Technical SEO Checklist for WordPress & Shopify Websites
Optimising your website for search engines is more than just creating great content and building backlinks. Technical SEO ensures that your site is structured, fast, and easy for search engines to crawl, which directly impacts rankings and user experience.
Whether you run a WordPress blog, a Shopify store, or a business website, following a comprehensive technical SEO checklist is essential to boost visibility, improve conversions, and stay competitive.
1. Ensure Proper Site Structure
A well organized site structure makes it easier for search engines to index your pages and for users to navigate your site.
Key points:
- Use a clear hierarchy with categories, subcategories, and pages
- Implement breadcrumb navigation for both users and search engines
- Keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword friendly
- Avoid orphan pages that have no internal links pointing to them
2. Optimize Site Speed
Page speed is a major ranking factor and influences user experience.
- Compress images using plugins or tools like TinyPNG
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files
- Use caching plugins (WordPress: W3 Total Cache, Shopify: built in caching apps)
- Enable a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for faster load times globally
- Test speed regularly with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix
3. Mobile Friendly Design
Google uses mobile first indexing, meaning your mobile site version is the primary reference for ranking.
Checklist:
- Ensure responsive design across devices
- Avoid intrusive pop ups or elements that block content
- Test mobile usability with Google Mobile Friendly Test
4. Secure Your Website with HTTPS
Security is critical for both SEO and user trust.
- Install an SSL certificate for your WordPress or Shopify site
- Update internal links to use https://
- Ensure Shopify SSL settings are enabled (usually automatic)
5. Optimize Crawlability & Indexing
Make it easy for search engines to find and index your pages:
- Create and submit a XML sitemap to Google Search Console
- Use a properly configured robots.txt file
- Avoid duplicate content with canonical tags
- Ensure no important pages are blocked from crawling
6. Implement Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Structured data helps search engines understand your content and can enhance your search results with rich snippets.
Checklist:
- Add product schema for e-commerce pages
- Use blog/article schema for WordPress posts
- Implement local business schema if applicable
- Validate schema with Google’s Rich Results Test
7. Fix Broken Links & Redirects
Broken links harm user experience and SEO rankings.
- Regularly audit your site using tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs
- Redirect old URLs properly using 301 redirects
- Avoid redirect chains and loops
8. Optimize On Page SEO Elements
Even technical SEO involves optimizing the basics:
- Title tags and meta descriptions: unique, concise, keyword optimized
- Header tags (H1, H2, H3) for content hierarchy
- Image alt attributes with descriptive keywords
- Internal linking to guide users and search engines
9. Monitor Website Health Regularly
Continuous monitoring helps catch issues before they impact SEO performance:
- Use Google Search Console for crawl errors, coverage, and indexing status
- Track website speed and uptime
- Monitor for duplicate content or thin pages
- Regularly review analytics for traffic and engagement changes
10. Leverage SEO Plugins & Apps
For WordPress:
- Yoast SEO or Rank Math for meta tags, sitemaps, schema, and readability
- WP Rocket for caching and speed optimization
For Shopify:
- SEO Manager or Plug in SEO for meta tags, alt text, and redirects
- Crush Pics for image optimization
Final Thoughts
A strong technical SEO foundation is essential for WordPress and Shopify websites to rank well, improve user experience, and generate leads. By following this checklist, SMEs can ensure their websites are fast, mobile friendly, secure, and easily crawlable, providing a solid base for all other SEO efforts.
Regular audits and updates will keep your site optimized and ready for future search engine algorithm changes.
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