Technical SEO is the foundation of any successful website's search presence. Without a solid technical foundation, even the best content can struggle to rank. As a professional web designer and SEO specialist, I've found that conducting regular technical SEO audits are crucial for maintaining and improving site performance.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through how to leverage Rank Math—one of the most powerful WordPress SEO plugins available—to perform a thorough technical SEO audit. By the end, you'll have a clear process for identifying and resolving issues that might be holding your site back from reaching its full potential in search results.
Case Study: Technical SEO Fixes That Doubled Organic Traffic
To illustrate the potential impact of a thorough technical SEO audit using Rank Math, let's examine a real client case study:
Client Background
A regional accounting firm approached us with a beautifully designed website built on WordPress and Themeco's Pro Theme, but they were struggling to gain search visibility despite having quality content. Their Rank Math SEO Analysis score was just 62/100.
Key Issues Identified
Our audit revealed several critical technical issues:
- XML sitemap was missing service pages due to incorrect post type settings,
- 86% of pages had duplicate meta descriptions.
- Schema markup was missing completely.
- Mobile responsiveness issues on key service pages.
- Site speed scores under 40 on PageSpeed Insights.
Implementation Strategy
We created a 6-week improvement plan:
- Fixed sitemap configuration and resubmitted to Google.
- Configured Rank Math's Instant Indexing to make use of Google's search API.
- Implemented unique meta descriptions for all service pages.
- Added Service schema via Rank Math to core service pages.
- Implemented basic speed optimisations.
Results After 90 Days
- Overall Rank Math SEO score improved to 87/100.
- Organic traffic increased by 112%.
- Featured snippets secured for 4 high-value service keywords.
- First page rankings for 23 target keywords (up from 7).
- 43% increase in organic contact form submissions.
This case demonstrates how systematically addressing technical SEO issues identified through Rank Math can have a significant impact on real business metrics.
Please note that the screenshot below shows that Schema is turned off. In actual fact, we are using four custom schemas, including an enhanced Product schema, globally. Only individual schemas, which are not used globally can display in this dashboard.
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Setting Up Rank Math For Comprehensive Site Analysis
Before diving into the audit process, it's important to properly configure Rank Math to get the most accurate and helpful insights.
Installation and Setup
If you haven't already installed Rank Math, head to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for "Rank Math SEO," install, and activate it. The setup wizard will guide you through the initial configuration, but here's what to focus on:
- Connect your Google Search Console and Analytics accounts for access to real search performance data.
- Enable the SEO Analysis module during setup.
- Complete the site-wide SEO configuration settings.
- Set up your sitemap configuration.
Advanced Configuration Tips
For the most comprehensive audits, make sure to:
- Enable "404 Monitor" to catch broken links.
- Activate the "Redirections" module to manage URL changes.
- Turn on the "Schema Generator" for structured data implementation.
- Enable "Role Manager" if working with a team.
With these settings in place, navigate to Rank Math > SEO Analysis in your WordPress dashboard to begin your technical audit.
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Interpreting Rank Math's SEO Audit Results
Once you've run the SEO Analysis, Rank Math will generate a comprehensive report with a numerical score and specific recommendations. Here's how to make sense of this information:
Understanding The SEO Score
Rank Math's scoring system (0-100) provides a quick snapshot of your site's technical health. While no site needs to achieve a perfect score, here's a general interpretation:
- 80-100: Excellent technical foundation.
- 60-80: Good, but with room for improvement.
- Below 60: Significant technical issues need addressing.
Prioritizing Issues By Impact
Not all technical issues have equal weight on your SEO performance. When reviewing your results, prioritise fixing issues in this order:
- Critical issues (red) - These directly impact crawling, indexing, or user experience.
- Important issues (orange) - These affect specific aspects of SEO performance.
- Minor issues (yellow) - These represent optimisation opportunities.
Pay special attention to issues related to:
- Crawlability.
- Mobile responsiveness.
- Page speed.
- Structured data.
- Security (HTTPS).
Remember that the goal isn't necessarily to achieve a perfect score, but rather to address technical issues that actually impact performance.
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Fixing Common Technical Issues Identified By Rank Math
Let's address the most common technical SEO issues that Rank Math typically identifies and how to fix them:
Crawlability and Indexing Issues
Problem: Rank Math flags pages with "noindex" tags or blocked by robots.txt
Solution: Navigate to Rank Math > General Settings > Edit robots.txt to review and modify your robots.txt file if there are errors present. For individual pages with incorrect indexing settings, edit the page and review the Rank Math meta box settings to ensure the "Index" option is selected where appropriate.
Problem: XML sitemap issues or missing pages
Solution: Go to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings to verify your sitemap configuration. Ensure all relevant content types are included and check for any excluded pages or posts that should be included.
Page Speed and Performance Issues
Problem: Slow loading times flagged in analysis
Solution: While Rank Math identifies speed issues, resolving them typically requires additional tools. Install a caching plugin like LiteSpeed or WP Rocket, optimise images, and implement browser caching. Themeco Pro theme users can take advantage of the built-in performance options in Cornerstone Builder to minimise CSS and JavaScript files.
Structured Data and Schema Issues
Problem: Missing or incomplete schema markup
Solution: Use Rank Math's Schema Generator to implement appropriate structured data. Navigate to any page or post, scroll to the Rank Math meta box, and select "Schema" to configure the appropriate schema type (Article, Product, Service, etc.). For site-wide schema, configure global settings under Rank Math > Titles & Meta > Local SEO & Knowledge Graph.
Mobile Usability Problems
Problem: Pages not optimised for mobile devices
Solution: If using Themeco' Pro Theme and Cornerstone Builder, review your responsive settings in Cornerstone Builder for each element. Test your site using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool and adjust breakpoints and responsive visibility settings as needed.
Content Optimization Gaps
Problem: Thin content or optimisation issues
Solution: Use Rank Math's Content Analysis feature when editing pages to improve content quality and keyword optimisation. Look for pages with low word counts and expand them with valuable information.
Security Concerns
Problem: Missing HTTPS or mixed content warnings
Solution: Ensure your site has a valid SSL certificate installed. If you're seeing mixed content warnings, use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to detect and fix mixed content issues. A good web host, such as Krystal Hosting, will supply SSL certificates as a core part of their hosting package.
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Advanced Schema Implementation Through Rank Math
Proper schema markup helps search engines understand your content and can lead to enhanced search results. Rank Math makes schema implementation straightforward:
Basic Schema Setup
For most pages, Rank Math offers simple schema options:
- Edit any page or post.
- Scroll down to the Rank Math meta box.
- Click on "Schema".
- Select the appropriate schema type (Article, Service, Product, etc.).
- Fill in the required fields.
Advanced Schema Techniques
For more sophisticated implementations:
- Custom schema for specific business needs: Navigate to Rank Math > Titles & Meta > Local SEO & Knowledge Graph to set up your organisation information.
- Multiple schema types on one page: While editing a page, add multiple schema blocks through the Schema Generator tab in the Rank Math meta box.
- Schema for custom post types: Configure default schema settings for your custom post types under Rank Math > Titles & Meta > Post Types.
Schema implementation significantly improves your chances of winning rich snippets and other enhanced search features, which can dramatically increase click-through rates.
The above screenshot shows Rank Math Pro's custom schema builder, whilst the image below is the successful validation of the schema being created. Note that we are using dynamic content for much of this schema, to drag actual data from the page on which the schema is being used.
In Rank Math, dynamic content is denoted by the starting and ending %...%.
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Creating A Prioritized SEO Improvement Roadmap
After identifying issues, creating a structured plan for addressing them is crucial:
1. Immediate fixes (Week 1)
Focus on critical crawlability and indexing issues:
- Fix robots.txt problems.
- Correct noindex / nofollow settings on important pages.
- Repair broken sitemap links.
- Ensure proper SSL implementation.
2. Short-Term Improvements (Weeks 2-3)
Address performance and user experience factors:
- Implement basic performance optimisations.
- Fix broken internal links.
- Correct missing or duplicate title tags and meta descriptions.
- Implement basic schema markup.
3. Long-Term Optimisation (Months 1-3)
Focus on content and advanced technical issues:
- Expand thin content pages.
- Implement advanced schema structures.
- Optimise site architecture and internal linking.
- Create content clusters around key topics.
- Rank Math's SEO Analysis tool allows you to run new scans after implementing changes, helping you track your progress over time.
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Tracking Improvements Through Rank Math's Analytics
One of Rank Math's most valuable features is its integrated analytics, which helps you measure the impact of your technical SEO improvements:
Setting Up Performance Tracking
- Ensure your Google Search Console is connected to Rank Math.
- Navigate to Rank Math > Analytics Dashboard.
- Set a baseline date range before you began implementing changes.
- Monitor key metrics over time as you implement fixes.
Key Metrics To Monitor
Pay special attention to these metrics as indicators of technical SEO improvement:
- Impressions: Usually the first metric to improve after technical fixes.
- Click-through rate: Indicates better visibility and snippet optimisation.
- Average position: Shows ranking improvements.
- Indexed pages: Should increase as crawlability improves.
- Core Web Vitals: Tracked through Google Search Console integration.
Creating Custom SEO Reports
For client reporting or team updates, Rank Math allows you to:
- Navigate to Analytics > Reports.
- Set your preferred date ranges and metrics.
- Export or schedule regular report delivery.
- Consistent monitoring helps validate your technical SEO efforts and identify new opportunities for improvement.
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Conclusion
A comprehensive technical SEO audit using Rank Math doesn't just improve your site's search visibility—it enhances the overall user experience and effectiveness of your website. By systematically identifying and addressing technical issues, you create a solid foundation for all your other SEO and content marketing efforts.
Remember that technical SEO isn't a one-time project but an ongoing process. I recommend running a full technical audit quarterly and implementing a monthly check-in on key metrics through Rank Math's analytics dashboard.
If you need assistance setting up or optimising Rank Math for your WordPress site, or conducting a professional technical SEO audit, don't hesitate to get in touch. As certified WordPress and SEO specialists, we can help you maximise your site's potential and ensure you're getting the most from tools like Rank Math.
Have you conducted a technical SEO audit recently? What issues did you discover? Share your experience by getting in touch for a professional consultation.
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About The Author
Christopher White
Christopher White is the founder of Cotswold Websites. An accredited digital marketer and website designer, he has over 18 years of experience in creating bespoke websites.
With a background in international logistics and business analysis, Christopher uses his business experience to advise organisations how their website can and should work for them, along with helping them implement business strategies to use Digital Marketing techniques to boost their public exposure.