Free SEO Audit Checklist for Canadian Businesses

Site loads in under 3 secondsUse Google PageSpeed Insights to test. Slow sites lose visitors and rank lower.

Site is mobile-responsiveGoogle uses mobile-first indexing. Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool.

SSL certificate is active (HTTPS)HTTPS is a ranking signal. Check for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

XML sitemap exists and is submitted to Google Search ConsoleYour sitemap helps search engines discover and index all your pages efficiently.

No broken links or 404 errorsBroken links hurt user experience and waste crawl budget. Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to audit.

Every page has a unique title tag (under 60 chars)Title tags are the single most important on-page ranking factor. Make each one unique and descriptive.

Every page has a unique meta description (under 160 chars)Meta descriptions don't directly affect rankings but improve click-through rates from search results.

Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)Use one H1 per page, then H2s for sections, H3s for subsections. This helps search engines understand your content structure.

Images have descriptive alt textAlt text helps search engines understand images and improves accessibility. Be descriptive but concise.

Internal links connect related contentInternal linking distributes page authority and helps users discover related content on your site.

Google Business Profile is claimed and verifiedThis is essential for appearing in local search results and Google Maps. Claim yours at business.google.com.

NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent across the webInconsistent business info confuses search engines. Audit your listings on directories, social media, and your website.

Listed in Canadian business directoriesGet listed on Yellow Pages Canada, Canadian Business Directory, Yelp Canada, and industry-specific directories.

Customer reviews are actively managedRespond to all reviews (positive and negative). Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews.

Location pages exist for service areasCreate dedicated pages for each city or region you serve with localized content and keywords.

Blog or resource section publishes regularlyConsistent publishing signals to search engines that your site is active and authoritative.

Content targets specific keywords with search intentResearch what your audience searches for and create content that matches their intent (informational, transactional, etc.).

Content is original (not duplicated from other sites)Duplicate content can result in ranking penalties. Use Copyscape to check for duplicates.

Pages have sufficient word count (300+ for service pages, 1000+ for guides)Thin content rarely ranks well. Service pages need at least 300 words; in-depth guides should aim for 1,000+.

Content includes calls-to-actionEvery page should guide visitors toward a next step: contact form, phone call, download, or purchase.

Google Analytics is installed and trackingGA4 is the current standard. Verify it's collecting data by checking real-time reports.

Google Search Console is set upSearch Console shows how Google sees your site, which queries bring traffic, and any indexing issues.

Conversion tracking is configured (forms, calls, etc.)Without conversion tracking, you can't measure ROI. Set up goals for form submissions, phone calls, and purchases.

Regular performance reporting is in placeMonthly reports help you spot trends, identify issues early, and make data-driven decisions.

Core Web Vitals scores are monitoredCore Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS) are ranking factors. Monitor them in Search Console or PageSpeed Insights.