Let’s be honest—SEO audits sound kind of scary. All those tools, reports, and techy terms? Yeah, we’ve been there.

But guess what? You don’t need to be an SEO wizard or a coding genius to understand how your website is doing online. In fact, with the right SEO audit checklist in 2025, even a 7th grader (or your grandma!) could figure out how to spot what’s working and what’s, well… broken.

So grab a snack, open your laptop, and let’s talk about how to audit a website for SEO—step by step, no fluff, no confusing jargon. Just real stuff that helps.

Wait…What’s an SEO Audit Anyway?

Think of an SEO audit like a health checkup—but for your website. It tells you what’s strong, what’s weak, and what needs a little TLC so Google will actually show your site to people searching.

It checks:

• How fast your site loads
• Whether your pages are easy to find
• If Google can crawl (read) your site
• How your content is performing
• And more technical stuff (don’t worry, we’ll keep it light)

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

Let’s start with the basics. You don’t need expensive gadgets or a secret hacker kit. These SEO audit tools for small business are either free or cheap:

• Google Search Console – Your website’s report card from Google
• Google Analytics – Tracks visitors (a.k.a. the cool stalker tool)
• PageSpeed Insights – Tells you if your site is fast or lazy
• Screaming Frog – Sounds weird but it’s a powerful crawler
• Ahrefs/SEMrush/Ubersuggest – Spy on your competition (nicely)

Pro Tip: You don’t have to use them all. Just start with one or two and build up.

Step 2: Is Google Even Finding Your Site?

Okay, so imagine you’re throwing a party, but forgot to give out the address. That’s what happens if Google can’t find or index your pages.

Check these:

• Robots.txt file – Make sure it’s not blocking important stuff
• XML Sitemap – It’s like a map for Google
• Type site:yourdomain.com in Google – See what’s actually showing up

Doing a technical SEO audit for beginners? Focus on this crawlability part. It’s where many sites mess up.

Step 3: Page Speed & Mobile Stuff

Slow websites are like slow waiters at a restaurant. People leave. Fast.

Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights. It’ll say if your site is lightning-fast or slug-slow.

Also:

• Make sure your site looks good on mobile
• Avoid huge image files
• Use clean code (or ask your web dev friend for help)

Step 4: The On-Page SEO Audit Guide

Time to look inside the house—your actual website content.

Here’s your quick checklist:

• Titles: Clear, catchy, and include keywords
• Meta descriptions: That little blurb under your Google listing
• Headings (H1, H2, etc.): Make them useful, not just fancy fonts
• Keywords: Naturally placed, not stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey
• Images: Use alt text so Google knows what they are
• Internal links: Link related blog posts or pages

This on-page SEO audit guide will boost your rankings without writing a single new word. Magic? Almost.

Step 5: Backlink Check (a.k.a. Who’s Talking About You)

Links from other sites (aka backlinks) tell Google, “Hey, this site is legit!”

To check your backlinks:

• Use Ahrefs or SEMrush to find them
• Spot any spammy ones and disavow (block) them
• Find missed opportunities (like people mentioning you but not linking)

It’s like online networking—just with less awkward small talk.

Step 6: How’s the User Experience?

If people leave your website fast, Google notices. It’s like inviting guests who sneak out early because the party’s boring.

Ask yourself:

• Is my site easy to navigate?
• Can people find what they need in 2 clicks?
• Does my blog look like it was designed in 2008? (ouch)
• Do I use clear buttons and call-to-actions?

Friendly sites = longer visits = better rankings.

Step 7: Free SEO Audit Steps Wrap-Up

Phew! You made it.

Here’s your free SEO audit steps summary:

1. Use tools like Search Console, PageSpeed, etc.
2. Make sure Google can crawl and index your site
3. Speed up your site and make it mobile-friendly
4. Polish your on-page SEO (titles, headings, content)
5. Check your backlink profile
6. Improve the user experience
7. Repeat every few months

You’re officially not a beginner anymore!

FAQs

Q1: How often should I do an SEO audit?
At least every 3–6 months. More often if your site is big or changing fast.

Q2: Do I need paid tools?
Nope! Many audits can be done with free tools like Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights.

Q3: Can I do an audit if I’m not tech-savvy?
Totally. This blog was made just for you. Start small, learn as you go.

Q4: What’s the #1 SEO mistake?
Ignoring mobile users and slow site speeds. Big no-no in 2025.

Ready to Fix Your SEO?

You’ve got your SEO audit checklist 2025, now put it to work.

If this all feels a bit much (we get it), Bloom Brand can help. We run simple, powerful audits and explain everything in plain English—not robot-speak.

👉 Need a quick website checkup? Let’s chat

Or even better—drop us your site and we’ll give you a free SEO audit to get started.