A website audit is a crucial step in SEO optimization. A well-optimized and healthy website increases the chances of ranking targeted keywords on the first page of search engines, especially Google. Conducting an audit manually can be time-consuming, and using ineffective SEO tools that fail to provide clear reports on website health can hinder the process.
Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO tools used by experts to analyze and optimize websites. One of its standout features is the Site Audit tool, which is available for free. This feature allows users to evaluate a website’s SEO health and identify technical issues that may affect search engine rankings.
How to Use Ahrefs Free Website Audit
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- Sign up for a free account at Ahrefs SEO Audit Tool without needing a credit card. Ensure you register using a Google Search Console (GSC) account linked to the website you want to audit, as the free version is limited to websites verified through GSC.
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After registering, configure the Crawl Settings in the Ahrefs Site Audit feature. Adjust the Max Number of Internal Pages from the default 10,000 to 5,000, as shown in the image below:
Note: The free version has a limit of 5,000 URLs. If you do not adjust the settings, the crawl may not work properly.
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Begin the website crawl and wait for the results, which will also be sent to your email. If the process is successful, you will receive a report similar to the image below:
- Once the audit is complete, Ahrefs provides a comprehensive report on your website’s health. Key metrics include:
- Health Score: A score indicating website health based on SEO issues.
- Crawlability Issues: Identifies pages that search engines cannot index.
- Broken Links: Lists inactive links or those leading to error pages.
- Redirect Issues: Checks for improper redirects or excessive redirect chains.
- On-Page SEO Issues: Identifies missing or duplicate elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, and headings.
Fixing Issues Found in the Audit
After identifying issues through the free website audit, take the following actions to resolve them:
- Fix Broken Links by replacing or removing inactive internal links.
- Optimize Meta Tags by adjusting the length and relevance of title tags and meta descriptions.
- Increase Website Speed by compressing images and optimizing JavaScript and CSS code.
- Improve Internal Linking Structure to enhance website navigation and SEO performance.
Ongoing SEO Maintenance
SEO is not a one-time process; it requires continuous monitoring and improvements. Use Ahrefs’ Scheduled Audit feature to automate scans at specific intervals—daily, weekly, or monthly. This helps maintain website health and ensures ongoing optimization.
If you need assistance in improving your website’s health score, feel free to consult us. Website audits are part of our SEO services, available as standalone offerings or as part of a full-service package.