10 SEO Audit Steps to Boost Website Traffic in 2025
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Key Trends in 2025: Zero-click searches, AI-driven algorithms, and the rise of visual content.
- UAE-Specific Tips: Optimise for English and Arabic, focus on mobile performance, and follow local formats (AED, DD/MM/YYYY).
- 10 SEO Audit Steps: From fixing technical errors to improving Core Web Vitals and building high-quality links.
- Essential Tools: Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and local SEO platforms like Local Falcon.
Quick Tip: Regular audits (every 6 months) can improve visibility, engagement, and traffic.
Let’s break it down step by step.
How to Do An SEO Site Audit With Semrush [2024]
Before Starting Your SEO Audit
Get your SEO audit off to the right start by setting clear objectives and gathering the right tools.
Set Clear Goals and Metrics
Identify specific, measurable goals that align with your UAE-focused strategy. Track these key metrics to monitor performance:
| Metric Category | Key Metrics to Track |
|---|---|
| Traffic Growth | Monthly organic sessions, bounce rate, pages per session |
| Search Visibility | Keyword rankings, SERP features, featured snippets |
| Technical Health | Core Web Vitals, mobile usability score, crawl errors |
| User Experience | Page load time, conversion rate, time on site |
| Local Performance | Google Business Profile views, local pack rankings |
Essential SEO Tools
To conduct a thorough SEO audit, you'll need tools that cover various aspects of your website's performance:
-
Core Analytics Tools
Use Google Search Console and Google Analytics 4 to gain insights into traffic, indexing, and user behavior. -
Technical Analysis Tools
Tools like PageSpeed Insights are crucial for evaluating Core Web Vitals and mobile performance. This is especially important in the UAE, where mobile usage is prevalent. -
Local SEO Tools
Leverage Google Business Profile management tools to ensure your business information is accurate across Google Search and Maps. This is particularly useful for businesses targeting local UAE customers.
With these tools in hand, you can fine-tune your audit to address the specifics of the UAE market.
UAE Market Requirements
When optimising for the UAE market, keep the following local specifics in mind:
- Language Optimisation: Ensure your content is optimised for both English and Arabic searches.
- Local Formatting: Follow UAE-standard formats:
- Currency: AED (Arab Emirates Dirham)
- Dates: DD/MM/YYYY
- Numbers: Use comma thousand separators (e.g., 1,000)
- Measurements: Metric system
Before diving into the audit, double-check that all tracking tools are correctly configured and collecting accurate data. Spending time on proper preparation can make the audit process smoother and help you identify critical areas for improvement.
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10 Main SEO Audit Steps
Follow these steps to fine-tune your SEO performance and address potential issues.
Check Traffic and Rankings
Use analytics tools to track your website's traffic and rankings. Focus on these key metrics:
| Performance Metric | Target Range | Action if Below Target |
|---|---|---|
| Organic Sessions | +15% YoY growth | Reevaluate your content strategy |
| Bounce Rate | Below 55% | Make pages more relevant |
| Pages/Session | Above 2.5 | Improve internal linking |
| Avg. Session Duration | Above 2:30 mins | Enhance content quality |
Analyse branded vs non-branded keywords to gain better insights into your organic visibility. Also, look for pages with high impressions but low clicks - these may need updates to meta titles or descriptions.
Next, tackle any technical issues that could be holding your site back.
Find Technical Problems
Only a small percentage of websites meet Google's Core Web Vitals standards. Focus on these areas:
-
Crawlability Assessment
Ensure your site uses a clear URL structure, such as:yoursite.ae/main-category/sub-category/product -
Content Duplication
Use canonical tags to address duplicate content, especially for e-commerce sites with multiple product variations. For sites with both Arabic and English content, implement hreflang tags to signal language versions correctly.
Test Page Speed and Web Vitals
Since 40% of users leave sites that take more than three seconds to load, page speed is crucial - especially in the UAE, where fast mobile networks are the norm. Pay close attention to these Core Web Vitals:
| Metric | Ideal Score | Current UAE Average |
|---|---|---|
| LCP | ≤2.5s | 3.1s |
| INP | ≤200ms | 380ms |
| CLS | ≤0.1 | 0.15 |
Check Mobile Performance
Ensure your site performs well on mobile devices by:
- Using tap targets of at least 48x48 pixels
- Testing load times on 4G networks
- Verifying that Arabic text displays correctly across all devices
- Checking viewport settings for proper responsiveness
Fix On-Page SEO Elements
Optimise these on-page elements for better performance:
| Element | Best Practice | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Title Tags | 50–60 characters | High |
| Meta Descriptions | 120–155 characters | Medium |
| Header Tags | Clear H1–H6 hierarchy | High |
| Image Alt Text | Descriptive, keyword-rich | Medium |
Once these elements are in place, shift your focus to improving your link strategy.
Review Link Quality
Evaluate your website's links by:
- Removing harmful backlinks and ensuring outbound links lead to credible sources
- Exploring opportunities to list your business in UAE-specific directories
- Checking the structure of internal links and the distribution of anchor texts
- Maintaining a balanced ratio of dofollow to nofollow links, with an emphasis on trustworthy .ae domains
Creating Your Action Plan
With your audit results in hand, it's time to create a clear plan to address issues and improve performance.
Write Clear SEO Reports
Document your findings and recommendations in an organised report:
- Executive Summary: Highlight traffic trends, critical issues, and expected outcomes.
- Technical Issues: Cover Core Web Vitals, mobile performance, and crawl errors.
- Content Analysis: Assess content quality, identify keyword gaps, and evaluate E-E-A-T factors.
- Action Items: List fixes based on priority, with resources and timelines.
Include measurable benchmarks (like LCP improvements) to connect metrics with specific actions.
Order Fixes by Impact
Focus on tasks based on their impact and effort required:
-
High Impact, Low Effort:
- Fix broken links
- Update meta tags
- Add schema markup
- Improve image alt texts
-
High Impact, High Effort:
- Enhance site architecture
- Boost mobile responsiveness
- Create cornerstone content
- Implement structured data
-
Low Impact, Low Effort:
- Refresh outdated content
- Optimise link anchors
- Add breadcrumbs
- Refine title tags
Keep monitoring performance and adjust your approach as new data, algorithm updates, or industry trends emerge.
Implementation Timeline
Here's a suggested timeline to guide your efforts:
| Timeline | Focus Area | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Technical SEO fixes | Improved crawlability and indexing |
| Months 2-3 | Content optimisation | Better rankings and user engagement |
| Months 4-6 | User experience improvements | Lower bounce rates and higher conversions |
| Months 7-12 | Authority building | Increased domain authority and organic traffic |
Use KPIs tied to your business goals to measure progress and show how your SEO efforts are paying off.
Conclusion
Regular SEO audits are key for UAE businesses aiming to strengthen their digital presence in 2025. Companies that conduct audits twice a year often experience noticeable improvements in online visibility.
"Conducting regular SEO UAE audits is essential for identifying areas of improvement and ensuring your website remains competitive in the digital landscape." – brandcaredigital.com
An SEO audit offers a comprehensive overview of your website's search performance. Key benefits include:
- Better crawlability and indexing through technical fixes
- Increased user engagement with optimised content
- Improved domain authority via high-quality backlinks
- Enhanced mobile performance and Core Web Vitals scores
For businesses in the UAE, staying ahead in the digital space requires a focused SEO strategy. By aligning your efforts with local market dynamics and following these audit practices, you can drive consistent traffic and achieve measurable growth.
