7 Technical SEO Fixes That Instantly Improve Your Rankings
When your website isn’t showing up at the top of Google, the problem often isn’t your content, it’s your technical SEO. Even the best copy and design can underperform if your site’s foundation isn’t optimized. Below are seven essential technical SEO strategies every business owner should understand and apply.
TL;DR
Your website might not rank because of overlooked technical SEO issues like broken links, missing sitemaps, or slow loading speeds. Fixing your sitemap, HTTPS setup, image compression, and internal linking can dramatically boost visibility. A well-optimized, fast, and secure site builds trust with Google, and brings in more customers!
1. Sitemap: Show Google the Way
A sitemap.xml file helps Google easily crawl and understand your website’s structure. It acts like a roadmap, showing every page you want indexed. If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath can automatically generate a sitemap. Once created, submit it through Google Search Console under Indexing → Sitemaps. This simple step ensures every important page gets properly indexed!
2. HTTPS: Secure and Rank Higher
Security isn’t just for peace of mind, it’s an SEO ranking factor. If your site is still using HTTP, it’s time to upgrade to HTTPS. Not only does it protect visitors’ data, but Google prefers secure sites and may rank them higher. Check your Search Console to confirm that your HTTPS pages are being indexed, not the outdated HTTP versions.
Internal linking builds your site’s architecture and helps both users and Google navigate. Every page should link naturally to others, for example, your homepage linking to a “Spring Cleaning” or Location Landing Page. This improves crawl depth and keeps users engaged. Be sure to remove broken links that lead to deleted or redirected pages, as they can hurt your crawlability and rankings.
4. Compress Images: Speed Is SEO
Large image files slow down your site, and slow websites don’t rank well. Compressing your images can drastically improve load times and boost your Core Web Vitals. Use free tools or plugins like Smush, TinyPNG, or ShortPixel to reduce file sizes without losing quality. Fast-loading websites not only perform better in search but also keep visitors from bouncing away. Don’t forget to geotag your images!
5. URL Structure: Keep It Clean and Keyword-Focused
Your URLs should be short, clean, and include your target keywords. For example, yourwebsite.com/junk-removal-bridgewater-ma is far better than yourwebsite.com/page?id=1234. Avoid unnecessary numbers or special characters. Clear URL structure signals professionalism to users and helps Google understand what your page is about, both key to ranking higher! Use the free SEO tool Screaming Frog to spy on your competition and see their URL structures.
6. Schema Markup: Speak Google’s Language
Schema markup is structured data added to your website’s code that tells Google more about your business – your name, location, services, reviews, and contact info. Adding Local Business Schema helps your company appear in near me search results and featured snippets. You don’t need to code from scratch, use free schema generators, copy the code, and paste it into your website’s header.
7. Indexing: Get Your Pages Found
If your pages aren’t indexed, they don’t exist on Google. Check your robots.txt file to ensure it’s not blocking important pages. Then, in Google Search Console, review Indexing → Pages to confirm what’s being indexed. If a page shows as “crawled but not indexed,” simply click Request Indexing. It’s a quick fix that can make your pages appear in search faster!
Ready to Fix Your Technical SEO?
SEO takes time, improving your site’s technical SEO is one of the fastest ways to boost visibility, attract local leads, and turn visitors into customers. If you want a faster, cleaner, and better-ranking website, I can help.
Contact:
William Burns
📧 wburns1989@icloud.com
📞 508-246-9940
🌐 www.thewilliamburns.com