DIY SEO: High impact SEO in 5 Minutes or Less
Francis Rodino
Founder of Lead Hero AI & Clinic Convert | Award Winning Marketing Expert | Best Selling Author | Mission to automate, accelerate and scale service-led business with AI.
Ever feel like you're shouting into the void when it comes to SEO? You spend hours crafting content, building links, and doing all the "right" things, but Google seems to be ignoring you.?
Well, fear not, fellow tradesperson! ?? I'm about to reveal a super-simple SEO trick that can make a massive difference in just 5 minutes.
Forget complicated keyword research and technical jargon. This is about getting down and dirty with the Google Index – the heart of how Google sees your website.
The Two-Step DIY SEO Audit That Will Blow Your Mind ??
This quick audit will help you uncover hidden issues that might be sabotaging your SEO efforts. Ready? Let’s dive in! ??♂?
Step 1: The "Site:" Operator – Your SEO Secret Weapon ???
Head over to Google and type the following into the search bar: site:yourdomain.com
(Replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual website address. Don't include any spaces, "https://", or "www.")
?? Hit enter, and behold! You'll see a list of all the pages Google has indexed from your website. These are the pages eligible to show up in search results. If a page isn't indexed, it's basically invisible to Google (and potential customers!). ????
Step 2: The Number That Reveals All ??
At the top of the search results page, you'll see a number. This is Google's estimate of how many pages from your website are in its index.
?? Take a good look at that number. Does it seem about right? Are there fewer pages than you expected? Or maybe a shockingly high number?
This little number can reveal a lot about your website's health in the eyes of Google.
What If...? Troubleshooting Your SEO Audit ????
Let’s explore some common scenarios and how to fix them:
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Scenario 1: "Help! I Don’t See ANYTHING in the Google Index!"
First, don’t panic! ?? Double-check that you typed the "site:" operator correctly. Then, consider these possibilities:
?? Google Penalty: Have you been naughty with your SEO? Manipulative link building or sneaky tactics can get you penalized.
Action: Check Google Search Console for any manual actions. If you find a penalty, you may need to submit a reconsideration request.
?? Restricted Access: Is something blocking Google from accessing your site?
Action: Check your robots.txt file to ensure you're not accidentally blocking search engines. If you're using WordPress, make sure the "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" option under "Settings" > "Reading" is unchecked.
Scenario 2: "Some of My Pages Are Missing from the Google Index!"
Remember that Google's number is an estimate, especially for larger sites. But if you notice significant discrepancies, investigate further:
Scenario 3: "There Are WAY Too Many Pages in the Google Index!"
Having tons of useless pages indexed can be just as bad as having too few. Here’s a real-life example:
A client's website had a plugin that generated a page for every single day for the next 30 years! This resulted in over 10,000 empty event pages clogging up the Google Index, making it hard for Google to find the actual valuable content.
Action:
The Bottom Line: Take Action!
This 5-minute audit can reveal critical SEO issues that are holding your website back. Once you’ve identified any problems, take action to fix them!
Whether you tackle the issues yourself or consult an SEO professional, this simple check-up can make a ?? of difference in your website’s visibility and search rankings.
P.S. Want to chat about your SEO challenges and how we can help you achieve your online marketing goals? ?? Book a free discovery call today! ??