The Essential Technical SEO Checklist for 2025
Stay ahead of algorithm updates with these core site health essentials. Whether you’re running a small ecommerce brand or scaling an enterprise site, technical SEO remains the foundation of long-term visibility. As a leading SEO agency, Vertex Media has compiled this updated 2025 checklist to help you futureproof your performance.
1. Ensure Your Site is Crawlable
Search engines need to access your content — and they can’t do that if your crawl paths are blocked. In 2025, Google is prioritising clean, accessible architecture.- Check your txt for disallowed paths
- Ensure critical pages are not marked as noindex
- Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console
2. Fix Broken Links and Redirect Chains
Broken links are one of the fastest ways to lose both users and rankings. Make sure you:- Identify and fix 404 errors
- Remove or repair internal links to deleted content
- Avoid redirect chains (3+ redirects in a row)
- Use proper 301s for moved content
3. Optimise for Mobile-First Indexing
Google now evaluates most sites based on their mobile version. Ensure that:- Mobile and desktop content are identical
- Navigation is user-friendly on smaller screens
- Core functionality (buttons, forms, videos) works seamlessly on mobile Test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and Lighthouse.
4. Improve Page Speed & Core Web Vitals
In 2025, speed is more critical than ever. Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor — so every second counts.- Optimise images (use WebP or AVIF)
- Use lazy loading for below-the-fold content
- Minimise JavaScript and CSS
- Leverage caching and CDNs
5. Strengthen Your Site Architecture
Strong internal linking and clear navigation signal to Google how your content fits together.- Use a flat architecture: no important page should be more than 3 clicks away
- Add breadcrumbs for UX and structured data
- Include internal links between related articles
6. Use Structured Data Markup
Schema.org helps search engines understand your content. Structured data can also enable rich results in SERPs.- Add schema for products, reviews, FAQs, local business, and articles
- Validate markup with Google’s Rich Results Test
- Monitor enhancements in Google Search Console
7. Canonicalisation and Duplicate Content
Duplicate content confuses search engines and dilutes your rankings.- Set canonical tags on all pages
- Avoid duplicate titles and meta descriptions
- Check for pagination issues (e.g., ?page=2 URLs)
- Merge similar content where possible
8. Secure Your Site with HTTPS
HTTPS is now standard. If your site isn’t secure, Google will warn users and demote your rankings.- Ensure all pages redirect from HTTP to HTTPS
- Update internal links to use HTTPS
- Check for mixed content issues
9. Monitor Indexation & Coverage in GSC
Google Search Console is your best friend in 2025. Regularly review:- Index Coverage reports
- Page Experience metrics
- Mobile usability issues
- Crawl stats and server errors
10. Technical SEO Integrates With Content & Strategy
Technical SEO is the skeleton of your site — but content is the muscle. That’s why every good SEO agency should integrate:- On-page SEO: Ensure keyword relevance and metadata
- Content creation: Produce valuable, optimised content consistently
- Keyword research: Align pages with what your audience is searching for
- UX and design: Reduce bounce rate and improve time on site
