technical SEO

Once you’ve implemented these technical SEO essentials, keep an eye on your site’s health. Regularly check your site in Google Search Console to catch any new issues that might pop up.

Ongoing monitoring tips:

• Run periodic technical audits using tools like Screaming Frog, Ubersuggest or SEMRush.

• Check for crawl errors and fix them promptly.

• Keep your plugins, themes, and CMS updated to ensure optimal performance and security.

And that’s a wrap on Technical SEO!

It might sound like a lot, but getting these basics right is crucial for the long-term health and performance of your site. Technical SEO is like the engine in your car—nobody sees it, but it’s what keeps everything running smoothly.

Thanks for sticking with me through another SEO deep dive! If you have questions, need clarification, or just want to send me a dad joke, hit that reply button. And remember, if technical SEO isn’t your thing or you just need a little help, you know where to find me: theseomarketingdad.com.

PS If you are having trouble with your SEO please reach out! I offer consultations and retainer contracts for SEO services!