Technical SEO checklist for small business websites

Last updated 12 October 2026 · By the XKey team

Can Google crawl and index my pages?

• robots.txt doesn't block important pages. Test any address with the robots.txt tester.
• No stray noindex. A noindex tag left over from a site's build is the commonest reason a whole site vanishes – see why isn't my website on Google?
• A sitemap is submitted in Google Search Console. No sitemap? Make one with the XML sitemap generator.
• Search Console's Pages report shows which pages are indexed and why others aren't.

Does every page have one clear address?

• One secure version of the site. http://, https://, with and without www should all end at the same https:// address in one step. Check all four with the redirect checker.
• Canonical tags point to the main version of each page, so filters, tracking codes and print versions don't count as duplicates.
• Old addresses redirect with a permanent (301) redirect to the closest new page whenever you move or delete one.
• No broken internal links. The broken link checker crawls your whole site.

Is the site fast and does it work on phones?

• Core Web Vitals pass – loading, responsiveness and visual stability. See Core Web Vitals explained.
• Images are resized and compressed, with width and height set – see image SEO.
• Few third-party scripts. Chat widgets, trackers and pop-ups add up; remove the ones you don't use.
• Mobile-friendly: readable text without zooming, buttons big enough to tap, nothing wider than the screen. Google indexes the mobile version of your site.

Is the site secure and trustworthy?

• A valid HTTPS certificate, with no "not secure" warnings.
• Security headers such as HSTS. The HTTP header checker lists them and explains each one.
• Domain renewal is safe. A lapsed domain takes the whole site offline; the domain age checker shows the expiry date.
• Email records are set up (SPF and DMARC), so enquiries and quotes aren't marked as spam. The DNS lookup checks them.

Can Google understand what the business is?

• Structured data (schema markup) describes your business, address and opening hours – make it with the schema generator and read the schema markup guide.
• A language set on every page (en-GB for UK sites).
• AI crawlers are allowed or blocked on purpose, not by accident – see blocking AI training bots.

How often should I run a technical check?

Run the website audit after any redesign, new theme, plugin change or move to a new host, because that's when technical problems appear. In between, weekly monitoring re-checks your key page and tells you if something breaks. For the words on each page, use the on-page SEO checklist alongside this one.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between technical and on-page SEO?

Technical SEO is about whether Google can find, load and trust your pages. On-page SEO is about what each page says: titles, headings and content.

Do website builders handle technical SEO?

Wix, Squarespace and Shopify handle most of it, such as HTTPS, sitemaps and mobile layouts. You still need to check redirects, noindex settings and speed after changes.

Do I need a developer for technical SEO?

Not for most small sites. Every item on this list can be checked with a free tool, and most fixes are a setting in your website builder or hosting account.