Every website owner dreams of ranking higher on Google. But here’s the catch, if your on-page SEO isn’t solid, even the best backlinks or paid campaigns won’t take you far.

That’s where an on-page SEO audit comes in. Think of it as a health check-up for your website. By carefully examining each page, you’ll uncover technical issues, content gaps, and user experience problems that may be stopping you from reaching the top.

In this guide, we’ll go step by step, explaining exactly what to check, why it matters, and which tools can help.

Step 1: Review Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

Titles and meta descriptions are your first chance to grab attention in search results. They act like mini-advertisements for your page.

What to do:

• Make sure every page has a unique title and description

• Naturally include your target keyword, but don’t overstuff

• Keep within the recommended length (50–60 characters for titles, 150–160 for descriptions)

Why it matters:

Search engines use titles to understand your page’s topic, while meta descriptions help boost click-through rates. A compelling description can be the difference between someone clicking your page or scrolling past it.

Tools:

• Screaming Frog SEO Spider – scan all pages for missing or duplicate metadata

• Yoast SEO (WordPress) – helps you optimize as you write

• DM Cockpit – shows how your titles and descriptions appear in search results and flags duplicates.

Step 2: Check URL Structure

Your URL is like your page’s permanent address on the web. A messy URL can confuse users and search engines.

What to do:

• Use short, descriptive URLs with keywords included

• Replace underscores with hyphens

• Avoid random numbers, special characters, or long strings

✅ Example: www.example.com/on-page-seo-audit
❌ Example: www.example.com/page?id=12345

Why it matters:

A clean URL improves user trust, readability, and clickability. It also gives search engines clear context about the page’s topic.

Tools:

• DM Cockpit – identifies long, messy, or duplicate URLs and helps you optimize them for SEO.

• Ahrefs Site Audit – check URL optimization and redirects

Step 3: Optimize Headings (H1, H2, H3)

Headings aren’t just for design—they structure your content for search engines and readers.

What to do:

• Use only one H1 tag per page (the main headline)

• Break content into clear sections with H2s and H3s

• Add keywords naturally where they make sense

Why it matters:

Headings improve readability, making it easy for users to scan your content. For search engines, they signal the hierarchy of information on your page.

Tools:

• SEO Minion (Chrome extension) – check heading usage

• DM Cockpit – scans for missing H1s and improper heading structure.

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Step 4: Evaluate Content Quality

Content is the foundation of on-page SEO. Without strong, user-focused content, even the best technical fixes won’t help.

What to do:

• Match the search intent (informational, transactional, navigational)

• Write comprehensive content that covers the topic fully

• Keep it updated with fresh statistics and insights

• Make it readable: short paragraphs, bullet points, clear flow

Why it matters:

Google rewards helpful, engaging, and well-structured content. If your page doesn’t satisfy the reader’s intent, they’ll bounce and search engines notice.

Tools:

• Grammarly – improve clarity and readability

• DM Cockpit – compares your content with top-ranking competitors and highlights SEO gaps 

Step 5: Optimize Images and Media

Images make your content engaging—but if they’re not optimized, they’ll slow your site down.

What to do:

• Compress images to reduce file size without losing quality

• Use descriptive file names (e.g., seo-audit-checklist.png)

• Add alt text so search engines and visually impaired users understand them

Why it matters:

Optimized images improve page speed, accessibility, and even SEO visibility (since images can rank in Google Images).

Tools:

• TinyPNG / ImageOptim – compress files

• Squoosh – resize and optimize images

• DM Cockpit – detects missing alt text and oversized images.

Step 6: Review Internal and External Links

Links act as pathways for both users and search engines.

What to do:

• Add internal links to guide users to related pages

• Link externally to trusted, authoritative sources

• Fix broken or outdated links

Why it matters:

Internal links help distribute authority across your site and improve navigation. External links build trust and credibility.

Tools:

• Broken Link Checker – quickly find dead links

• DM Cockpit – shows broken internal/external links and orphaned pages.

• Google Search Console – track internal link distribution

Step 7: Check Mobile Friendliness

Over half of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing users and rankings.

What to do:

• Use a responsive design that adapts to all devices

• Ensure text is readable without zooming

• Keep buttons and links tap-friendly

Why it matters:

Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at the mobile version of your site to rank it.

Tools:

• Google Mobile-Friendly Test – simple yes/no check

• BrowserStack – test your site across multiple devices

Step 8: Test Page Speed and Core Web Vitals

Speed is a ranking factor—and a slow site can cost you visitors.

What to do:

• Optimize images and enable caching

• Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML

• Remove unused plugins or heavy scripts

Why it matters:

Google measures Core Web Vitals:

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): loading speed

• FID (First Input Delay): interactivity

• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): visual stability

Tools:

• Google PageSpeed Insights – detailed Core Web Vitals report

• GTmetrix – full page performance breakdown

• Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools) – in-depth audits

Step 9: Use Schema Markup (Structured Data)

Schema is code that helps search engines better understand your page.

What to do:

• Add schema for articles, FAQs, products, reviews, or breadcrumbs

• Validate with Google’s testing tools

Why it matters:

Proper schema can lead to rich snippets—extra information like star ratings, FAQs, or event details in search results.

Tools:

• Google Rich Results Test – check schema implementation

• Merkle Schema Generator – easily create markup

Step 10: Check for Duplicate Content and Canonicals

Duplicate content confuses search engines and dilutes your rankings.

What to do:

• Use canonical tags to signal the preferred version of a page

• Eliminate duplicate or thin content where possible

Why it matters:

When Google sees duplicate versions, it may not know which to rank, leading to lost visibility.

Tools:

• Siteliner – detect duplicates within your site

• Copyscape – check if others copied your content

• DM Cockpit – detects duplicate content and missing canonical tags.

Step 11: Ensure Website Security (HTTPS)

A secure site builds trust with users and search engines.

What to do:

• Install an SSL certificate

• Fix mixed content issues (secure + insecure files on one page)

Why it matters:

Browsers warn users if a site isn’t secure. Plus, Google gives HTTPS sites a ranking boost.

Tools:

• SSL Checker – confirm your certificate

• Why No Padlock – troubleshoot issues

Step 12: Track User Behavior and Analytics

An audit isn’t complete unless you track how users interact with your site.

What to do:

• Monitor bounce rate and average time on page

• Track CTRs (click-through rates) from search results

• Use heatmaps to see where users click and scroll

Why it matters:

User behavior shows you where improvements are needed—whether it’s content clarity, page design, or navigation.

Tools:

• Google Analytics 4 – traffic and behavior analysis

• Google Search Console – keyword and CTR tracking

• DM Cockpit – integrates analytics and rank tracking to measure performance.

Conclusion

Doing an on-page SEO audit step by step helps you uncover hidden issues that affect rankings and user experience. From titles and headings to content, links, speed, and mobile performance, every element plays an important role in how your website performs in search results. The good news is, you don’t need to juggle multiple tools to get it right.

This is where DM Cockpit becomes a game-changer. Instead of switching between different platforms for metadata checks, link analysis, duplicate content, and performance tracking, DM Cockpit brings everything together in one easy-to-use dashboard. It not only shows you what’s wrong but also provides clear insights on how to fix it, saving both time and effort.

Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or SEO professional, DM Cockpit’s on-page SEO checker tool makes the process faster, smarter, and more effective. Among all the tools mentioned, it stands out as the most comprehensive solution, helping you improve rankings, boost visibility, and drive growth with confidence.