You still might be trying to answer the question what is technical SEO and is it different from content SEO. Yes… it is very different from content SEO. Technical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes aspects of optimizing a website for search engines. It encompasses a wide range of tasks and strategies that are designed to improve the technical structure and functionality of a website, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index its content, and ultimately, improving its search visibility.
Key Components
Site Architecture:
A well-structured site with a clear hierarchy, intuitive navigation, and a logical URL structure can help search engines understand the organization and relevance of your content.
Content Optimization:
Search engines use various signals to determine the relevance and quality of your content, such as keywords, meta descriptions, and header tags. Technical SEO best practices dictate the use of these elements to optimize content for both users and search engines. A common problem we encounter after our initial site review is that duplicate meta descriptions are used across multiple pages. This frequently happens with eCommerce sites where the merchant will use the same meta description when making a new product thinking that by adding the same meta description they are increasing the volume of text associated with their brand when in reality they are lowering their search position.
Page Speed:
The faster your site loads, the better user experience you’ll provide, which can positively impact your search rankings. Technical SEO involves optimizing images, minifying code, and leveraging content delivery networks to improve page speed. You can use some common tools to measure your site speed such as Google’s Page Speed Insights or GT Metrix. This tool allows you to get a snapshot of how fast your site loads on both a desktop and mobile device.
Mobile Optimization:
With the increasing number of users accessing websites on mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure your site is optimized for smaller screens. This includes implementing responsive design, using mobile-friendly URLs, and avoiding blocking critical resources.
Sitemaps and Robots.txt:
A sitemap is a file that lists all of the pages on your site, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content. The robots.txt file is used to control how search engines crawl your site, and can be used to block sensitive pages or sections from being indexed.
URL Canonicalization:
When multiple URLs lead to the same content, it’s important to specify the preferred URL using canonical tags. This helps search engines avoid indexing duplicate content, which can negatively impact your search visibility.
Structured Data:
Structured data is a standardized format for providing information about a page, such as product or event details, that can be used by search engines to understand the content and context of a page. Technical SEO involves implementing structured data to help search engines understand the content on your site.
Security:
Ensuring your site is secure is a critical aspect of technical SEO. Implementing SSL encryption and avoiding security vulnerabilities, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks, can help ensure your site remains secure and trustworthy to both users and search engines.
Technical SEO can be a complex and constantly evolving field, but implementing best practices can help ensure your site is technically optimized for search engines and provides a positive user experience. Additionally, it’s important to regularly monitor your site and make updates as needed to ensure it remains in compliance with the latest search engine guidelines.
At 2A Commerce we have site audit software tools and the experience to analyze and monitor your site and improve your technical SEO. If you want to improve your website’s visibility and attract more traffic, contact 2A Commerce today for a free SEO Summary Audit!
