If you’re wondering whether your website is doing enough to stay visible on Google, you’re already ahead of the curve. The harsh reality? Most business sites aren’t as SEO-friendly as their owners think. And in today’s climate—where every click counts—that’s a missed opportunity.

Let’s unpack the key signs your website is SEO-optimised, and what to do if you spot trouble.

Quick answer: What makes a website SEO-friendly?

An SEO-friendly website is:

• Easy for Google to crawl and index

• Optimised for fast loading and mobile users

• Structured with keywords, metadata, and headings

• User-friendly with a clear, intuitive layout

• Regularly updated with original, useful content

If you’re ticking all these boxes, you’re on the right track. But miss just one, and your visibility can take a nosedive.

How can I tell if my site is SEO-friendly?

1. Does your site appear in search results for relevant terms?

If you type in your service and location—say, “plumber in Geelong”—and your site doesn’t show up in the first few pages, that’s a red flag. You may have:

• Weak on-page SEO

• Poor keyword targeting

• Low authority compared to competitors

Try Googling your own business name too. If you’re not coming up first, you’re likely facing technical or indexing issues.

2. How fast is your website loading?

Site speed directly impacts rankings and bounce rates. Research shows that bounce rates spike by 32% when page load time goes from 1 to 3 seconds.

Check this with: Google PageSpeed Insights

If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load on mobile, it’s costing you visitors—and rankings.

Fix it by:

• Compressing images

• Reducing unused code

• Enabling browser caching

3. Is your website mobile-optimised?

Google moved to mobile-first indexing years ago. That means it crawls your mobile version first—not your desktop site.

Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your site stacks up.

Common problems:

• Text is too small

• Buttons are hard to tap

• Content runs off the screen

If your mobile UX is clunky, you’ll struggle to rank—no matter how good your desktop version looks.

4. Are your title tags and meta descriptions optimised?

These are the first things people see in search results. They also help Google understand what each page is about.

Good title tags:

• Are unique for each page

• Include target keywords naturally

• Stay under 60 characters

Good meta descriptions:

• Summarise the page clearly

• Are around 150–160 characters

• Encourage clicks with value-based language

5. Are your images slowing you down?

Image-heavy sites can drag performance if they’re not optimised.

Check that:

• Every image is compressed (without losing quality)

• Each has an alt tag that describes the content

• You’re using WebP format where possible

Alt tags aren’t just for SEO—they improve accessibility, too.

What technical issues can kill your SEO performance?

6. Broken links and 404 errors

These frustrate users and send negative signals to search engines. Too many broken links can hurt your credibility in Google’s eyes.

Fix it by:

• Running a crawl using tools like Screaming Frog

• Updating outdated links

• Setting up proper redirects for removed pages

7. No SSL certificate (HTTPS)

This one’s non-negotiable. Google considers HTTPS a ranking factor, and browsers often warn users away from unsecured sites.

Check your URL—it should begin with https://. If not, ask your hosting provider to install an SSL certificate.

8. Lack of structured data

Structured data (schema markup) helps Google understand what your content is about. It can also enable rich snippets, like star ratings or FAQs.

Use Google’s Rich Results Test to see where your site stands.

Common schema types:

• LocalBusiness

• Product

• FAQ

• Review

• Article

9. Poor URL structure

Clean URLs are easier for search engines and humans to understand.

Bad:
www.site.com/page?id=123

Good:
www.site.com/about-us

Stick to lowercase, use hyphens, and avoid random numbers or session IDs.

Content clues: Is your copy working for or against you?

10. Are you targeting the right keywords?

Start by identifying what your audience is actually searching for. Then weave those terms into:

• Page titles and headings

• First 100 words of content

• Meta tags

• Image alt text

Tools to try:

• Google Search Console

• Ubersuggest

• Ahrefs (for deeper insights)

Avoid keyword stuffing—it’s 2025, and Google’s smarter than that.

11. Do you update your content regularly?

Outdated blog posts, broken stats, or irrelevant info can lower your site’s perceived quality.

Set a reminder every 3–6 months to refresh:

• Service pages

• Blog articles

• FAQ sections

• Contact details

Fresh content shows Google your site is active and helpful.

12. Is your internal linking on point?

Internal links help spread page authority and guide users to more relevant content. But avoid dumping dozens of links on a single page.

Instead, weave in relevant articles or service pages in a natural, editorial way. For example:

If you’re learning how to audit your website, understanding how a seo service in ottawa approaches optimisation can give you an edge.

Real-world case: A tradie’s website, transformed

A Brisbane-based electrician had a flash-looking website but wasn’t ranking for any local keywords. After an audit, here’s what we found:

• Home page took 5.8 seconds to load

• No metadata across the site

• Content was copied from a competitor

• No internal links or schema

We made changes over two months:

• Compressed images, updated copy, added LocalBusiness schema

• Rewrote every meta title and description

• Used internal links between service pages

Outcome? Page-one rankings for 6 target keywords, and a 34% increase in calls from organic search. Nothing fancy—just foundational fixes.

Why SEO-friendly sites outperform their competitors

SEO isn’t just about rankings—it affects trust, conversions, and even brand perception. When users land on a fast, helpful, well-structured site, they stay longer and are more likely to convert.

In behavioural terms, it’s choice architecture. You’re designing a path that makes it easy for people to find what they want, when they want it. As Cialdini would put it—consistency breeds trust. A well-optimised site looks professional, which makes users feel confident in choosing you.

FAQ: Quick SEO health check

What’s the fastest way to see if my site has issues?

Use SEOptimer or Google Search Console for a free technical audit.

Do I need to blog to rank well?

Not necessarily. But fresh, informative content improves SEO and gives you more keywords to rank for.

How often should I run an SEO audit?

At least twice a year, or after major site updates.

Final thoughts

Having an SEO-friendly website isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about being useful, visible, and credible. Many small changes compound into big wins, especially when you address technical health, content strategy, and user experience together.

If you’re not sure where to start, exploring how a professional seo service in ottawa approaches optimisation might shed some light on what’s missing from your own strategy.

Because at the end of the day, the best-performing websites aren’t just built—they’re maintained, tested, and improved over time.