What is technical SEO?
Technical SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website’s technical elements like HTML, site architecture, and speed to improve search engine rankings. It focuses on the behind-the-scenes elements of a website that search engines use to understand and index content.
Different types of technical SEO include:
– On-page optimization – Optimizing individual webpages through meta tags, URL structure, page speed, etc.
– Site architecture – Organizing the structure and internal linking of a website.
– Indexation – Ensuring pages are properly crawled and indexed by search engines.
– Technical audits – Evaluating areas for improvement like broken links, duplicate content, etc.
– Server configuration – Setting up servers for optimal performance and security.
Here are three everyday analogies for technical SEO:
– Technical SEO is like changing the oil in your car regularly to keep the engine running smoothly.
– It’s like organizing your closet so you can easily find what you need.
– Technical SEO is like proofreading an essay to fix any typos or grammar issues.
Why is technical SEO important?
Technical SEO creates the foundation for search engine optimization success. If the technical elements of a site are not optimized, other SEO efforts will be less effective. Good technical SEO improves site speed, security, and indexation. It also enhances the overall user experience.
Some key benefits of technical SEO include:
– Better crawlability and indexation
– Faster page load times
– Lower bounce rates
– Improved website security
– More efficient site architecture
– Better quality scores in search engine algorithms
Common systems and software related to technical SEO include:
– Site crawlers like Screaming Frog to audit technical SEO
– Speed testing tools like PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom
– Web development platforms like WordPress and Squarespace
– Tag managers like Google Tag Manager for tracking/analytics
– CDNs to optimize content delivery
– SEO platforms like Moz and Ahrefs to monitor rankings and metrics