1. Check indexing

In Google Search Console, review which pages are indexed and which are excluded. Look for important pages marked "noindex" or "crawled, currently not indexed".

2. Review your sitemap and robots file

• Submit an XML sitemap containing only pages you want indexed.
• Make sure robots.txt does not block key pages, scripts, or styles.
• Decide deliberately which AI crawlers you allow, since they decide whether you can appear in AI answers.

3. Fix speed, especially on mobile

• Compress and correctly size images.
• Remove unused plugins and heavy scripts.
• Use caching and a good host.
• Check Core Web Vitals reports for real problems.

Speed is also part of good web development and web design.

4. Use clean URLs and structure

Short, readable URLs, one clear H1 per page, and a logical heading order help both people and crawlers. Avoid duplicate pages with different URLs. More on this in our on-page SEO service.

5. Handle redirects and errors

Fix broken links, avoid redirect chains, and redirect old URLs to the right new page when you change a slug.

6. Add accurate schema markup

Use organization, service, local business, and FAQ markup where it matches visible content. Test it with Google's Rich Results Test. Local businesses should also follow the local SEO checklist.

7. Make internal links work

Link from strong pages to important ones with descriptive anchor text, and make sure no valuable page is an orphan.

8. Secure and stable

Use HTTPS, keep WordPress and plugins updated, and take regular backups.

Need a professional review?

Our technical SEO service and SEO audit find and prioritise the fixes for you. For the bigger picture, read about AI SEO versus traditional SEO in the next guide below.