Technical SEO helps search engines find and understand your website. Even if your content is strong, small behind-the-scenes issues can quietly block your site from showing up in search results. In this guide, we’re walking through 10 of the most common technical SEO issues and how to fix them.
1. Crawl Errors
Crawl errors happen when Google’s bots can’t access or properly scan your website pages. This might occur if a page doesn’t load, no longer exists, or your server has problems (hurting your visibility in search.)
How to fix it:
- Use Google Search Console to spot crawl errors like “not found” (404) or server issues (5xx).
- Fix broken links by updating or removing ones that lead to missing pages.
- Use 301 redirects if a page has permanently moved.
- Talk to your developer or hosting company to fix server or access problems.
- Review your robots.txt file to make sure it’s not blocking important pages by mistake.
2. Indexing Problems
Sometimes your site works fine, but Google still doesn’t show it in search results. This usually means the site is telling Google not to index certain pages.
How to fix it:
- Meta Tags: Look for “noindex” tags in your site’s code. Pages you want in search results should be set to “index, follow.”
- Robots.txt File: This file tells search engines which pages to skip. Make sure it’s not blocking important content.
- Sitemap Submission: Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console so Google knows which pages to include.
Reviewing these areas helps make sure your site appears when people search for your services, and avoids unnecessary technical SEO issues.
3. Slow Page Speed
Every second your site takes to load increases the chance someone will leave. A slow site can frustrate visitors and drop your rankings in Google.
Google tracks how fast your pages load. If your site is too slow, even well-written content may not help much.
Common causes of slow speeds:
- Large image files
- Too many plugins (especially in WordPress)
- Old or messy code
- Low-quality hosting
- No caching or file compression
How to fix it:
- Test your site speed: Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
- Resize and compress images: Use free tools like TinyPNG.
- Remove unused plugins: Extra features can slow you down.
- Use caching: This helps returning visitors load your site faster.
- Try a CDN: A Content Delivery Network loads your site from the closest location to your visitor, speeding things up.
4. Mobile Usability Issues
More than half of all web traffic comes from smartphones. If your site doesn’t work well on small screens, visitors may leave, and Google takes note.
How to fix it: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. It points out problems like small text or hard-to-tap buttons. A developer can usually fix these with responsive design.
5. Duplicate Content
Duplicate content means two or more pages on your site say the same thing. Search engines don’t know which one to show, so they may show neither.
This can happen if you:
- Copy content across multiple pages
- Use similar product or service descriptions
- Tag blog posts in multiple categories
Why it matters:
- Search engines may see your site as lower quality
- You miss the chance to have one page rank clearly
How to fix it:
- Combine similar content into one stronger page
- Use canonical tags to tell Google which version is the main one
- Avoid copy/pasting large chunks of the same text across pages
- Redirect older pages if needed
Tools like Siteliner or SEMrush can help identify where duplicates appear. Cleaning up duplicate content removes confusion for both users and search engines, reducing technical SEO issues down the road.
6. Broken Internal Links
Internal links help users and search engines move around your website. When they lead to pages that no longer exist, they create frustration and send bad signals to Google.
Picture a visitor clicking on a link that says “Read more about our services,” only to hit an error page. It’s confusing and makes your site feel less reliable.
Broken links often show up after redesigns or when old pages are removed. Over time, they add up.
How to fix it:
- Use a tool like Screaming Frog or an SEO plugin to scan for broken links
- Fix or remove broken links when you find them
- Check links regularly, especially after big website changes
Cleaning up broken links helps people stay on your site and makes it easier for Google to understand your content. This is one of the easier technical SEO issues to address, and worth keeping on your regular maintenance checklist.
7. Poor Site Architecture
A confusing layout can make it hard for visitors (and search engines) to find your content.
How to fix it:
- Organize your content: Group pages into clear categories like Services or Contact
- Use simple menus: Make it easy for users to get where they need to go
- Keep navigation shallow: Most pages should be reachable within 2–3 clicks
- Use clear URLs: Page addresses should describe what’s on the page
8. Redirect Chains and Loops
Redirects help move users from one page to another. But if you stack them (Page A goes to Page B, which goes to Page C), things slow down. Worse, if a redirect points back to itself, it can create a loop.
How to fix it: Point each redirect to the final page directly. Avoid using multiple hops or creating circles.
Fixing redirect chains is one of those small technical SEO issues that can make your site more efficient and search-friendly.
9. Missing or Incorrect Structured Data
Structured data helps Google understand what’s on your pages. It’s extra code that adds context—like showing product prices, event times, or star ratings in search results.
It helps your site stand out and can lead to more clicks.
How to fix it:
- Use schema.org markup or JSON-LD code to describe what’s on your pages
- If you use WordPress, SEO plugins like Yoast can help
- Test your code with Google’s Rich Results Test to make sure it’s working
10. Security and HTTPS Issues
Google favors websites that protect visitors with HTTPS. If your site doesn’t have a secure connection, you could be losing trust and ranking power.
How to fix it:
- Get an SSL certificate from your host or domain provider
- Make sure every page loads with HTTPS
- Fix any mixed content issues where secure and insecure elements load together
- Redirect all HTTP versions to HTTPS
HTTPS is a small but important technical SEO factor. A secure site keeps users safe and helps build credibility.
Measuring and Fixing Technical SEO Issues
Technical SEO isn’t something you fix once and forget. Sites change, search engines update their rules, and small issues can pop up over time.
Use tools like:
- Google Search Console – check crawl and index status
- Screaming Frog – scan for broken links and errors
- PageSpeed Insights – test site speed
- Ahrefs or SEMrush – for deeper (paid) technical audits
Need Help Fixing These Issues?
You don’t need to become an SEO expert to see results. MARION can run a technical SEO audit and help you clean up the problems that are holding your site back.
We also offer full-service SEO, site maintenance and management, and content support so you can stay ahead in search results while focusing on your business.
