The provided materials detail several tools and methods for evaluating website SEO performance, with a focus on utilizing Google’s own Lighthouse platform and supplementing it with other SEO checkers and analysis tools. These resources emphasize on-page technical factors, site speed, mobile usability, and backlink profiles as key areas for assessment. The data indicates a range of checks can be performed, from basic on-page element validation to more advanced analyses of server security and structured data. Manual ranking checks, performed in incognito mode, are also presented as a method for assessing search visibility.
Google’s Lighthouse SEO Report
Google provides an SEO analysis tool through its Lighthouse platform, accessible via the Google SEO Checker. This platform assesses websites based on 14 on-page SEO elements, providing a score on a 0-100 scale. Scores are categorized as optimized (100-90), needing work (90-50), or not optimized (50-0). The report focuses on basic on-page technical SEO, including checks for:
- Tap targets being appropriately sized
- Image elements having
altattributes - Valid structured data (requires manual verification)
- Absence of plugins
- Page not being blocked from indexing
- Presence of a meta description
- Presence of a
<title>element - Valid
hreflangattributes - Successful HTTP status codes
- Descriptive text for links
- Valid
rel=canonicaltags - Valid
robots.txtfile - Legible font sizes
The source materials note that the Google SEO report is “pretty basic” but includes “helpful checks.” It is presented as a starting point for analysis, with recommendations to utilize additional tools for a more comprehensive evaluation.
Website SEO Score Checkers
Several third-party tools, such as the Website SEO Checker by Small SEO Tools, offer website SEO score assessments. These tools aim to comply with the latest industry practices and Google’s ranking criteria, updating their algorithms to reflect changes in Google’s scoring methods. These checkers analyze various elements, including page titles, meta descriptions, targeted keywords, heading tags, robots.txt files, and sitemaps. They provide status reports and recommendations for each element.
Common SEO Issues Identified by Checkers
Website SEO checkers identify a range of common SEO issues. These include problems with page titles, meta descriptions, heading tags, robots.txt files, and sitemaps. Beyond these core elements, the tools also assess speed optimization, server security, and mobile usability.
Speed Optimization Insights
SEO checkers provide insights into website loading speed, identifying elements that may be slowing down performance. This information allows for quick identification and resolution of speed-related issues.
Server and Security Assessments
Google prioritizes website security. SEO checkers evaluate server security by examining HTTPS implementation, safe browsing status, server signatures, directory browsing settings, and plaintext email configurations. Identifying and addressing security errors can improve a website’s ranking potential.
Mobile Usability Checks
SEO checkers assess mobile usability, evaluating website layout, text size, and clickable areas on mobile devices. They help identify and resolve issues such as content overflow or slow loading times on mobile.
Advanced SEO Analysis
Some SEO checkers offer advanced analysis, including reports on structured data, custom 404 pages, and link tags. These reports provide detailed information and expert recommendations for improving SEO performance.
Manual Ranking Checks
Checking website rankings manually involves analyzing search results for target keywords. However, the source materials caution that manual checks can be inaccurate due to personalized search results influenced by search history, location, and other factors. To obtain more objective ranking data, it is recommended to perform searches in private browsing mode (Incognito mode).
Utilizing Additional SEO Tools
The source materials recommend supplementing the Google SEO audit with several additional tools:
- Rank checker
- Website SEO checker
- Content analysis tool
- Domain and Page Authority score checker
- Backlink analysis tool
- Competitor analysis tool
These tools provide more in-depth analysis of specific SEO factors, such as keyword rankings, backlink profiles, and competitor strategies.
Evaluating Domain Authority and Backlinks
A website’s authority and backlink profile are critical ranking factors. Authority Score (AS) is presented as an indicator of a website’s trustworthiness and competitiveness. Backlinks from authoritative, relevant websites are considered valuable endorsements that amplify visibility and credibility. Referring domains (unique websites linking to a site) are more important than raw backlink counts. Strategies for improving a backlink profile include digital PR and other link-building tactics.
Conclusion
The available data highlights the importance of utilizing both Google’s Lighthouse platform and third-party SEO checkers to evaluate website performance. These tools assess a range of factors, from on-page technical elements and site speed to server security and mobile usability. Manual ranking checks, performed in incognito mode, can provide additional insights. Supplementing these tools with specialized analyses of domain authority and backlink profiles offers a comprehensive approach to SEO evaluation. The materials emphasize that addressing identified issues and continuously monitoring performance are crucial for improving search rankings.