Great content can't rank if search engines struggle to find or understand it. Technical SEO is the plumbing behind your website. The good news is that most small sites only need a handful of checks, and many are quick to fix.

1. Make sure Google can find your pages

• Submit an XML sitemap in Google Search Console

• Check the Pages report for anything marked "not indexed" that should be

• Make sure important pages aren't blocked by robots.txt or a stray noindex setting

2. Fix broken links and redirects

Broken links frustrate visitors and waste the attention search engines give your site. When you change a page's address, set up a permanent (301) redirect from the old one so you keep any value it built up.

3. Speed up your pages

Slow pages lose visitors, especially on mobile. The biggest wins are usually:

• Compressing and resizing large images

• Removing unused plugins, scripts and tracking codes

• Using a quality host or a modern website builder that handles performance for you

Google's free PageSpeed Insights tool shows what's slowing each page down.

4. Get mobile right

Google mainly looks at the mobile version of your site. Check every key page on a phone: text should be readable without zooming, buttons easy to tap and nothing should spill off the edge of the screen.

5. Write unique titles and descriptions

Every page needs its own title tag and meta description. They're what people see in search results, so make them clear and specific. Duplicate titles confuse search engines and searchers alike.

6. Use HTTPS everywhere

Your site should load securely on every page. Most modern hosts and builders include a free certificate, so there's no reason to go without.

7. Tidy up structure

Use one H1 per page, logical subheadings and descriptive image alt text. Link related pages to each other so both visitors and search engines can follow the path.

The short version

Get indexed, fix broken links, speed things up, check mobile, write unique titles and keep your structure clean. Run through this list every few months. An SEO tool's site audit can automate much of it, and my SEO picks show which ones do it best.