Friday, 31 January 2025

SEO Maintenance Checklist by SEOTonic

 


So, you have built a fantastic website, optimized it with SEO strategies, and now you are just waiting for the traffic to roll in, right? But, let us tell you SEO isn’t just a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. The internet and search engine algorithms are evolving faster than you can think, and your website needs to keep up. That’s where SEO maintenance comes into the picture.

In case you are wondering, what you should do to maintain your site, don’t worry; our SEO services in India have got your back. To make sure your SEO efforts are delivering long-term results, we have just the right checklist.

Dive into this checklist by SEOTonic and ensure your site stays in impeccable shape in terms of SEO.

 

#1 Review Your Crawl Budget

We have one rarely discussed tip that most people don’t even think about unless they are deep into Technical SEO- Crawl budget. The crawl budget refers to the number of pages Google’s bots crawl and index on your site within a specific timeframe.

If you are wasting your crawl budget on duplicate pages, outdated content, or low-priority URLs, your high-value pages might not even get indexed. Here’s how you fix it-

  • Use Google Search Console to identify crawl stats
  • Block low-value pages using robots.txt or no-index tags
  • Simplify your site structure so bots can navigate through it more efficiently.

 

However, if you have a massive site, we suggest that you focus on internal linking, so you can guide Google towards the most important pages.

 

#2 Optimize Internal Anchor Text

Everyone on the internet talks about internal linking, but what about the anchor texts? When you are using vague phrases like “click here” or “learn more,” it doesn’t help search engines understand the context of your pages.

Instead, you can go for descriptive anchor text that includes relevant keywords and gives both users and bots a clear idea of the linked content. For instance, instead of saying “Read more,” you can try “Explore our beginner’s guide to on-page SEO.”

 

#3 Keep an Eye on Orphan Pages

Orphan pages are lonely pages on your site that don’t have any internal links pointing to them. Although they are essentially invisible to search engines, they are viewable when you manually submit them for indexing. Here’s how you can find and fix these pages:

·        Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify pages without internal links.

·        Add contextual links to these pages from related content to bring them into your site’s ecosystem.

 

#4 Audit XML Sitemaps Regularly

Yes, working with XML sitemaps can be boring, but they are crucial for SEO. XML sitemaps act like a roadmap for search engines while helping them understand the structure of your site. While a poorly maintained sitemap confuses crawlers and hurts your rankings, a well-optimized one can be your way to better rankings.

Here are the things you need to check:

  • URLs in your sitemap that return 404 errors.
  • Outdated or duplicate pages
  • Does your sitemap follow the best practice of listing only canonical URLs?

Keep your sitemap lean and mean, and only include the pages that you want to be indexed.

 

#5 Check Server Logs

When was the last time you looked at your server logs? If your answer is “never,” you are missing out on a treasure trove of insights. Server logs show how search engine bots interact with your site, highlighting errors, bottlenecks, and areas where crawlers struggle.

 

Why it matters:

  • They help you spot crawling errors before they become ranking issues.
  • You can see which pages bots prioritize and whether they’re wasting time on irrelevant pages.

Tools like Splunk or Screaming Frog Log File Analyser make analyzing server logs less intimidating, but if you still need help, feel free to reach out to the professionals.

 

#6 Refresh Schema Markup

Schema Markup or structured data aids search engines in understanding your content better, which can in turn lead to better search results like rich snippets. However, many websites implement schema once and forget about it. Don’t be like them, instead look out for the following things:

·        Are your schema types still relevant? For example, if you’ve added new products or services, make sure they are reflected in your structured data.

·        Are there any errors in your schema? Use Google’s Rich Results Test to verify.

Bonus Tip: Experiment with new schema types, like FAQ schema or How-To schema, to make your content stand out in search results.

 

#7 Monitor Content Cannibalization

Here’s an issue that flies under the radar: content cannibalization. This happens when multiple pages on your site compete for the same keyword, confusing search engines about which page to rank.

 

How to identify it:

·        Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to see if multiple pages are targeting identical keywords.

·        Consolidate similar pages into a single, more authoritative piece of content.

Regularly pruning and combining content isn’t just good for SEO; it also improves user experience.

 

#8 Verify HTTPS Security

Sure, you have got that shiny padlock symbol next to your URL, but is your HTTPS configuration flawless? Even minor SSL certificate errors can create trust issues with users and search engines.

 

Maintenance tips:

·        Check for mixed content errors (e.g., HTTP images on HTTPS pages).

·        Ensure your SSL certificate is up-to-date.

·        Redirect all HTTP URLs to their HTTPS counterparts.

 

#9 Test Your Site on Emerging Browsers and Devices

Most people test their site on Chrome, Safari, or Firefox- but what about emerging browsers or devices? As user preferences shift, ensuring your site performs well across all platforms is critical for SEO.

Here’s what to do:

·        Test your site on lesser-known browsers like Brave or DuckDuckGo Browser.

·        Check performance on niche devices, like foldable smartphones.

You never know when a new platform will take off, so stay ahead of the curve!

 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to SEO, it’s the little things that count. SEO maintenance is more than just ticking boxes. You need to focus on everything including the overlooked essentials, if you want to improve your ranking and create a better experience for your users.

Looking for an SEO company in India that can help take the SEO of your site to the next level? Reach out to our team at SEOTonic today!

 

Source: https://www.seotonic.com/seo-maintenance-checklist-by-seotonic/

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