Technical SEO is the cornerstone of any successful SEO strategy. It focuses on enhancing your website's structure and backend elements to facilitate effortless crawling, indexing, and ranking by search engines. However, even the most meticulously crafted websites can face technical SEO issues that impede performance and visibility. In this blog, our experts at LBM - the top SEO company in Mumbai - will delve into some prevalent technical SEO errors and provide solutions to rectify them.

1. Slow Page Load Speed

Page speed is a crucial ranking factor that impacts user experience and SEO. Search engines like Google prioritize fast-loading sites because they enhance user satisfaction. A sluggish website can lead to increased bounce rates and adversely affect rankings.

Solution

• Optimise images: Compress and resize large images without compromising quality. Tools such as TinyPNG or ImageOptim can assist.
• Enable browser caching: Allow browsers to cache resources like images and CSS files, reducing wait times for users on subsequent visits.
• Minimize HTTP requests: The more elements present, whether scripts or images, the longer the loading time. Therefore, it’s vital to cut down on unnecessary elements.
• Utilize a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN distributes your content globally across various servers, speeding up load times for users everywhere.

2. Broken Links or 404 Errors

Broken links arise when a page is removed or relocated without updating the corresponding internal or external link. This results in a poor user experience and can damage your site's authority.

Solution

• Employ tools like Google Search Console to regularly monitor for 404 errors under Crawl Errors.
• Redirect broken links: Use 301 redirects to guide users and search engines to the correct page. Plugins like Redirection for WordPress can be useful, or you can manually set up redirects in your .htaccess file.
• Update internal links: Ensure that all internal links, including navigation and product links, are current.

3. Duplicate Content

Content is considered duplicate when similar or identical material exists across multiple URLs. This confuses search engines regarding which page to rank and may result in penalties or ranking difficulties.

Solution

• Implement canonical tags: Add the rel="canonical" tag to the HTML header of pages with duplicate content to indicate which page should be prioritized.
• Use 301 redirects: Redirect unnecessary duplicate pages to the primary version.
• Unique content: Experts at every best SEO company in India recommend against publishing duplicate content on your site. Each page should offer unique value and descriptions.

4. Missing or Incorrect XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap serves as a file that provides search engines with a roadmap of your website's pages. Missing or improperly formatted sitemaps can result in inadequate indexing and crawling.

Solution

• Create an XML sitemap: Tools like Yoast SEO or Screaming Frog can help generate a sitemap for your site.
• Submit the sitemap: Upload it to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to inform search engines of your site's important pages.
• Keep your sitemap updated: Whenever you add new content or change URLs, revise your sitemap and resubmit it to search engines.

5. Incorrect Redirects

Redirects are intended to guide visitors and search engines from one URL to another. However, improper redirect usage, such as using 302 (temporary) instead of 301 (permanent) redirects, can lead to complications.

Solution

• Always utilize 301 redirects when permanently moving pages. This informs search engines of the permanent change, transferring link equity to the new URL.
• void redirect chains: Minimize the number of redirects between the original and destination URLs to ensure smooth navigation and preserve SEO value.

Addressing common technical SEO errors is vital for enhancing your website's performance and rankings. By correcting issues like page load speed, broken links, duplicate content, missing sitemaps, and redirects, you optimize the site for both users and search engines. Collaborate with Light Buzz Media - the best SEO services provider - to conduct regular checks and updates, ensuring your site operates at peak performance and stays ahead of the competition.