How to Check the SEO of a Website: Full Analysis Guide

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is constantly evolving. In 2025, with the rise of AI-driven search and frequent Google algorithm updates, regular SEO analysis is important.

Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or DIY website manager, understanding how to check the SEO of a website is the key to staying visible online.

SEO analysis is the process of reviewing a website’s performance to uncover issues and opportunities that impact search rankings. Done correctly, it helps you achieve three crucial outcomes: higher rankings, more organic traffic, and a technically healthy site.

This guide walks you through every step so you can assess your site, fix problems, and keep pace with today’s competitive digital landscape.

What Does it Mean to Check the SEO of a Website?

When we talk about checking SEO, we’re looking at a broad review of different areas that affect a website’s visibility. A complete SEO analysis goes beyond keywords and includes:

• Technical SEO checks: how well your site can be crawled and indexed by search engines
• On-page SEO audits: titles, headings, keyword usage, and internal links
• Content SEO reviews: quality, freshness, and relevance of your site’s content
• Off-page SEO checks: backlinks and external signals like brand mentions

Through running this type of website SEO analysis, you can uncover hidden problems, such as pages not being indexed or slow site speed, that may be holding you back. It’s like a health check-up for your site. Regular reviews keep your SEO strategy strong and effective.

Why you Should Regularly Analyse your Website SEO

SEO isn’t a one-time task. Search engines are constantly changing, introducing new features, and updating algorithms. If you don’t keep up, even a well-optimised site can quickly slip in the rankings.

Performing an SEO analysis website review on a regular basis helps you:

• Catch errors early: fix broken links, crawl issues, or indexing problems before they escalate
• Optimise user experience: ensure navigation, speed, and mobile usability are up to standard
• Improve rankings and traffic: stay ahead of competitors by adjusting to new search trends

Without regular checks, you risk losing visibility and missing out on valuable organic traffic.

Step-by-Step SEO Analysis Checklist

Here’s a practical checklist you can follow to run a full SEO analysis. Each step targets a different area of your website.

1. Technical SEO Audit

The foundation of any SEO strategy is a technically sound website.

• Check crawlability and indexing using Google Search Console or tools like Screaming Frog
• Ensure mobile-friendliness with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
• Identify site speed issues using PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse

This SEO technical audit helps uncover behind-the-scenes problems that might be preventing your site from appearing in search results.

2. On-Page SEO Analysis

Your on-page elements signal to search engines what each page is about.

• Review title tags and meta descriptions for accuracy and keyword use
• Check heading structure (H1, H2, etc.) for clarity
• Assess internal linking for usability and SEO flow

Tools like Yoast SEO or SEOptimer can make this on-page SEO audit easier.

3. Content SEO Review

Great content is at the heart of modern SEO.

• Check for duplicate content or thin pages
• Look for outdated or irrelevant content and refresh it
• Identify keyword gaps to target new opportunities

With Google’s Helpful Content Update, prioritise value and relevance over sheer volume.

4. Backlink and Authority Check

Backlinks remain a top ranking factor.

• Review the quality and quantity of your backlinks using Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz
• Identify toxic or spammy links and disavow them if necessary
• Track brand mentions and citations to improve off-page SEO

5. Mobile and UX Performance

Mobile experience directly impacts rankings and user retention.

• Ensure menus and buttons are easy to navigate on all devices
• Test readability and layout on smartphones and tablets
• Address mobile-specific loading issues

6. SEO Site Speed and Core Web Vitals

Site speed is both a user experience and a ranking factor.

• Use PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse to test load times
• Check Core Web Vitals metrics like how quickly the main content loads and whether the page layout moves around while it’s loading
• Optimise images, enable caching, and minimise unnecessary scripts

Free and Paid Tools to Check your Website SEO

The right tools make SEO analysis faster and more accurate. Here’s a breakdown:

Free Tools

• Google Search Console: crawl, indexing, and performance data
• PageSpeed Insights: speed and Core Web Vitals
• Ubersuggest (Basic Version): keyword and content insights

Paid Tools

• SEMrush: all-in-one SEO and marketing platform
• Ahrefs: backlink and keyword analysis powerhouse
• Screaming Frog: in-depth site crawler
• Sitebulb: detailed technical audits

These tools help you check your website SEO effectively, whether you’re just starting or running advanced audits.

When to use SEO Audit Services 

While DIY SEO audits are valuable, some situations call for expert help. Consider professional SEO audit services if:

• You manage a large or complex site with multiple subdomains
• There’s been a sudden or unexplained drop in traffic
• You’re preparing for a website migration or major redesign
• You don’t have the time or resources to handle ongoing audits

Experts can save you time, prevent costly mistakes, and provide actionable strategies.

Common SEO Mistakes to Look Out For 

During an audit, you’ll often uncover recurring issues. Some of the most common include:

• Missing or duplicate title tags and meta descriptions
• Broken internal or external links
• Slow-loading pages caused by unoptimised images or code
• Duplicate content or thin pages
• Poor mobile user experience, such as hard-to-click buttons or text that’s too small

Fixing these issues can have an immediate impact on both rankings and usability.

How Often Should you Audit or Analyse SEO?

The frequency of SEO audits depends on your website’s size and activity level. As a general rule:

• Full audit every 3–6 months to catch major issues
• Monthly mini-audits focusing on content and on-page SEO
• Before and after major site changes like migrations or new feature rollouts

Regular analysis ensures your SEO strategy stays aligned with search engine updates and user expectations.

Conclusion

In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, staying ahead in search requires more than one-off fixes. Through learning how to check the SEO of a website and running regular audits, you’ll maintain a technically sound site, provide a great user experience, and consistently attract high-quality traffic.

Whether you tackle the process yourself or work with a professional, consistent analysis is the key to long-term success.

Need help analysing your website SEO? Start with a free audit or speak to our team for a tailored optimisation plan that fits your goals.