Most small businesses don’t actually know what technical SEO is. You know you need something called SEO to be found on Google, but you’re not quite sure what that means or how to tell if your website has it. It’s even harder to know what to look for in an SEO provider or a web designer or developer who says they’ll help with your SEO.
This post will walk you through what technical SEO means for your website and why it matters. This checklist works for every site, whether you’re using WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, or a custom coded platform. You’ll learn what to check for, what tools to use, and what questions to ask, whether you’re managing your own site or hiring someone to help.
Every page and post on your website should have a custom SEO title and meta description. These two elements show up in search results and give people a reason to click.
Your SEO title is the clickable headline. Your meta description is the short sentence or two that appears below it. Together, they’re your first impression with both your audience and search engines.
Try this:
- Write a unique title and meta description for every page and blog post
- Put your main phrase near the beginning of the title
- Write your meta description like a friendly summary
- Keep titles under 60 characters and meta descriptions under 160
Think of it like a movie trailer. You want people to feel curious enough to click and learn more.
Use Alt Text to Help People and Search Engines
Alt text is a short description you add to your images. It helps people using screen readers understand your content and gives search engines helpful context.
Try this:
- Describe what’s in the image clearly and simply
- Include your keyword phrase if it fits naturally
- Avoid keyword stuffing
Alt text makes your site more inclusive and improves your chances of showing up in image search results.
Site Speed Can Make or Break Your Website
If your site takes too long to load, visitors will leave before they even see your content. Search engines notice that, and it can affect your rankings.
Try this:
- Compress images before uploading them
- Choose a reliable and fast hosting provider
- Remove any unused plugins or extra code
- Keep your plugins and WordPress core updated to avoid slowdowns and security risks
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve
A fast site creates a better experience, builds trust, and keeps people around longer. If keeping everything updated sounds like a hassle, this wordpress maintenance service can help you stay on top of it.
Accessibility Helps Everyone, Including Google
Accessibility means your site is usable by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. It also improves your structure and clarity, which search engines love.
Try this:
- Use proper heading structure (like H1 for titles, H2 for subheadings)
- Make sure text is easy to read with strong contrast
- Add descriptive labels to buttons and links
When your site is accessible, it works better for everyone.
Your Hosting Provider Matters More Than You Think
Your website is only as strong as the server it lives on. Slow, unreliable hosting can lead to downtime, poor speed, and security issues that hurt your SEO.
Try this:
- Choose a hosting provider with a strong reputation
- Look for features like SSL, backups, and caching tools
- Ask about customer support and uptime guarantees
Think of hosting like the foundation of a building. You want it to be stable, secure, and built to last.
Create and Submit a Sitemap
A sitemap is a list of all the pages on your website. It helps search engines find and index your content faster and more accurately.
Try this:
- If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Rank Math or Yoast can automatically generate your sitemap
- If your site is on Squarespace, Webflow, or another platform, check their settings or help center, most offer built-in sitemap functionality. And, if they don’t, don’t use them
- Submit it through Google Search Console
This is like giving Google a clean, simple map to everything your site offers.
Connect to Google Search Console and Google Analytics
These two free tools are essential for understanding how your website is performing.
Google Search Console shows how your site appears in search results, including what keywords people are using and whether Google can properly crawl your site.
Google Analytics helps you see what visitors do once they land on your site — how they found you, how long they stayed, and what pages they visited.
Try this:
- Set up both tools as early as possible
- Check them once a month to track progress and spot problems
- If you’re on WordPress and want help with setup, insights, or error fixes, our Quarterly WordPress Assurance plans are made for this
These tools give you data that helps you make better decisions and grow with confidence.
Final Thoughts
Technical SEO is not about becoming a developer or mastering code. It’s about making your website easier to find, faster to use, and better for your visitors. These changes might seem small, but they add up to big improvements in performance, search visibility, and trust.
And if it still feels like too much to figure out on your own, you don’t have to. That’s what we’re here for.