The Foundation of Every Successful SEO Strategy
An SEO audit is the foundation of every successful SEO strategy. Without understanding what is holding your website back, any SEO work becomes guesswork.
Many businesses invest in SEO without ever having clear answers to critical questions.
- Why they are not ranking
- Which pages Google struggles to understand
- Where traffic is being lost
- Which opportunities are being missed
An SEO audit provides clarity. It shows exactly what is working, what is broken, and what needs to be prioritised to achieve real results.
What Is an SEO Audit?
An SEO audit is a complete analysis of your website’s performance in search engines. It examines how Google crawls, indexes, and evaluates your site — and how users experience it.
A proper SEO audit goes far beyond surface-level checks. It looks at:
- Technical SEO
- On-page SEO
- Content quality
- Search intent alignment
- Internal linking
- Off-page and backlink profile
- Local and international SEO signals
The goal of an SEO audit is not just to find problems, but to identify opportunities for growth. For businesses competing locally, this is especially important as part of a wider SEO in Marbella strategy.
An SEO audit provides clarity: what is working, what is broken, and what should be prioritised to achieve measurable results.
Why an SEO Audit Is Essential
Many websites struggle in search results without obvious reasons. Rankings stagnate, traffic drops, or competitors consistently outrank them.
- Understand why your website is underperforming
- Identify technical barriers blocking rankings
- Discover missed keyword opportunities
- Improve user experience and conversions
- Build a clear SEO roadmap
Without an audit, SEO efforts often focus on the wrong areas.
Common Problems We Discover in SEO Audits
Almost every website we audit has hidden issues. Some are minor. Others have a major impact on rankings. Below are the most common problems we uncover.
Technical Issues Blocking Visibility
Technical problems often go unnoticed but can severely limit SEO performance. These include:
- Indexing errors
- Crawl budget waste
- Slow page speed
- Mobile usability issues
- Incorrect redirects
Even strong content cannot rank if technical foundations are weak.
Pages Not Matching Search Intent
Many pages target keywords but fail to satisfy what users are actually looking for. Common examples:
- Service pages that are too generic
- Informational pages trying to rank for commercial searches
- Pages missing key information users expect
Search intent mismatches reduce rankings and conversions.
Weak or Unclear Page Structure
Poor structure makes it difficult for search engines to understand content hierarchy. Issues include:
- Missing or duplicated H1 tags
- Improper heading usage
- Long, unstructured content blocks
Clear structure improves both SEO and user experience.
Duplicate Content & Cannibalisation
Duplicate content confuses search engines and dilutes ranking signals. We often find:
- Multiple pages targeting the same keywords
- Parameter-based URL duplication
- Poor canonical implementation
An audit identifies and resolves these issues.
Underperforming Content
Not all content contributes to SEO success. We identify:
- Thin or outdated content
- Pages with low engagement
- Content gaps competitors are exploiting
This helps prioritise content improvements.
Poor Internal Linking
Internal links guide both users and search engines. Common problems:
- Important pages buried deep in the site
- Orphan pages with no links
- Random internal linking without strategy
An SEO audit reveals where authority flow can be improved.
Weak Off-Page Authority
Many websites lack sufficient authority to compete. We analyse:
- Backlink quality
- Anchor text distribution
- Authority gaps compared to competitors
This determines how much off-page SEO is required.
Local SEO Issues
For businesses targeting Marbella, local SEO problems are common. These include:
- Poor Google Business Profile optimisation
- Inconsistent NAP information
- Weak local signals
An audit ensures local visibility is not being lost.
International SEO Misalignment
For businesses targeting international audiences, we often find:
- Incorrect hreflang implementation
- Duplicate language pages
- Wrong pages ranking in the wrong markets
International SEO issues can severely limit visibility abroad.
Our SEO Audit Process
We follow a structured, comprehensive approach. Every audit is customised to the website, industry, and goals.
Step 1: Website & Business Understanding
Before analysing data, we understand your business. We review:
- Business goals
- Target markets
- Key services or products
- Local vs international focus
This ensures the audit aligns with what matters commercially.
Step 2: Technical SEO Audit
We analyse the technical foundation of your website. This includes:
- Crawlability and indexing
- Robots.txt and XML sitemaps
- Site speed and Core Web Vitals
- Mobile usability
- HTTPS and security
- Redirects and error handling
Technical issues are prioritised based on impact.
Step 3: On-Page SEO Audit
We review how pages are optimised individually. This includes:
- Title tags and meta descriptions
- Heading structure
- Keyword usage
- Content relevance
- Image optimisation
We assess whether each page has a clear SEO purpose.
Step 4: Content & Search Intent Analysis
Content must match user intent to rank. We analyse:
- Content depth and clarity
- Alignment with search intent
- Informational vs commercial balance
- Missing or weak content areas
This reveals opportunities for growth.
Step 5: Internal Linking & Site Structure Audit
We examine:
- Site architecture
- Page hierarchy
- Internal link flow
- Orphaned pages
This helps improve crawl efficiency and authority distribution.
Step 6: Off-Page & Backlink Audit
We analyse your backlink profile in detail. This includes:
- Link quality and relevance
- Authority distribution
- Anchor text patterns
- Toxic or risky links
We also compare your profile to competitors.
Step 7: Local SEO Audit (If Applicable)
For local businesses, we review:
- Google Business Profile
- Categories and attributes
- Reviews and trust signals
- Local keyword visibility
This ensures strong local performance.
Step 8: International SEO Audit (If Applicable)
For international targeting, we audit:
- hreflang implementation
- Language targeting
- International URL structure
- Market-specific visibility
This ensures correct geographic targeting.
Step 9: Competitor Benchmarking
We compare your website against top competitors. This shows:
- Where competitors are stronger
- What they are doing differently
- Which gaps you can exploit
SEO is relative. Benchmarking is essential.
Step 10: SEO Audit Report & Roadmap
The final audit is delivered as a clear, actionable roadmap. You receive:
- A summary of key findings
- Prioritised issues
- Recommended actions
- Short-term and long-term SEO opportunities
We avoid generic reports and focus on clarity.
What You Get From Our SEO Audit
Our SEO audits are designed to be usable, not just informative. You get:
- Clear priorities
- Actionable recommendations
- Strategic direction
- Honest assessment of SEO potential
Whether you work with us or another provider, the audit gives you control.
SEO Audit vs Ongoing SEO
An SEO audit can be:
- A standalone service
- The first step of ongoing SEO
Many clients start with an audit to understand where they stand before committing to monthly SEO.
SEO Audit Pricing
SEO audit services start from €100, depending on:
- Website size
- Complexity
- International requirements
- Depth of analysis
We recommend the right audit scope after reviewing your website.
No Long-Term Contracts
SEO audits are one-time services with no ongoing commitment. You receive the audit, insights, and roadmap — and decide what to do next.
Why Choose Marbella SEO Agency for SEO Audits?
Clients choose us because:
- We are transparent and honest
- We focus on business impact
- We understand international markets
- We explain SEO clearly
- We do not upsell unnecessary services
An SEO audit should give clarity, not confusion.
Is an SEO Audit Right for You?
An SEO audit is ideal if:
- Your website is not ranking as expected
- Traffic has dropped or stagnated
- You are planning a redesign or migration
- You want to invest in SEO correctly
If you want to know why your website performs the way it does, an SEO audit is the starting point.
Get Started With an SEO Audit in Marbella
SEO success starts with understanding. If you want a clear picture of your website’s strengths, weaknesses, and growth potential, an SEO audit is the first step.
Contact us to discuss your website and arrange a professional SEO audit.