SEO Checker

SEO Checker
What is a SEO Checker?

The SEOTools free SEO checker is a tool that scans your website to spot issues that might hurt its performance on search engines. With SEOTools free SEO checker, you can quickly identify problems that impact your rankings. It provides a simple, detailed report of areas needing improvement, helping you optimize your site for better search visibility.

How Does SEOTools Free SEO Checker Work?

SEOTools free SEO checker analyzes your web page by crawling it just like search engines do. It reviews key elements, including titles, descriptions, page content, and the structure of your site. By comparing these factors to best practices in SEO, SEOTools generates an SEO score along with a list of issues that need attention to improve your site's ranking potential.

What Areas Does SEOTools SEO Checker Review?

Our free SEO checker assesses essential elements that impact how search engines rank your site. It reviews the following categories:

  • SEO Basics: Analyzes titles, descriptions, and the quality and relevance of your content. It also checks the structure of your site, including layout, headings, and internal links, along with both internal and external links on your page.
  • Server and Performance: Verifies if server settings and load speed are optimized for improved user experience and search ranking.
  • Security: Assesses important security factors like HTTPS encryption, mixed content, server signature, unsafe cross-origin links, and HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS).
  • Additional Checks: Includes various other factors such as plaintext emails on the page, structured data, meta viewport settings, sitemap, and deprecated HTML elements.

Each of these areas contributes to your SEO score, providing valuable insights into what you can improve to achieve better search engine rankings.

What is an SEO Score?

The SEO score provided by SEOTools shows how well your page aligns with SEO best practices. Scores range from 0% to 100%, with higher scores indicating better optimization. A score above 90% generally means your site is in good shape, while lower scores highlight areas where improvements are needed. If your score is below 30%, it's recommended to make adjustments soon, as it indicates major SEO issues.

How to Improve Your SEO Score Using SEOTools

With SEOTools free SEO checker, you receive a clear to-do list to improve your SEO. Each issue is ranked by importance so you can prioritize fixes that will make the biggest difference. Start by tackling high-priority items like missing meta tags, broken links, or content quality issues to see noticeable improvements in your SEO score and search performance.

SEO Analysis Checks

1. Title

  • The title tag is the text that appears at the very top of your browser tab when you open a web page. It also shows up as the clickable headline in search engine results. This is one of the most important elements for SEO because it tells search engines and users what your page is about.
  • Make sure your title is short, clear, and includes important keywords related to the page content. This helps search engines rank your page higher and makes it easier for users to find your website.
  • The ideal length for a title tag is between 50 to 60 characters. If the title is too short, it may not provide enough information. If it's too long, search engines might cut it off, and users won't see the full title.
  • Additional Tips:
    • Avoid keyword stuffing in the title, as it can make it look spammy.
    • Make sure each page has a unique title to help search engines differentiate between them.

Example of a title tag:

<title>SEOTools - Professional SEO Analysis and Tools</title>

2. Meta Description

  • The meta description is a short summary that appears below the title in search engine results. A well-written meta description can encourage users to click on your link, which can increase your click-through rate (CTR). Although it doesn't directly impact search rankings, it can improve user engagement.
  • Keep your meta description concise - ideally under 160 characters and make sure it accurately summarizes the page content. Include important keywords to make it relevant to search queries and encourage clicks.
  • The meta description should be between 120 to 160 characters. If it's too long, search engines may cut it off, leaving an incomplete message.
  • Additional Tips:
    • Each page should have a unique meta description tailored to the content of that page.
    • Avoid keyword stuffing. instead, focus on making the description appealing and informative to users.
    • Although search engines sometimes generate their own descriptions, having a well-written one increases the chance of it being displayed in search results.

Example of a meta description tag:

<meta name="description" content="Unlock powerful SEO insights with SEOTools. Improve your site's performance and rank higher in search results today.">

3. Headings (H1, H2, etc.)

  • Headings structure your content and help break it up into easily readable sections. They also help search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of the content on your page. The H1 tag is considered the most important as it signals the main topic of the page to both users and search engines.
  • Ensure your page has one H1 tag that includes the main keyword or phrase related to the page content. Subheadings (H2, H3, etc.) should be used to break content into sections, making it easier to read and more structured. Each heading should be descriptive and relevant to the content beneath it.
  • Headings follow a hierarchical structure, starting with H1 as the main heading, followed by H2, H3, and so on. This helps search engines and users follow the flow of information on your page. Use them in the correct order to maintain clarity.
  • Additional Tips:
    • Use only one H1 tag per page for the main topic or title of the page.
    • Incorporate keywords naturally into your headings without overloading them.
    • Use subheadings (H2, H3, etc.) to break up long sections of text and improve readability.
    • Avoid using heading tags just for styling; they should reflect the structure and importance of content.

Example of heading tags:

<h1>Professional SEO Analysis and tools</h1>
<h2>SEO Analysis Checks</h2>
<h3>1. Title Tag Analysis</p>
<h3>2. Meta Description Check</p>

4. Content Keywords

  • Keywords are essential for search engines to understand the main topics of your content. Properly optimized content with relevant keywords helps search engines match your page with user queries.
  • Conduct keyword research and naturally place primary and secondary keywords throughout your content, including headings, paragraphs, and meta descriptions.
  • Additional Tips:
    • Avoid keyword stuffing; instead, focus on creating valuable content around the keywords.
    • Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs for keyword research.

5. Image Keywords (Alt Text)

  • Alt text helps search engines understand the content of images. It is important for image search rankings and accessibility for visually impaired users.
  • Write descriptive alt attributes for each image, incorporating keywords when relevant, to help boost both SEO and user experience.

Example of alt text:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Professional SEO tools to improve website performance">

6. SEO Friendly URL

  • Clean, descriptive URLs are more user-friendly and can improve click-through rates in search results. They also provide search engines with valuable information about the page content.
  • Use hyphens to separate words in the URL, keep it short, and include the main keyword if relevant. Or use tools like, Text to slug converter.

Example of an SEO-friendly URL:

https://example.com/seo-friendly-url-guide

7. 404 Custom Page

  • A custom 404 page provides users with helpful information when they encounter a broken link or a missing page, guiding them back to useful content and preventing high bounce rates.
  • Create a friendly, informative 404 page with navigation options or a search bar to help users find what they are looking for.

Example of a custom 404 message:

Sorry, the page you're looking for can't be found. Try returning to the homepage or using the search bar below.

8. Robots.txt

  • The robots.txt file tells search engines like google, Bing, etc which pages to crawl and index, helping to control the visibility of your site in search results.
  • Ensure important pages are accessible to search engines, while blocking irrelevant pages like admin panels or private content.
  • Accessibility: The robots.txt file should be accessible from the root location of your website at /robots.txt.

Example of a robots.txt file:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/
Allow: /

9. Noindex Tag

  • The noindex tag prevents specific pages from appearing in search engine results. It's useful for pages with duplicate content or those that don't provide value to search users.
  • Add the noindex tag to pages like login pages, admin dashboards, or thank-you pages to keep them from being indexed.

Example of a noindex tag:

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

10. In-page Links (Internal Links)

  • Internal links help search engines discover more pages on your site and improve navigation for users by guiding them to related content. They create a structure that search engines can follow to index your site effectively.
  • These are links that connect different pages within the same website.
    • Improved SEO: Internal links distribute page authority across your site, enhancing the ranking potential of linked pages.
    • User Experience: They help users navigate your site easily, keeping them engaged and reducing bounce rates.
    • Quantity: Aim for 2-5 internal links per article or page, depending on length and complexity.
    • Relevance: Ensure that internal links are relevant to the content, with descriptive anchor text.
    • Diversity: Include a mix of internal links to provide a well-rounded user experience.

Example of a Internal Link:

<a href="/seo-tips">Read our top SEO tips</a>

11. In-page Links (External Links)

  • External links are links that point to other websites. They are important for building credibility and trust with your audience. When you link to reputable external sources, it signals to search engines that your content is well-researched and relevant.
  • These are links that point to pages on other websites.
    • Credibility: Linking to reputable external sources can enhance your content's credibility and trustworthiness.
    • SEO Benefits: Search engines recognize outbound links to quality sites as a positive signal, which can enhance your SEO.
    • Quantity: Linking to 1-3 credible external sources is usually sufficient.
    • Relevance: Ensure that external links are relevant to the content and provide value to users.
    • Diversity: Maintain a balance of both internal and external links to enhance your site's authority.

Example of a External Link:

<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example Site</a>

12. Language

  • Specifying the language of your webpage helps search engines and browsers deliver your content to the right audience and improves accessibility.
  • Use the lang attribute in the HTML tag to define the language of your content.

Example of a language attribute:

<html lang="en">

13. Favicon

  • A favicon is a small icon that represents your website and appears in the browser tab. It enhances brand recognition and user experience by making your website easily identifiable.
  • Create a simple yet recognizable favicon, typically 16x16 pixels in size, and add it to your website using the link tag.

Example of adding a favicon:

<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
Webpage Performance Checks

1. Text Compression

  • Compressing text files (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) reduces file sizes, which helps improve page load times and overall user experience. Faster sites often rank higher in search results.
  • Implement Gzip or Brotli compression to optimize text files and reduce load times.
  • Use tools such as CSS minifier, JS minifier and HTML minifier to optimize page load times and reduce file sizes.

Example of enabling Gzip compression in Apache:

<AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/css text/javascript>

2. Load Time

  • Faster load times not only improve user experience but also have a direct impact on SEO rankings. Search engines like Google prioritize faster websites.
  • Aim to keep your page load time under 2 seconds by optimizing images, reducing HTTP requests, and leveraging browser caching.
  • Test your site speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.

3. Page Size

  • Smaller page sizes load faster, improving user retention and SEO. Larger page sizes can lead to slower performance and higher bounce rates.
  • Optimize images and scripts, remove unnecessary plugins, and reduce the use of large files to keep page size small.
  • Aim for a page size of under 1 MB for best performance and SEO benefits.

4. HTTP Requests

  • The more HTTP requests a page makes (for files like images, CSS, and JavaScript), the slower it will load. Reducing the number of requests improves page performance.
  • Combine CSS and JavaScript files where possible, and use CSS sprites for images to reduce HTTP requests.

Example of combining CSS files:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="combined-styles.css">

5. Image Format

  • Using the right image formats(WebP, SVG, AVIF etc) can significantly reduce file size while maintaining quality, helping your pages load faster.
  • Use modern image formats like WebP or AVIF, which offer better compression than JPEG, JPG or PNG.
  • Ensure that images are responsive and appropriately sized for different devices.
  • You can also convert old PNG and JPEG images with online tools like Online-Convert, Convertio, or TinyJPG.

6. JavaScript Defer

  • Deferring JavaScript files can improve initial page load time by allowing essential content to load first, and then loading non-essential scripts.
  • Add the defer attribute to your script tags to delay JavaScript execution until the HTML is fully parsed.

Example of deferred script loading:

<script src="script.js" defer></script>

7. DOM Size

  • A smaller DOM (Document Object Model) size improves page performance, particularly on mobile devices. A large DOM can slow down rendering and affect usability.
  • Keep your HTML concise, avoid deeply nested elements, and use CSS efficiently to maintain a smaller DOM size.

8. DOCTYPE

  • The DOCTYPE declaration is used in webpages to define the HTML version being used. It helps browsers render your pages correctly and efficiently.
  • Always include the DOCTYPE at the beginning of your HTML document to ensure proper rendering across browsers.

Example of DOCTYPE declaration:

<!DOCTYPE html>
Website Security Checks

1. HTTPS Encryption

  • HTTPS provides secure, encrypted communication between the user's browser and your website. It is a ranking factor for Google and is essential for protecting sensitive information.
  • Obtain and install an SSL certificate to secure your website. Ensure that all resources (images, scripts) are loaded over HTTPS.
  • Use tools like SSL checker to check if your website has a valid SSL certificate.
  • Always redirect HTTP to HTTPS to avoid mixed content issues.

HTTP to HTTPS redirect Example with Htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^seotools.azinfoportal.com$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://seotools.azinfoportal.com/$1 [R=301,L]

2. Mixed Content

  • Mixed content occurs when secure HTTPS pages load insecure HTTP resources. This can lead to security warnings in browsers and undermine user trust.
  • Ensure that all resources, including images, scripts, and stylesheets, are loaded over HTTPS to avoid mixed content issues.
  • Use tools like mixed content checkers. to identify and fix issues.

3. Server Signature

  • Hiding server signatures can improve your website security by preventing attackers from gathering information about your server setup and version.
  • Configure your server to hide or customize server signature details in the response headers.
  • Use tools like HTTP headers checker to check if your server is displaying server signatures.

Example in Apache:

ServerSignature Off

4. Unsafe Cross-Origin Links

  • Cross-origin or unsecure links can expose your users to security risks, such as phishing or malware, especially if they lead to untrusted sites.
  • Always ensure that links direct users to trusted, secure sources to mitigate risks.

5. HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)

  • HSTS is a web security policy mechanism that helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by forcing browsers to only use HTTPS connections.
  • Implement HSTS in your server configuration to enhance security and protect user data.

Example in Apache:

Header always set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains"
Other Miscellaneous Checks

1. Plaintext Email

  • Displaying email addresses in plaintext can expose them to spammers and lead to unwanted email traffic.
  • Instead of displaying email addresses directly, use contact forms or obfuscation techniques to protect email addresses from bots and scammers.

2. Structured Data

  • Structured data helps search engines better understand your content and can lead to rich snippets in search results, improving visibility and click-through rates.
  • Implement schema markup relevant to your content to enhance search engine understanding and potentially improve SERP appearance.
  • Get more information on Structured Data at Schema.org or use the Google Schema Validator to validate Structured Data.

Example of JSON-LD structured data:

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Your Article Title" }

3. Meta Viewport

  • The meta viewport tag is essential for responsive design, ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly and displays correctly on different devices.
  • Include the viewport meta tag in the head section of your HTML to control the layout on mobile browsers.

Example of viewport meta tag:

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

4. Character Set

  • Specifying a character set ensures that your content displays correctly across different browsers and devices, preventing character misrepresentation.
  • Use UTF-8 as your character set for universal support of characters, symbols, and emojis.

Example of character set declaration:

<meta charset="UTF-8">

5. Sitemap

  • A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages, videos, etc of your website, helping search engines discover and index your content more efficiently and quickly.
  • Create an XML sitemap and submit it to search engines to improve the visibility of your pages in search results.
  • The sitemap.xml or sitemap_index.xml file should be accessible from the root location of your website at /sitemap.xml.

Example of sitemap URL:

https://example.com/sitemap.xml

6. Social

  • Proper social media tags improve how your content appears on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc, enhancing visibility and click-through rates.
  • Implement Open Graph and Twitter Card tags to control how your content is shared and displayed on social media.

7. Content Length

  • Longer, well-researched content tends to rank better in search results, providing more value to readers. Search engines favor comprehensive content that effectively answers user queries, helping to reduce bounce rates.
  • Aim for at least 300 words, with 1,000-2,500 words for in-depth topics. Ensure your content is informative and engaging.
  • Integrate primary and secondary keywords naturally, aiming for a density of 1-2%. Avoid keyword stuffing and focus on creating valuable, contextually rich content.
  • Use subheadings (H2, H3) and bullet points to improve readability. Break up text to keep users engaged.
  • Include internal links to related articles and external links to authoritative sources, enhancing credibility and SEO.
  • Incorporate images, infographics, and videos to complement your text. Optimize visuals for fast loading and use alt text for SEO.
  • End with a clear CTA to encourage user engagement, such as subscribing to a newsletter or exploring related content.

8. Text to HTML Ratio

  • A balanced text-to-HTML ratio indicates quality content and can improve SEO rankings. Search engines favor pages that provide substantial text relative to HTML markup, as this often reflects the relevance and quality of the content.
  • Aim for a text-to-HTML ratio of around 15-25%. This means that 15-25% of the total page code should consist of actual text content, while the rest can be HTML tags and elements.
  • Keep unnecessary HTML tags and excessive markup to a minimum. Focus on clean, semantic HTML that prioritizes content.
  • Deliver valuable, informative content that engages users. The goal is to provide sufficient text to convey your message effectively without overwhelming readers with excessive HTML.
  • Use headings (H2, H3), lists, and paragraphs to structure your content logically. This improves readability and helps search engines understand the hierarchy of information.

9. Inline CSS

  • Excessive inline CSS can slow down page rendering, negatively affecting load times and user experience.
  • Move CSS to external stylesheets wherever possible to streamline your HTML and improve performance. Try to keep all the styles in a single file

Example of Inline CSS:

<h1 style="color: blue; text-align: center;">Inline CSS</h1>
<p style="font-size: 18px; color: green;">This is an example of using inline CSS.</p>

10. Deprecated HTML

  • Using deprecated HTML elements can lead to rendering issues and is not supported in modern browsers.
  • Stay updated with current HTML standards and avoid deprecated tags like <font>, <center> and <marquee> to ensure compatibility across all browsers.

Example of Deprecated HTML:

<font color="blue">This text uses the deprecated <font> tag.</font>
<center>This content is centered using the deprecated <center> tag.</center>
<marquee>This text scrolls across the screen using the deprecated <marquee> tag.</marquee>