The Technical SEO process refers to improving the technical aspects of a website. It is a subcategory of on-page SEO for content optimisation and HTLML source code to improve ranking in search results. Technical SEO process involves a number of activities for a website’s crawlability, visibility and indexing.
Here is a general overview of The Technical SEO Process: A Beginners Guide
- Crawling
- Indexing
- Rendering
- SSL Certificates
- Migrations
- Content Optimisation
1. Crawling
Crawling is the process by which search engines discover new web pages and update their indexes with the new content. It sends out web crawlers, also known as spiders or robots, to discover and index new content.
The process of crawling begins when a search engine spider finds a link to a webpage to follow a page. The spider analyses the content, including text and links, and adds it to the search engine’s index. If the spider finds other links on the page, it follows those links and repeat the process.
Crawling is an important part of how search engines work. It enables them to discover new content and keep their indexes up to date. When a search engine crawls the web, it looks for new pages. It also updates to existing pages and changes to the structure of websites. So, search engines can provide users with the most relevant and up-to-date search results.
It is important for website owners to ensure that their websites are easily crawlable by search engines. This then improve their search rankings and make it easier for users to find their content.
This can be achieved by:
- Using a well-structured website
- Creating a sitemap
- Using clear and descriptive URLs
2. Indexing
Indexing is the process by which search engines store and organise the content they discover through crawling. When a search engine crawls a website, it reads its content and store in a data base called index. The index is essentially a giant library of all the content that the search engine has discovered. This is organised in a way that makes it easy to search and retrieve.
Indexing process is important because it allows search engines to provide relevant search results to users for specific terms. When a user searches for a specific term, the search engine looks through its index. Then returns the most relevant pages that match the search query.
To ensure that your website is properly indexed by search engines:
- Make sure your website is crawlable: Search engines use bots to crawl and index websites. This includes checking for broken links and errors and creating a sitemap. Robots.txt are also used to block pages that you don’t want indexed.
- Use descriptive, relevant titles and meta descriptions: This help search engines understand what your website is about. Use descriptive, relevant titles and meta descriptions that accurately reflect your content.
- Use header tags: Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) help structure the content on your website. Makes it easier for search engines to understand. Header tags break your content into sub-section to highlight important information.
- Use alt tags for images: Alt tags provide a text alternative for images on your website. They help search engines understand the content of your images. And help users who are unable to view images (for example, users with visual impairments).
3. Rendering
Rendering is the process of generating a visual representation of a webpage or other document. When a webpage is rendered, the browser processes the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code and display content results on screen.
Rendering is an essential part of how web browsers work, as it enables them to display web pages to users. When a user requests a webpage, the browser sends a request to the web server. Then retrieve the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files for the page. The browser then processes these files and renders the resulting content on the screen.
There are a number of factors that can impact the rendering process. Including the webpage’s complexity, computer or device performance, and internet speed. If a webpage is poorly optimised or if the computer or device is slow, the rendering process may be slower. This will result a less responsive user experience.
This can be achieved through techniques such as:
- Minifying and compressing files
- Optimising image
- Reducing the number of HTTP requests made by the webpage
4. SSL Certificates
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are digital certificates that are used to establish a secure, encrypted connection between a web server and a client, such as a web browser. They are used to secure communications over the internet and are an essential part of online security.
SSL certificates contain information about the identity of a website and the organization that operates it, as well as the certificate authority (CA) that issued the certificate. When a client, such as a web browser, connects to a server, the server presents its SSL certificate to the client. The client then verifies the certificate and, if it is valid, establishes an SSL/TLS (Transport Layer Security) connection.
There are different types of SSL certificates, including single-name certificates, wildcard certificates, and multi-domain certificates. Single-name certificates are issued for a specific domain, wildcard certificates are issued for a specific domain and all subdomains of that domain, and multi-domain certificates are issued for multiple domains.
SSL certificates are an important part of website security and are used to protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial data, from being intercepted by attackers. It is important to use a valid SSL certificate on your website to protect your users’ data and to establish trust with your visitors.
5. Migrations
Website migration refers to the process of moving a website from one platform or hosting provider to another. There are many different reasons why a website migration might be necessary, such as upgrading to a new version of software, switching to a new hosting provider, or consolidating multiple websites into a single platform.
Website migrations can be complex and time-consuming, especially if they involve large websites with a lot of content or multiple websites. It is important to plan and prepare carefully for a website migration in order to minimize disruption and ensure that the process is successful.
There are several steps that are typically involved in a website migration, including:
- Planning: This involves identifying the goals of the migration, the website(s) that need to be migrated, and the resources that will be required.
- Preparation: This involves preparing the website(s) for the migration, such as backing up data, setting up the new environment, and testing the migration process.
- Execution: This involves performing the actual migration, which can involve moving the website(s) from the old platform or hosting provider to the new one.
- Testing: After the migration is complete, it is important to test the new environment to ensure that the website(s) are working as expected.
- Cleanup: This involves cleaning up any remaining data or systems in the old environment, as well as updating any documentation or processes to reflect the new setup.
Website migrations can be challenging, but careful planning and preparation can help to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
6. Content Optimisation
Content optimisation refers to the process of improving the quality and relevance of content on a website in order to improve its visibility and performance in search engines. This can involve a variety of techniques, such as:
- Keyword optimisation: This involves identifying and using relevant keywords and phrases in the content to help search engines understand what the page is about.
- On-page optimisation: This involves optimizing the elements of a webpage, such as the title tag, meta description, and headings, to improve its visibility and ranking in search results.
- Content quality: This involves ensuring that the content is well-written, informative, and valuable to the target audience.
- Content length: This involves considering the length of the content and ensuring that it is sufficient to fully cover the topic and provide value to the reader.
- Internal linking: This involves linking to other relevant pages on the website to help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of the site.
- User experience: This involves optimizing the content for a positive user experience, such as by using clear and concise language, formatting the content for easy reading, and using images and other multimedia elements to enhance the content.
Content optimisation is an important part of search engine optimisation (SEO) and can help to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search results. By optimizing the content on a website, businesses can attract more visitors, generate more leads, and ultimately drive more sales.
In conclusion, technical SEO process is an important aspect of search engine optimisation that involves improving the technical characteristics of a website to make it more visible and easier to crawl and index by search engines. The technical SEO process involves conducting an audit of the website, fixing technical issues, optimizing site speed and performance, using a responsive design, and using descriptive, relevant titles and meta descriptions.
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