SEO Audit Checklist 2026: 30+ Points to Improve Your Nepal Website

1. Technical SEO

The main role of Technical SEO is to make your website crawlable, secure, and fast, and this greatly affects your position in the search results. Proper search functionalities not only help in the indexing process of your content by search engines but also make the user experience pleasant.

Key areas to focus on include:

a) Crawl Errors and Broken Links

• With the help of Google Search Console tools or Screaming Frog, locate the 404 errors, redirects, and orphaned pages on your website.

• Repairing the broken links and making the page more crawlable will not only prevent the user from reaching a dead end but also increase their trust and interaction. Thus, the crawl frequency to that page will go up. 

b) Page Speed Optimization

• Image compression, CSS and JavaScript file optimization, browser caching, and lazy loading are all techniques worth applying.

• Research also shows that more than 50% of visitors leave a website if it exceeds the 3-second mark for loading. Websites that load faster tend to rank higher on Google.

c) HTTPS and Security

• Add an SSL certificate to protect user information.

• A secure site is preferred by Google and assures customers, thus improving the prospects of conversion.

d) Robots.txt and XML Sitemap

• Ensure that the key pages are crawlable, and that there is no duplication in the URLs.

• It ensures that the efficiency of the indexing process is improved, especially when the site has several pages.

e) Canonical Tags

• Use Canonical URLs to define a preferred version for a page.

• It eliminates the problem of duplicate copies and leverages the power of links to ensure search rankings.

f) Mobile Usability

• Ensure that your website is absolutely responsive, along with perfectly proportional elements on the page.

• Mobile-first indexing emphasizes mobile usability. Mobile-friendly web pages will attract more visits, as the bounce rate will also be low.

g) Structured Data and Schema Markup

• Create schemas for product, article, FAQs, and/or local business content.

• With the organized information provided on the site, Google has more knowledge of the information provided, thus ensuring high rates of CTR through rich snippet rankings. 

h) Server Performance and CDN

• Uptime and server speed need to be tracked for easier accessibility. 

• Having a Content Delivery Network or CDN will distribute content at a faster rate around the world. This will ensure greater SEO results.

2. Core Web Vitals & Performance

Core Web Vitals refer to the essential metrics set by Google for measuring the user experience, which include the requirements for page speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. Only websites with this standard offer a better user experience, as well as better search rankings.

Key factors to optimize include:

a) Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) < 2.5s

• Measures how long it takes for the main content of a page to load.

• Improving the speed of the LCP will result in an improved user experience and will lower the bounce rate on the site. Those sites with an LCP of more than 2.5 seconds risk losing as much as 24% of traffic to the site

b) Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) < 0.1

• Measuring unexpected movement of any kind on a visible page: buttons, images, etc. 

• Reducing CLS guarantees a steady and frustration-free experience for the users.

c) Interaction to Next Paint (INP) < 200ms

• It checks the responsiveness of the webpage when accessed by visitors.

• Increased speed in INP makes the user interface usability, particularly in interactive components such as form entries or buttons, much better.

d) Optimize Images, Scripts, and Use Lazy Loading

• Compress the images to retain the image quality.

• Compress the JavaScript/CSS

• Implement lazy load for images, where the image is loaded once it enters the field of view, thus improving the load time of the webpage.

e) Use PageSpeed Insights and CrUX Reports

• Performance should be kept under check by leveraging tools such as Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Chrome UX Report, which is referred to as CrUX.

• Slow-loading elements, render-blocking resources, and desktop and mobile optimization should all be present in one activity.

3. On-Page SEO

On-page optimization is a marketing stance consisting of making the website more search engine-friendly and giving the user a more pleasant experience at the same time. Proper on-page SEO helps the users as well as the search engines to understand your content very clearly.

Key elements to focus on include:

a) Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

• Every page must have a distinct title of about 50-60 characters and a meta description, also of about 150-160 characters

• The titles and the meta-descriptions are the very first components that the searchers see in the SERPs, and the optimized titles can lift the click-through-rate by around 20-30% at most. 

b) Proper Heading Structure (H1, H2, H3)

• Divide the content into sections and place them under the corresponding headings.

• The most important headings, such as H1, H2, and H3, should be applied as follows: the H1 tag for the title, H2 for the main topics, which also helps the search engine comprehend the text’s subject, and H3 for the subtopics.

c) Internal Linking Strategy

• Internal pages of a similar topic should be interlinked to share link power and to improve search engine crawling.

• In addition, a good internal linking system is effective in facilitating user navigation and even improving search rankings for target keywords.

d) URL Structure

• URLs must be short, informative, and friendly to SEO. 

• An example could be www.example.com/seo-audit-checklist instead of www.example.com/page?id=123.

• Urls that are easy to read tend to be more frequently shared, indexed, or ranked.

e) Optimize Images with Alt Text and Compression

• Use alt tags to describe all images for both accessibility and SEO.

• Reduce image size through compression for faster loading on the webpage without losing image quality.

• It is possible for optimized images to improve the speed performance of a webpage by 20% to 40%.

f) Update Old Content Regularly

• Refresh outdated statistics, links, and information to show the relevance of the content.

• Google prefers content updated recently, which can help a website rank high or interact well with users.

4. Content Quality & EEAT

The quality of the content is among Google’s main ranking factors. According to Google in 2026, these three things: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness should be stressed to make sure that users get accurate information presented in a way that makes sense and is fun to read. Visitors will stay on your website longer and come back if it has good information, which is good for SEO.

Key points to focus on include:

a) Include Author Schema for Expertise

• Add structured data that highlights the author’s expertise and credentials.

• The schema for an author sends a credibility signal to the search engine, thus enhancing search engine rankings.

b) Add Case Studies, Client Examples, and Evidence

• Should include examples from real life in order to support claims or prove facts.

• The presence of relevant content with evidence has been known to contribute to increased user trust and engagement, hence a bounce rate decrease.

c) Use Multimedia: Videos, Charts, Infographics

• Adding videos, graphs, infographics, and images would enhance engagement and comprehension.

• Multimedia helps to improve dwell time by as much as 50%. That is a sign for Google to understand the quality of the page’s content.

d) Avoid AI-Fluff; Keep Content Authentic

• Ensure the information is viewable to humans and is accurate and applicable to the readers.

• Best-quality content is well aligned with the guidelines set by Google, and this helps in improvement in EEAT signals because EEAT signals still remain important in the year 2026.

5. Structured Data & AEO

Structured data and AEO users can make it easier for search engines to comprehend your text. Consequently, you will be able to rank for voice search, rich results, and promo snippets. By 2026, AI will play a significant role in search and voice SEO. This will make the process of search engine optimization better.

Key strategies include:

a)  Add FAQ, HowTo, and Organization Schema

• Schema markup needs to be incorporated on the webpage to draw attention to the structured data present on the webpage, such as FAQs, tutorials, or even business details.

• Rich results have been seen to boost the click-through rate for search engine results between 30-50%. 

b) Prepare Content for Voice and AI Search

• Use conversational language and answer common user questions clearly.

• The use of voice search is becoming more popular, and optimized sites can tap into long tail voice search traffic.

c) Use Concise Definitions Followed by Deeper Context

• Start with clear, easy-to-understand answers to user queries.

• Follow up with detailed explanations or examples to improve dwell time and engagement.

• Structured, layered content sends a relevance signal to search engines, increasing the appearance of your content in the form of featured snippets.

6. Backlink & Authority Audit

Backlinks always play a significant role in Search Engine Optimization, and they indicate trust, authority, and relevancy to search engines. Good backlinks make your site rank higher, bad ones make your site rank lower.

Key strategies include:

a) Audit Backlinks and Disavow Spammy Links

• Regular backlink checking using Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz software. 

• It also helps keep the website free from any toxic or poor-quality links that can result in penalties.

• Those sites that have a clean profile in relation to backlinks would be likely to show up in the top 10 results.

b) Focus on Earned Mentions, Digital PR, and Collaborations

• Create high-quality backlinks through guest blogging, influencer outreach, and collaborations.

• The number of backlinks obtained from quality websites enhances the authority of the domain.

• Research has shown that a result with prominent quality backlinks earns, on average, 2 to 3 more positions in the search

c) Maintain a Healthy Anchor Text Ratio

• Specify natural anchor texts for internal links as well as for external links.

• Prefer not to use over-optimized or spammy anchor text, which could result in a Google penalty.

• A well-linked anchor text is both SEO-friendly and organic to link patterns.

7. Local SEO for Nepal

Local SEO, or local search engine optimization is important for businesses that want to reach their target market in specific places. This is also true for Nepal. When you optimize your business for local search, it shows up on Google Maps, Local Packs, and city-specific questions. This brings more people into your store and gets people involved in their community.

Key strategies include:

a) Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Consistency

• Ensure that your business information is uniform on your website, Google Business Profile, and other listings.

• Inconsistent NAP data confuses the search engines and reduces local rankings.

• Studies have already proven that adherence to the NAP can raise the visibility for the search engine by 50%.

b) Optimize Google Business Profile

• All the fields should be filled with business information and images

• Ensure that you maintain “Posts, Offers, and Events” to keep it new and interesting.

• Having an optimized business listing will result in 7 times as many clicks and calls from local search results.

c) Add LocalBusiness Schema and GeoCoordinates

• Using schema data, you can define the precise location of your business and make it easier for search engines to understand.

• It also increases the precision of the geographical coordinates shown on Google Maps.

d) Embed Maps and Collect/Respond to Google Reviews

• Embed the Google Map on your website to ensure easier navigation for the visitors.

• Encourage your customers to write reviews if they are satisfied with your service. 

• Reviews impact both the local search engine result pages and ultimately the purchasing decision made by the consumer, where an increase in inquiries and customers is witnessed due to positive reviews.

8. Analytics & Tracking

Website analysis is one important task that helps in making effective decisions on matters pertaining to SEO-related issues. Web analytics assist in understanding and implementing more user-engaging conversions.

Key strategies include:

a) Set up Google Analytics and Search Console

• Monitor traffic, user behavior, and indexing status.

• Search Console helps identify crawl errors, impressions, and CTR.

• It is possible to monitor the ROI and check the efficacy of the SEO campaign.

b) Track Keyword Rankings and Traffic Sources

• For tracking the performance of important keywords, one can use SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console.

• Identify the keywords you are currently receiving traffic and conversion for among the target keywords.

• Having knowledge of the sources of traffic helps you focus on valuable sources

c) Monitor Core Web Vitals and User Engagement Metrics

• Record  LCP, CLS, and INP metrics, as well as Bounce Rate, Dwell Time, and Pages per Session. 

• Monitoring ensures that problems of performance are identified early, and a good user experience improves ranking

9. Continuous SEO

Leaders in SEO need to keep working on it to stay ahead of the competition and use every algorithm change to their advantage.

Key practices include:

a) Conduct Audits Quarterly or Semi-Annually

• Regular Audits help identify technical problems, gaps, or UX issues that can affect performance.

b) Regularly Refresh Content and Fix Technical Issues

• Eliminate outdated information, optimize for new keywords, and solve any tech issues.

• This ensures that search engines understand the importance and relevance of that site; thus, it is ranked higher in search engines.

c) Monitor Competitors and Industry Trends

• Monitor your competition’s moves, new backlinks, and trending topics.

• Modify your SEO strategy to compete effectively in the Nepalese market.

d) Focus on Long-Term Sustainable Growth

• Create high-quality backlinks, increase the authoritativeness of the content, and work on a good user experience.

• Long-term SEO approaches are more lucrative in terms of ROI as opposed to the short-term methods.

Conclusion

For Nepalese websites to do better in search results, with users, and with sales, they need a full SEO audit checklist. Through technical SEO checks, page elements, content quality, site links and local SEO, you can discover errors that require corrections and also an ROI increase.

Your website will continue to be competitive, helpful and well-optimized in 2026 and later if you conduct regular checks.