Technical SEO Checklist for 2024

Ensure Mobile Friendliness

• Confirm responsive design: Make sure your website adjusts its layout and content based on the device's screen size and orientation.
• Optimize for various devices: Recognize that not all mobile devices are the same; they differ in screen sizes, resolutions, browsers, and operating systems.
• Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test: Google's tool checks if your site meets mobile-friendly criteria. Access it here, aim to pass the test, and address any issues it identifies.

Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider

• Server Location: The physical location of your hosting server impacts your website's speed. Choose a server close to your target audience.
• Server Resources: The hosting type and plan determine the server resources you get. Shared hosting is economical but shares resources with other websites, affecting performance. Dedicated hosting provides a whole server but is pricier and requires technical skills. Find a balance based on your budget and needs for disk space, bandwidth, CPU, and RAM.
• Server Uptime: Server uptime is the time your hosting server is online. Aim for at least 99.9% uptime. Choose a provider with a reliable track record.
• Server Security: Protect your hosting server from cyber threats with features like SSL certificates, firewalls, malware scanning, DDoS protection, backups, and updates. Look for a provider offering these security measures.

Implement SSL Certificates

• Choose an SSL provider: Pick an SSL provider that fits your budget and needs.
• Generate a CSR and a private key: Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) with your website's details and a private key to decrypt visitor data. Generate these on your server or use an online tool like SSL.com.
• Activate and validate your SSL certificate: After purchasing from your chosen provider, activate it by submitting your CSR and choosing a validation method. Validate your domain ownership and/or organization identity through email, DNS, or HTTP per your provider's instructions.
• Install and configure your SSL certificate: Once issued, install the SSL certificate on your server and configure your website for HTTPS. Do this manually or use tools provided by your hosting service or SSL provider. Verify correct installation using tools like SSL Checker or SSL Labs.

Optimize Page Speed

• To address these problems:
• Compress and resize images.
• Minify and defer JavaScript/CSS.
• Reduce redirects and fix broken links.
• Optimize server response.
• Enable browser caching and compression.
• Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) for faster content delivery.

Optimize Page Titles, Meta Descriptions, and URLs

• Incorporate Target Keywords: Ensure your target keyword is present in the page title, meta description, and URL to align with user search intent. However, avoid overloading with keywords and use natural language for user comprehension.
• Craft Unique and Descriptive Metadata: Create distinctive metadata for each page, emphasizing the primary benefit or content proposition. Avoid generic or duplicated metadata to prevent confusion.
• Adhere to Character Limits: Keep your metadata within search engine character limits to avoid truncation. Aim for around 60 characters for page titles and approximately 160 characters for meta descriptions.
• Incorporate Modifiers and Call-to-Action: Enhance appeal by including modifiers such as numbers, dates, or action words like "guide" or "tips." Employ a call-to-action like "learn" or "discover" to prompt user engagement. For example, transform "SEO Checklist" to "SEO Checklist for 2024: 10 Best Practices to Boost Your Rankings."
• Align with Page Content and Tone: Ensure your metadata accurately reflects your page's content and tone, avoiding misleading information. If your page has a humorous tone, use witty or funny metadata; for a serious report, employ factual or authoritative metadata that aligns with the tone.

Ensure Proper ALT Text for Images

• Be Descriptive: Provide clear, concise descriptions capturing the image's main idea. Avoid generic terms like "image" or "photo."
• Include Relevant Keywords: Integrate keywords related to the image and overall page topic, avoiding excessive or irrelevant keyword usage.
• Keep it Short: Limit ALT text to a maximum of 125 characters to prevent truncation by search engines and screen readers.
• Use Natural Language: Craft ALT text in a natural, human-readable manner, akin to explaining the image to someone unable to see it. Avoid technical jargon or confusing acronyms.
• Consider the Context: Ensure ALT text aligns with the page's content and tone, avoiding contradictions or repetition. Use unique ALT text for each image to prevent redundancy or confusion.
• Test for Accessibility: Validate ALT text with screen readers and assistive technologies to guarantee accessibility for users with visual impairments.

Utilize Structured Data 

• Select Appropriate Schema: Schema offers predefined types and properties (such as Articles, Products, Events, Reviews, or FAQs) to describe your content.
• Implement the Schema: Choose a method for schema implementation, such as JSON-LD, Microdata, or RDFa. JSON-LD is widely recommended for its readability and non-interference with HTML code.
• Optimize for Rich Results: Rich results are enhanced displays on SERPs, boosting visibility and click-through rates. Optimize by adhering to guidelines for each rich result type, including adding required and recommended properties, using high-quality media, and providing accurate information.

Conclusion