How do I run a free SEO audit on my website?
Step-by-Step Free Audit Process
First, set up Google Search Console (GSC) for your website. It's free and shows how Google sees your site, including indexing issues, mobile usability, and search queries. Verify ownership via DNS or HTML file upload.
Next, use a free SEO audit tool like Ubersuggest, SEOptimer, or Screaming Frog (free up to 500 URLs). These crawl your site and flag issues like broken links, missing meta tags, and slow pages. They give you a prioritized list.
Finally, check your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights and ensure your site is mobile-friendly using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test. These are all free and provide actionable recommendations.
- Google Search Console: indexing, queries, mobile issues
- Google Analytics: traffic sources, bounce rates
- Ubersuggest/SEOptimer: on-page and technical checks
- PageSpeed Insights: speed and Core Web Vitals
- Screaming Frog (free): crawl up to 500 URLs
What to Do with the Results
After running the audit, prioritize fixes that impact indexing and user experience first. For example, fix crawl errors and broken links before tweaking meta descriptions.
Keep a record of issues and re-audit after making changes to track progress. Free tools often let you export reports, so you can compare before and after.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a free audit will catch everything—free tools have limits like crawl caps and may miss advanced issues.
- Ignoring Google Search Console data, which is the most accurate source for how Google indexes your site.
- Running an audit once and never again; SEO requires ongoing monitoring.
