We have run thousands of technical SEO audits through LeadRanks. While every site is different, the same mistakes show up again and again. Here are the 11 most common ones — and how to fix each.
1. Missing or Duplicate Title Tags
Still the most frequent issue. Every page needs a unique <title> tag between 50–60 characters. Pages with identical titles confuse Google about which one to rank. Use a template like {Page Title} | {Brand} but ensure each page title is genuinely distinct.
2. No Meta Description (or Auto-Generated Nonsense)
Meta descriptions do not directly affect rankings but they dramatically affect click-through rates. A well-written description is your ad in the SERP. Make it 120–155 characters, include the primary keyword naturally, and give a reason to click.
3. Broken Internal Links
Every broken link is a dead end for both users and crawl budget. Sites with 500+ pages almost always have at least a few. Run a crawl and fix them — or set up 301 redirects to relevant pages.
4. Slow Page Speed (Especially on Mobile)
Core Web Vitals are a confirmed ranking factor. Common causes: unoptimised images, excessive JavaScript, no caching, and bloated third-party scripts. Aim for LCP under 2.5s, FID under 100ms, and CLS under 0.1.
5. Not Blocking Low-Value Pages From Indexing
Admin pages, thank-you pages, search result pages, tag archives — these dilute your site quality signal. Use noindex tags or robots.txt to keep them out of the index.
6. Missing Alt Text on Images
Alt text is an accessibility requirement and an SEO signal. Every image should describe what it shows, including relevant context. "hero-image-final-v3.jpg" helps no one.
7. HTTPS Mixed Content Warnings
You moved to HTTPS but some images, scripts, or iframes still load over HTTP. Browsers flag this and users see security warnings. Run a site-wide scan for http:// references.
8. No XML Sitemap (or a Stale One)
An XML sitemap is not a ranking factor per se, but it is how you tell Google which pages matter. Make sure yours is current, referenced in robots.txt, and submitted to Search Console.
9. Orphan Pages
Pages with no internal links pointing to them. Google may still find them through the sitemap but they will rank poorly because the algorithm sees them as unimportant. Every page should have at least one internal link from somewhere on your site.
10. Thin or Cannibalised Content
Multiple pages targeting the same keyword compete against each other instead of combining strength. Identify these and either merge the pages or differentiate their intent clearly.
11. Ignoring Structured Data
Schema markup powers rich results — reviews, FAQs, breadcrumbs, product info, and more. Pages with structured data have higher CTR. It is free real estate in the SERP.
Run a free LeadRanks audit to catch all 11 of these automatically — plus 50+ other checks — in under 2 minutes.