FREE RESOURCE · SEO AUDIT CHECKLIST

How to do an SEO audit, step by step.

The complete 105-point checklist our team runs on every site. Print it, work top to bottom, and turn what is broken into a prioritized fix list.

40Technical SEO

30On-Page SEO

20Off-Page SEO

15Local SEO

$50M+ client revenue · 291+ campaigns · 200+ industries · since 2014

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What's inside the checklist

105 checks across the four pillars of search. Each one is a specific thing to confirm, fix, or rule out.

Technical SEO

Crawlability, indexation, site speed and Core Web Vitals, mobile rendering, and structured data. The foundation everything else stands on.

On-Page SEO

Titles and meta, headings, content depth, keyword mapping, internal links, and the signals that match a page to its query.

Off-Page SEO

Backlink profile, anchor text, competitor link gaps, digital PR, and the trust signals earned beyond your own site.

Local SEO

Google Business Profile, citations and NAP, location pages, reviews, and the map-pack signals that win local searches.

How to do an SEO audit in four steps

An SEO audit is a structured review of everything affecting your search visibility. Work the four pillars in this order, because fixing technical issues first makes every later change count.

STEP 01

Audit the technical base

Confirm search engines can crawl, render, and index the site, then clear speed and Core Web Vitals issues.

STEP 02

Review every page on-page

Check that each page targets one intent, with the right title, headings, depth, and internal links.

STEP 03

Assess authority off-page

Analyze the backlink profile, anchor text, and the link gaps your competitors are exploiting.

STEP 04

Tighten local signals

For local businesses, lock down the Google Business Profile, citations, reviews, and location pages.

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SEO audit FAQs

How do you do an SEO audit?

Start with the technical foundation (crawlability, indexation, speed, and Core Web Vitals), then review on-page elements page by page, assess your off-page authority and backlinks, and finish with local signals if you serve a specific area. Our checklist walks you through all 105 checks in that exact order so nothing gets missed.

How long does an SEO audit take?

A focused audit on a small site can take a few hours. A larger or older site with thousands of pages can take several days once you factor in crawl analysis, backlink review, and competitor comparison. The checklist keeps you moving by giving you a clear, ordered path instead of guessing what to look at next.

What tools do I need to do an SEO audit?

Google Search Console and a crawler cover most of the technical and on-page work, a backlink tool like Ahrefs or Semrush handles off-page, and Google Business Profile covers local. Our free AI Visibility and SEO audit tools at emacmedia.co give you a fast starting read before you work the full checklist.

How often should I run an SEO audit?

Run a full audit at least twice a year, and a lighter technical check every quarter. Sites that publish often or make frequent changes should monitor crawl errors and Core Web Vitals monthly so small problems do not compound.

Should I do my own SEO audit or hire an agency?

The checklist is built so you can run a thorough audit yourself. If you find more than you can fix, or you want the work done for you, our team has driven over $50M in client revenue across 291+ campaigns and 200+ industries since 2014. Book a free discovery call and we will take it from there.