Technical SEO best practices

Module 1: Introduction to Technical SEO

1. Overview of Technical SEO

   • Definition and Importance
   • Differences between Technical, On-Page, and Off-Page SEO

2. Basics of How Search Engines Work

   • Crawling
   • Indexing
   • Ranking

Module 2: Website Structure and Navigation

1. Logical Site Structure

   • Importance of a Clear Hierarchical Structure
   • Creating a Sitemap
   • Using Breadcrumbs

2. URL Structure

   • Best Practices for SEO-Friendly URLs
   • Importance of Keywords in URLs
   • Avoiding Dynamic URLs

Module 3: Website Performance and Speed

1. Page Load Speed

   • Importance for SEO and User Experience
   • Tools for Measuring Speed (e.g., Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix)

2. Optimizing Website Speed

   • Compressing Images
   • Minifying CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
   • Leveraging Browser Caching
   • Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Module 4: Mobile Optimization

1. Mobile-Friendliness

   • Importance of Mobile Optimization
   • Google’s Mobile-First Indexing

2. Responsive Design

   • Principles of Responsive Web Design
   • Tools for Testing Mobile-Friendliness (e.g., Google Mobile-Friendly Test)

Module 5: Crawlability and Indexability

1. Crawling and Indexing Basics

   • Ensuring Your Site Can Be Crawled
   • Submitting a Sitemap to Search Engines

2. Robots.txt File

   • Purpose and Best Practices
   • Allowing and Disallowing Pages

3. Noindex and Nofollow Tags

   • When and How to Use Them
   • Differences and Implementation

Module 6: Duplicate Content

1. Understanding Duplicate Content

   • Causes of Duplicate Content
   • Issues with Duplicate Content

2. Canonicalization

   • Using Canonical Tags
   • Best Practices for Preventing Duplicate Content

3. Pagination

   • Handling Pagination with Rel=“next” and Rel=“prev”

Module 7: Structured Data and Schema Markup

1. Introduction to Structured Data

   • What is Schema Markup
   • Benefits for SEO

2. Implementing Structured Data

   • Common Types of Schema Markup (e.g., Breadcrumbs, Articles, Products)
   • Tools for Testing Structured Data (e.g., Google Structured Data Testing Tool)

Module 8: HTTPS and Security

1. Importance of Website Security

   • Role of HTTPS in SEO

2. Implementing HTTPS

   • Getting and Installing an SSL Certificate
   • Checking for Mixed Content Issues

Module 9: Monitoring and Auditing

1. SEO Audits

   • Tools for Conducting SEO Audits (e.g., Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, SEMrush)
   • Regular Audit Checklists

2. Google Search Console

   • Setting Up and Verifying Your Site
   • Key Features and How to Use Them

3. Analytics Tools

   • Setting Up Google Analytics
   • Using Data for SEO Improvements

Module 10: Staying Updated with SEO Changes

1. SEO News and Updates

   • Following Reputable SEO Blogs and Websites
   • Keeping Up with Google Algorithm Updates

2. Continuous Learning

   • Participating in SEO Communities and Forums
   • Attending Webinars and Conferences

Course Resources

• Recommended Reading: Books and blogs for deep dives into technical SEO.
• Tools and Software: A list of essential SEO tools and how to use them.
• Glossary: Common SEO terms and definitions.

Conclusion and Certification

• Final Project: Perform a technical SEO audit on a website and present your findings.
• Certification: Upon completion, receive a certificate of completion.

By following this structured course, beginners can gain a solid understanding of technical SEO best practices and learn how to implement them effectively to improve their website's performance and search engine rankings.