If you’ve ever wondered why your website isn’t showing up on Google—or why it’s not bringing in traffic—chances are, technical SEO is the missing piece.
And don’t worry, I’m explaining this like you’re five. Because that’s how simple technical SEO should be.
Let’s go through 25 key fixes one by one, like a friendly guide walking you through the backstage of your website.
1. Make Sure Google Can See Your Website
What it is: Think of Google like a visitor at your house. If your door is locked, they can’t come in. Your website has a special file called robots.txt that tells search engines what they’re allowed to see. If it says “stay out,” then Google won’t look at anything.
Why it’s important: If Google can’t access your site, it won’t be able to rank it. That means nobody will find you in search.
How to fix it:
- Type
yourwebsite.com/robots.txtin your browser. - Look for a line that says
Disallow: /—that blocks everything. - If it’s there, change it to
Allow: /or delete the line.
How to test it:
- Go to Google Search Console
- Use the URL Inspection Tool
- Type in your homepage URL
- If it says “URL is on Google,” you’re good. If not, check your robots.txt again.
2. Submit a Sitemap
What it is: A sitemap is like a table of contents for your website. It lists all the pages you want Google to know about.
Why it’s important: It helps Google crawl your site more efficiently. Especially useful for new websites or large sites with lots of pages.
How to fix it:
- If you’re using WordPress, install Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
- These plugins automatically create a sitemap for you (usually at
yourwebsite.com/sitemap_index.xml). - Log into Google Search Console
- Click on Sitemaps on the left
- Paste your sitemap URL and click submit
How to test it:
- Google will show “Success” under submitted sitemaps
- It will also tell you how many pages were discovered
3. Fix Broken Links (404 Errors)
What it is: A broken link is like giving someone directions to a store that no longer exists. When they get there, they hit a dead end, also known as a 404 error page.
Why it’s important: Broken links frustrate visitors and tell Google your site isn’t well-maintained. Too many of them can hurt your rankings.
How to fix it:
- Use tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console
- Find all pages or links that return a “404 Not Found” error
- Decide how to fix them:
- If the page still exists, update the link to the correct URL
- If the page was deleted, either remove the link or redirect it to a related page
How to test it:
- Click each link to make sure it opens a real page
- Use a free broken link checker like BrokenLinkCheck.com
4. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness
What it is: Your website needs to work well on mobile phones. That means it should load quickly, text should be readable without zooming, and buttons should be easy to tap.
Why it’s important: Most people use their phones to browse. If your site doesn’t work on a phone, they’ll leave. Google also checks mobile experience before deciding to rank your site.
How to fix it:
- Use a responsive theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes
- Make fonts large enough to read on a small screen
- Avoid using pop-ups or elements that cover content
How to test it:
- Go to Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, enter your URL, and check the result
5. Speed Up Your Website
What it is: Imagine clicking on a website and waiting 5 seconds for it to load. Annoying, right? Slow sites lose visitors fast.
Why it’s important: Page speed affects user experience and rankings. Google wants to show fast-loading sites.
How to fix it:
- Compress large images using tools like TinyPNG
- Use a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache)
- Use a reliable, fast hosting provider
- Limit heavy scripts (especially those that load ads, popups, or animations)
How to test it:
- Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. Aim for a score above 90 on mobile
6. Use HTTPS, Not HTTP
What it is: HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP. It keeps your site safe by encrypting data.
Why it’s important: Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal. Plus, browsers now mark HTTP sites as “Not Secure,” which scares visitors away.
How to fix it:
- Get a free SSL certificate from your hosting provider (most offer this)
- Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL (if on WordPress)
- Set up a redirect so all traffic goes from HTTP to HTTPS
How to test it:
- Visit your site and make sure the URL starts with
https:// - Look for a padlock icon next to your URL in the browser
7. Remove Duplicate Content
What it is: Duplicate content means having the same content on more than one page. For example, if two pages have the same product description word-for-word.
Why it’s important: Google gets confused. It might not know which page to rank—or it might ignore both.
How to fix it:
- Merge similar pages into one stronger page
- Use a canonical tag (a special code that tells Google which version is the “main” one)
- Avoid copying content from other websites
How to test it:
- Use Siteliner.com to scan for duplicates
- Or use Copyscape to make sure your content is original
8. Set a Preferred Version of Your Website
What it is: Some websites can be accessed in multiple ways:
Google treats these like different sites unless you tell it otherwise.
Why it’s important: If you don’t choose one preferred version, Google may split your rankings between them.
How to fix it:
- Set up 301 redirects from all alternate versions to one preferred version
- Choose the same preferred domain in Google Search Console
How to test it:
- Type all four versions in your browser and check that they all redirect to one version (e.g., https://example.com)
9. Fix Redirect Chains
What it is: A redirect is when one URL automatically takes you to another. A redirect chain is when a URL redirects to another, and then that one redirects again—and maybe again.
Why it’s important: Each hop in the chain slows things down. Google might stop following the chain altogether.
How to fix it:
- Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find redirect chains
- Update links to point directly to the final URL in the chain
- Example: Instead of A → B → C → D, go straight from A → D
How to test it:
- Enter a URL into Screaming Frog and look for chains in the report
- Click links manually and watch the browser bar—if it jumps through more than one URL, you have a chain
10. Remove Unnecessary Redirects
What it is: Sometimes, people link to a page that’s redirecting—but they could have just linked to the final page directly.
Why it’s important: Each redirect slightly delays page loading. Clean, direct links are better for users and search engines.
How to fix it:
- Find links on your site that point to redirecting URLs
- Update them to link directly to the final page
How to test it:
Click the link and watch the browser bar. If it hops to another page, and then another, you need to fix it.
11. Fix Orphan Pages
What it is: An orphan page is a page on your site that nobody links to. It’s floating out in space with no path leading to it.
Why it’s important: If there’s no link to the page, Google (and visitors) might never find it. It’s like building a great room in a house but forgetting to add a door.
How to fix it:
- Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find orphan pages
- Add internal links to those pages from other relevant articles or your main menu
- For example, if you have a blog post about “summer shoes,” and your orphan page is about “summer sandals,” link them together!
How to test it:
- Crawl your site again with Screaming Frog to make sure those pages are now linked from at least one other page
12. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)
What it is: Structured data is extra information you add to your website’s code that helps Google understand what your content is about—like telling Google, “Hey, this is a recipe!” or “This is a product!”
Why it’s important: It can help you appear in fancy search results, like star ratings, FAQs, and product details. These are called “rich results” and they catch more attention.
How to fix it:
- Use plugins like Schema Pro or Rank Math if you’re on WordPress
- Or use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate the code manually
How to test it:
- Use Google’s Rich Results Test to check if it’s working
13. Use Descriptive, Unique Titles on Every Page
What it is: The title tag is what shows up as the big blue link in search results. It tells people (and Google) what your page is about.
Why it’s important: If your titles are boring, duplicate, or missing, nobody will click on your results—and Google might not rank them well.
How to fix it:
- Make sure every page has a title that is clear, unique, and includes relevant keywords
- Keep titles under 60 characters so they don’t get cut off
How to test it:
- Use Screaming Frog to find pages with missing or duplicate title tags
14. Write Unique Meta Descriptions
What it is: This is the short summary that appears below the title in search results. It doesn’t directly impact rankings, but it affects whether someone clicks.
Why it’s important: Good meta descriptions = more clicks. More clicks = more traffic.
How to fix it:
- Write a 1–2 sentence summary for each page
- Include keywords naturally
- Make it sound like a mini-ad or teaser
How to test it:
- Check the HTML of your pages or use SEO plugins
- Use Screaming Frog to find missing or duplicate meta descriptions
15. Use Only One H1 Heading Per Page
What it is: An H1 tag is your page’s main headline. It’s like the book title. Other headings (H2, H3, etc.) are chapter or section titles.
Why it’s important: Having multiple H1s confuses search engines. They want to know: what is this page mainly about?
How to fix it:
- Check your page editor (like WordPress) and make sure there’s only one H1
- Use H2 and H3 for subheadings
How to test it:
- Use a browser extension like SEO Meta in 1 Click or Web Developer Toolbar
16. Avoid Thin Content
What it is: Thin content means pages with very little useful information—usually under 300 words, or just fluff.
Why it’s important: Google wants to rank pages that actually help people. If your page is too short or empty, it probably won’t rank.
How to fix it:
- Add more useful content: answer common questions, include visuals, write real examples
- Merge thin pages into one better resource if they’re about the same thing
How to test it:
- Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find pages with very low word counts
17. Use Clear, Clean URLs
What it is: A clean URL is short and easy to read. Example: yourwebsite.com/blue-running-shoes is better than yourwebsite.com/page?id=4738201.
Why it’s important: Clear URLs are better for users and give Google more context.
How to fix it:
- Go into your site settings and make sure URLs use words, not numbers
- Remove unnecessary words like “and,” “the,” or weird characters
How to test it:
- Just look at your URLs. Are they readable? Descriptive?
18. Check for Crawl Errors
What it is: Sometimes Google tries to visit your pages and runs into errors (like 404s, server errors, or blocked pages).
Why it’s important: If Google can’t access your pages, it can’t index them. And if they’re not indexed, they won’t appear in search.
How to fix it:
- Go to Google Search Console
- Click on Pages > Why pages aren’t indexed
- Fix the issues shown (usually broken links, incorrect redirects, or blocked content)
How to test it:
- After fixing, re-submit the pages in Search Console and wait for them to be re-crawled
19. Avoid Mixed Content (HTTPS + HTTP)
What it is: If your website is HTTPS (secure) but still loads images or scripts over HTTP (non-secure), that’s called mixed content.
Why it’s important: It creates security warnings in browsers and breaks trust. Google also dislikes insecure setups.
How to fix it:
- Update image, script, and stylesheet URLs to HTTPS
- Use plugins or search-and-replace tools to do this in bulk
How to test it:
- Use WhyNoPadlock.com or browser developer tools
20. Minimize JavaScript That Blocks Content
What it is: JavaScript can be useful, but too much of it—or poorly used code—can slow down your site and hide content from Google.
Why it’s important: If important content can’t be seen or loaded quickly, your rankings suffer.
How to fix it:
- Defer non-essential scripts
- Remove scripts you don’t need
- Use a plugin to load scripts asynchronously
How to test it:
- Run PageSpeed Insights and check if “Reduce unused JavaScript” appears in the suggestions
21. Add ALT Text to Images
What it is: ALT text is a short description added to your images. Google can’t “see” pictures, so this helps it understand them.
Why it’s important: Improves SEO, helps visually impaired users, and allows your images to show in Google Images.
How to fix it:
- For every image, add a clear and simple description in the “ALT text” field
- Use your main keyword if it makes sense naturally
How to test it:
- Right-click the image > Inspect, and check for the
alt="..."attribute
22. Compress Large Images
What it is: Large image files slow down your page speed.
Why it’s important: Slow pages = bad rankings and unhappy users.
How to fix it:
- Use tools like TinyPNG, ShortPixel, or ImageOptim
- Save images in WebP or compressed JPEG/PNG format
How to test it:
- Use PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and look for “Efficiently encode images” in the report
Here is the full image SEO guide you can follow to ensure your images are well optimized for search engines.
23. Use Pagination Properly
What it is: When you split a long list (like blog posts or products) into multiple pages, that’s pagination.
Why it’s important: If not done correctly, search engines may not crawl your full content, or may treat each page as duplicate content.
How to fix it:
- Add rel=”next” and rel=”prev” tags in the HTML (developers can help)
- Or use a “Load more” button instead of numbered pages
How to test it:
- Use Screaming Frog or view source code to confirm the presence of pagination tags
24. Block Low-Value Pages from Indexing
What it is: Some pages (like thank-you pages, login pages, internal searches) don’t need to show up in Google.
Why it’s important: Indexing junk pages wastes crawl budget and can dilute your site’s relevance.
How to fix it:
- Add a
noindexmeta tag to those pages - Or block them in robots.txt
How to test it:
- Search
site:yourdomain.com/page-urlin Google to see if it’s indexed
25. Check Core Web Vitals
What it is: These are three performance metrics Google uses:
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): how fast the main content loads
- FID (First Input Delay): how fast the page responds to interaction
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): does stuff jump around as it loads?
Why it’s important: Good scores = better rankings and happier users
How to fix it:
- Optimize images and fonts
- Reduce JavaScript
- Improve server response times
How to test it:
- Go to Google Search Console > Core Web Vitals
- Run a test on PageSpeed Insights or use Chrome’s Lighthouse tool
Final Tip
Don’t try to fix everything in one day. Start with the basics: speed, crawlability, and mobile-friendliness. Fix 2–3 things per week, and before you know it, your site will be faster, cleaner, and ranking better.
Bookmark this guide. Run through it every few months. Your future self—and your rankings—will thank you.