Intermediate
How to fix technical SEO issues on Semrush
Quick Answer
Semrush Site Audit uncovers technical SEO issues like broken links, missing meta tags, and crawlability problems with a Site Health score and prioritized fixes. Address Errors first using built-in guides, implement changes like redirects and tag fixes, then rerun audits to verify improvements. Most fixes boost crawlability and rankings quickly with developer help for server-side issues.
Prerequisites
- Active Semrush account with Site Audit access
- Verified domain/project setup in Semrush
- Access to website backend or developer support
- Google Search Console integration
- Basic understanding of site HTML/code
1
Access Site Audit Tool
From your Semrush Project dashboard, click the
set up button for Site Audit to begin scanning your website for technical issues. Configure settings like crawl source (add XML sitemap), page limit matching your indexed pages, Googlebot user-agent, and whitelist Semrush IPs if using bot protection.Tip
Set recurring crawls for ongoing monitoring.
2
Review Site Health Score
After the audit completes, check your Site Health score and prioritized to-do list of issues categorized as errors, warnings, and notices. The score reflects overall SEO health based on 140+ checks including crawlability, performance, and markup.
3
Identify and Prioritize Issues
In the
Issues tab, filter by category and start with critical errors like broken links or slow pages. Use the search bar for specifics like broken or redirect; each issue lists affected URLs with plain-English explanations.Tip
Prioritize high-impact errors over warnings.
4
Fix Meta Tags Issues
Filter for
Meta tags to find missing titles or descriptions. Click the issue count to view affected pages, then update each with concise titles (<55 chars), unique meta descriptions (~105 chars), and proper H1 tags per Semrush recommendations.5
Check Core Web Vitals
Go to the
Core Web Vitals section, click View details for a report on page experience metrics like loading speed and mobile usability. Follow recommendations to optimize images, reduce JS, or improve server response.Tip
Focus on Largest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift.
6
Validate Structured Data
Use Semrush's
Schema Markup Generator for types like Organization or Product. Generate code, add to <head> section of HTML, then verify with Google's Rich Results Test tool.Tip
Test implementation before full rollout.
7
Submit XML Sitemap
Locate your sitemap at
yoursite.com/sitemap.xml or yoursite.com/sitemap_index.xml. In Google Search Console, go to Indexing > Sitemaps and submit the URL to aid crawling.8
Follow Fix Recommendations
Click individual errors for detailed how-to-fix guides. Implement changes like setting 301 redirects for broken links or removing noindex tags, often requiring CMS or server access.
Tip
Involve developers for 5xx errors or robots.txt changes.
9
Rerun Audit and Validate
After fixes, click
rerun campaign to recrawl and update your Site Health score. Cross-check in Google Search Console for indexing improvements and track over time.Tip
Schedule weekly audits for large sites.
Troubleshooting
Broken Links & 4xx Errors
Set up 301 redirects to valid pages or remove links; use Semrush affected URLs list and rerun audit to confirm.
Redirect Chains/Loops
Simplify to single 301 redirects; check server configs or .htaccess and validate via recrawl.
Noindex Tags Blocking Indexing
Remove restrictive noindex meta tags or robots.txt blocks; verify in Google Search Console.
Server 5xx Errors
Contact hosting provider to fix server issues; monitor with recurring Semrush audits.
Thin Content or Orphan Pages
Add internal links from high-authority pages or consolidate content; include sitemap as crawl source.
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