SEO Audit Checklist 2026: 25 Checks for Your Business Website
A simple, step-by-step SEO audit checklist you can run yourself with free tools, covering indexing, speed, on-page SEO, content and local SEO, plus exactly how to fix what you find.
Most business websites in Bangalore don't have a content problem or a budget problem. They have hidden technical problems that quietly stop Google from ranking them: pages that can't be indexed, leftover demo pages from a theme, missing titles, slow mobile loading or a Google Business Profile that doesn't match the website.
You can't fix what you can't see. That's what an SEO audit is for.
This SEO audit checklist gives you 25 practical checks, grouped into five areas, that you can run on your own business website using free tools. For each check, you'll see what to look for, how to check it and how to fix it. It's the same structure we use when we audit websites for Bangalore businesses.
What Is an SEO Audit?
An SEO audit is a structured health check of your website. It finds the issues that stop your pages from being found, indexed, ranked and clicked on Google, then puts them in order of priority so you know what to fix first.
A good audit answers four questions:
- Can Google find and index your important pages?
- Is your website fast, secure and mobile-friendly?
- Does each page clearly target the searches your customers use?
- Does Google trust your business, locally and across the web?
How often should you audit? Run a full SEO audit before starting any SEO campaign, after a website redesign or migration, and at least once a year. Quick monthly checks in Google Search Console catch new problems early.
Free Tools You'll Need for This SEO Audit
Checks 1–5: Indexing & Crawling
Your important pages are indexed
How to check: In Search Console, open Pages (Indexing report) and see which pages are "Not indexed" and why. Also search site:yourdomain.com on Google.
Fix: For important pages that aren't indexed, fix the reason shown (noindex, redirect, duplicate, crawled but not indexed), then use URL Inspection → Request Indexing.
No junk or demo pages are indexed
How to check: Scroll through your site: search results. Look for theme demo pages, "Hello world" posts, sample pages, test folders, tag and author archives.
Fix: Delete or noindex them, redirect any that get traffic to a relevant real page, and remove them in Search Console's Removals tool.
Your XML sitemap is clean and submitted
How to check: Open yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml (or sitemap.xml) and check it lists only real pages. Confirm it's submitted in Search Console → Sitemaps.
Fix: Exclude unused post types and archives in your SEO plugin, then resubmit. Google's sitemap guide explains best practice.
robots.txt isn't blocking important pages
How to check: Open yourdomain.com/robots.txt. Look for "Disallow: /" or rules blocking folders you want ranked.
Fix: Remove blocking rules for important content and add your sitemap URL. Google's robots.txt introduction covers the basics.
One version of your website exists
How to check: Type http://, https://, www and non-www versions of your domain. All should redirect to one single version.
Fix: Set up 301 redirects to your preferred version and make sure canonical tags point to it.
Checks 6–10: Technical SEO & Speed
Mobile speed passes Core Web Vitals
How to check: Run your homepage and top service page through PageSpeed Insights on the mobile tab. Check LCP, INP and CLS.
Fix: Compress images (WebP or AVIF), remove unused plugins and scripts, enable caching and lazy-load images below the fold. Google's Core Web Vitals guide lists the targets.
The website works perfectly on mobile
How to check: Open every key page on your phone. Check text size, buttons, menus, forms and that nothing is cut off sideways.
Fix: Adjust mobile layouts in your page builder, enlarge tap targets and make call and WhatsApp buttons easy to reach.
HTTPS works on every page
How to check: Look for the padlock in your browser on several pages, including forms and images loaded over http.
Fix: Install or renew your SSL certificate and update any http links or images to https.
No broken links or redirect chains
How to check: Crawl your site with Screaming Frog and filter for 404 errors and redirect chains (one redirect pointing to another).
Fix: Update internal links to point directly to the final page, and 301-redirect any deleted pages that still get visits.
Schema markup is present and error-free
How to check: Test your homepage, contact page and a blog post in the Rich Results Test.
Fix: Add LocalBusiness or Organization schema to key pages, FAQ schema where you have FAQs, and fix any errors shown.
Short on time? We'll run all 25 checks on your website for free.
Get Free SEO Audit →Checks 11–15: On-Page SEO
Every page has a unique, keyword-focused title
How to check: In Screaming Frog, look at page titles for missing, duplicate or overly long titles (over about 60 characters).
Fix: Write a unique title for each page with the main service and location near the start, such as "SEO Company in Bangalore | Brand Name".
Meta descriptions encourage clicks
How to check: Check for missing or duplicate descriptions, and compare your click-through rate in Search Console's Performance report.
Fix: Write a clear 140–155 character description per page with a benefit and a call to action.
One H1 per page, with a logical heading structure
How to check: Use a browser SEO extension or Screaming Frog to list H1 and H2 tags. Watch for multiple H1s, missing H1s, or footer widgets using H2s.
Fix: Keep one descriptive H1, use H2s for main sections and H3s for sub-points. Change decorative headings to normal text.
Each page targets one main search topic
How to check: In Search Console, look for two or more of your pages appearing for the same search. That's keyword cannibalisation.
Fix: Give each page one clear focus, merge near-duplicate pages and point internal links to the page you want to rank.
Images have descriptive alt text and file names
How to check: Crawl for images with missing alt text, and look for file names like "IMG_1234.jpg" or "Screenshot".
Fix: Add short, accurate alt text describing each image, and rename important images before uploading.
Checks 16–20: Content & Trust
Service pages have enough useful content
How to check: Read each service page as a customer. Does it explain what you do, who it's for, your process, pricing guidance and FAQs?
Fix: Expand thin pages with real detail, examples and FAQs. Google's guide to creating helpful content explains what it looks for.
No duplicate or copied text
How to check: Copy a sentence from your page into Google in quotes. Also compare your About text with your footer and other pages.
Fix: Rewrite duplicated sections so each page has its own original text.
Your About page builds real trust
How to check: Does it show the founder or team, years in business, real photos, address and what makes you different?
Fix: Add real people, your story, credentials, client examples and office photos instead of stock images.
Blog content matches what customers search
How to check: Review your blog posts. Are they recent, relevant to your services and linked to your service pages?
Fix: Remove or redirect off-topic posts, update old ones and plan new posts around questions your customers actually ask.
Internal links guide visitors to key pages
How to check: In Search Console's Links report, see which pages get the most internal links. Your main service pages should be near the top.
Fix: Link from blogs and the homepage to service pages using descriptive link text, and fix buttons that link to "#".
Checks 21–25: Local SEO & Off-Page
Google Business Profile is complete and verified
How to check: Search your business name on Google Maps. Check categories, services, hours, photos and description.
Fix: Complete every field, choose the most accurate primary category and post updates weekly. Our local SEO guide covers this step by step.
Name, address and phone match everywhere
How to check: Compare your website footer, contact page, Google profile and directory listings like Justdial.
Fix: Pick one exact format and update every listing to match, including the area name you use.
You're getting recent Google reviews
How to check: Compare your review count, rating and how recent your reviews are against the top three competitors in the map pack.
Fix: Ask every happy customer for a review with a direct link, and reply to every review.
Your backlink profile is healthy
How to check: In Search Console's Links report, review the top linking sites. Look for spammy, irrelevant or foreign gambling sites.
Fix: Focus on earning genuine local links from associations, partners and local media, and avoid buying links.
You can measure leads, not just traffic
How to check: Are form submissions, call clicks and WhatsApp clicks tracked as conversions in your analytics?
Fix: Set up conversion tracking so you know which pages and searches bring real enquiries.
SEO Issues We Find Most Often on Bangalore Business Websites
When we audit websites for local businesses, the same problems come up again and again. Many are easy to fix once you know they're there:
- Leftover theme demo content. Sample portfolios, team members, events and "Hello world" posts still indexed years after launch.
- Multiple H1 tags. Sliders, chat widgets and page builders often add extra H1s without anyone noticing.
- Scripts changing the page title. Chat widgets that show "1 new message" in the browser tab can change the title Google sees.
- Buttons linking nowhere. "Get a Quote" or "Learn More" buttons pointing to "#" instead of a real page.
- Address mismatches. The website mentions one area while the Google profile and footer show another.
- Pages renamed without redirects. A changed URL losing rankings because the old address now shows a 404 error.
Score Your Website
Give your website one point for each check it passes, then use this table to decide what to do next:
| Score | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| 22 – 25 | Strong foundations | Focus on content, links and reviews to grow |
| 16 – 21 | Good, with gaps holding you back | Fix failed checks over the next month |
| 10 – 15 | Significant issues limiting rankings | Prioritise indexing and technical fixes first |
| Below 10 | Serious problems | Get a professional audit before investing in content or ads |
Fix in this order: indexing and crawling first, then technical and speed, then on-page, then content, then local and links. There's no point writing new content if Google can't index the pages it sits on.
If your score shows you need ongoing help, our guide to SEO packages and SEO pricing in Bangalore explains what each level of support includes. If many issues come from the website itself, read website design vs web development to understand what kind of fix you need.
Get a Free SEO Audit from Exalt Techsoft
Running 25 checks takes time, and knowing which fixes matter most takes experience. As an SEO company in Bangalore with 12+ years of experience and 250+ clients, we'll run this full audit on your website and give you a clear, prioritised action plan.
Because our web design and SEO teams work together, we can also fix the issues we find, not just report them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an SEO audit?
A complete SEO audit checks indexing and crawling, technical health and speed, on-page SEO such as titles and headings, content quality, local SEO signals like your Google Business Profile, backlinks and conversion tracking.
Can I do an SEO audit myself?
Yes. Using free tools like Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights and the Rich Results Test, most business owners can run the basic checks in this list in two to three hours. A professional audit adds deeper analysis and prioritised fixes.
How often should I audit my website?
Run a full audit before starting SEO, after any redesign or migration, and at least once a year. Check Google Search Console monthly to catch new indexing or performance issues early.
How much does an SEO audit cost in Bangalore?
A professional one-time technical SEO audit in Bangalore typically costs ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 depending on the size of the website. Many agencies, including Exalt Techsoft, offer a free initial audit before quoting for ongoing SEO.
What should I fix first after an SEO audit?
Fix indexing and crawling issues first, then speed and technical problems, then on-page elements like titles and headings, then content, and finally local SEO and backlinks.
How long after fixing issues will rankings improve?
Google usually needs a few days to a few weeks to recrawl fixed pages. Technical fixes can show results within weeks, while content and authority improvements typically take three to six months.
Want Us to Run This Audit for You?
Get a free SEO audit from Exalt Techsoft. We'll check all 25 points on your website and send you a clear, prioritised list of what to fix to start ranking higher on Google.
