Technical SEO is the backbone of your website’s visibility. Even the best content won’t rank if search engines can’t crawl, index, or understand your site. Follow this actionable checklist to fix common issues and lay a strong foundation for organic growth.

1. Audit Site Speed
Slow-loading pages frustrate users and hurt rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify bottlenecks. Compress code, leverage browser caching, and consider a CDN. For image-heavy sites, tools like Photozilla, TinyPNG, or ShortPixel can optimize file sizes without sacrificing quality.

2. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness
Over 60% of global searches happen on mobile. Test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Use responsive design, avoid intrusive pop-ups, and ensure buttons are thumb-friendly.

3. Fix Crawl Errors
Broken links waste crawl budget. Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find 404 errors. Redirect broken URLs to relevant pages or update internal links.

4. Optimize Robots.txt and XML Sitemap
Block irrelevant pages (like admin paths) in robots.txt. Submit an updated XML sitemap via Google Search Console to guide crawlers to key content.

5. Implement Structured Data
Schema markup helps search engines understand context. Add JSON-LD code for articles, products, or FAQs. Test with Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.

6. Secure Your Site with HTTPS
SSL encryption is a ranking factor. Migrate to HTTPS, update internal links, and set up 301 redirects for HTTP pages.

7. Optimize Images and Alt Text
Compress images using tools like Photozilla, Kraken.io, or Squoosh. Add descriptive alt text (e.g., “red-apple-on-wooden-table” instead of “image123.jpg”). For low-quality visuals, AI upscaling tools like Photozilla can enhance resolution.

8. Minimize Duplicate Content
Use canonical tags to specify preferred versions of similar pages. For e-commerce sites, add noindex tags to filters or sorting parameters.

9. Improve Internal Linking
Link related pages to distribute authority. Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., “best DSLR cameras” instead of “click here”).

10. Monitor Core Web Vitals
Track Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Optimize server response times and avoid layout shifts caused by ads or dynamic elements.

Final Thoughts
Technical SEO isn’t a one-time task. Schedule quarterly audits to stay ahead of algorithm updates and user expectations. Tools like Photozilla (for image optimization), SEMrush (for site health checks), and Google Search Console (for real-time alerts) make maintenance easier. By nailing the basics, you’ll create a seamless experience for both search engines and visitors.