AI Skill Report Card
Conducting SEO Audits
SEO Audit Conductor
Quick Start13 / 15
Python# SEO Audit Scorecard Template audit_framework = { "technical_health": { "crawlability": ["/robots.txt", "sitemap.xml", "crawl_errors"], "site_speed": ["PageSpeed_score", "TTFB", "resource_optimization"], "mobile": ["mobile_friendly_test", "responsive_design", "viewport"], "security": ["HTTPS_implementation", "mixed_content", "SSL_cert"], "structured_data": ["schema_markup", "rich_snippets", "JSON-LD"] }, "scoring": "Pass/Fail + 1-10 impact rating" }
Run initial crawl with Screaming Frog + Google PageSpeed Insights for baseline data.
Recommendation▾
Quick Start could be more immediately actionable - provide a complete audit checklist or specific tool commands rather than just a framework structure
Workflow15 / 15
Phase 1: Data Collection (Week 1) Progress:
- Technical crawl (Screaming Frog/Sitebulb)
- Core Web Vitals analysis (Google PageSpeed/CrUX)
- Backlink profile export (Ahrefs/SEMrush)
- Competitor benchmarking (top 5 competitors)
- Google Search Console data export (6 months)
Phase 2: 70-Point Analysis Framework
Technical Health (20 points)
- Crawlability: robots.txt, XML sitemaps, crawl budget, orphaned pages
- Site Speed: PageSpeed scores, TTFB <200ms, image optimization, CDN
- Mobile: Mobile-first indexing readiness, responsive design, touch elements
- HTTPS: SSL certificate, mixed content, redirect chains
- Structured Data: Schema markup coverage, rich snippet eligibility
On-Page Optimization (20 points)
- Title tags: Length (50-60 chars), uniqueness, keyword placement
- Meta descriptions: Length (150-160 chars), CTR optimization, uniqueness
- Header structure: H1 hierarchy, keyword distribution, logical flow
- Internal linking: Link equity distribution, anchor text optimization
- URL structure: Clean URLs, keyword inclusion, depth analysis
Content Quality (15 points)
- Thin content: Pages <300 words, low engagement metrics
- Duplicate content: Internal duplication, syndicated content issues
- Content gaps: Keyword gaps vs competitors, topic cluster analysis
- Content freshness: Update frequency, evergreen vs timely content
Off-Page Signals (10 points)
- Backlink profile: Domain diversity, anchor text distribution, toxic links
- Domain authority: DR/DA benchmarks vs competitors
- Local signals: NAP consistency, Google My Business optimization
- Social signals: Social sharing integration, brand mentions
Core Web Vitals (5 points)
- LCP: <2.5 seconds (good), 2.5-4.0 (needs improvement)
- CLS: <0.1 (good), 0.1-0.25 (needs improvement)
- INP: <200ms (good), 200-500ms (needs improvement)
Phase 3: Impact × Effort Matrix
High Impact, Low Effort (Quick Wins):
- Technical errors (404s, broken redirects)
- Missing meta descriptions
- Image alt text optimization
- Schema markup implementation
High Impact, High Effort (Strategic Projects):
- Site speed optimization
- Content gap filling
- Backlink acquisition campaigns
- Core Web Vitals improvements
Recommendation▾
Reduce verbosity in some sections (particularly Best Practices) - assumes Claude needs more explanation than necessary for standard SEO concepts
Examples17 / 20
Example 1: Technical Health Audit Input: B2B SaaS website with 500+ pages Output:
Technical Score: 14/20
Critical Issues:
- 47 pages with 404 errors (Impact: 9, Effort: 2)
- Site speed: 32/100 mobile (Impact: 8, Effort: 6)
- Missing schema markup on 80% of pages (Impact: 6, Effort: 3)
- 12 redirect chains >3 hops (Impact: 5, Effort: 2)
Quick Wins: Fix 404s, add basic schema
Strategic: Speed optimization project
Example 2: Content Quality Assessment Input: Manufacturing company website Output:
Content Score: 8/15
Issues Identified:
- 67 thin content pages (<200 words)
- 23% duplicate meta descriptions
- Missing content for 15 high-value keywords competitors rank for
- No blog content in 6 months
Gap Analysis: Competitors average 2.3x more indexed pages
Recommendation: Content expansion + fresh publishing schedule
Recommendation▾
Examples could show more concrete input/output pairs with actual numbers and specific URLs rather than generalized scenarios
Best Practices
Audit Execution:
- Use 3+ tools for data validation (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, SEMrush)
- Export Google Search Console data for 6+ months of trend analysis
- Benchmark against top 5 organic competitors, not just direct business competitors
- Include mobile-first analysis - desktop scores are secondary
90-Day Roadmap Structure:
- Days 1-30: Technical quick wins + critical fixes
- Days 31-60: On-page optimization + content improvements
- Days 61-90: Strategic initiatives + link building
Scoring Methodology:
- Each point = Pass/Fail + Impact rating (1-10)
- Weight technical issues 2x for B2B sites (longer sales cycles)
- Include competitive benchmarking for context
- Flag issues that affect Google's ability to crawl/index
Reporting Format:
- Executive summary with overall score (/70)
- Issues matrix: Impact × Effort quadrants
- Month-by-month action items with resource requirements
- Expected outcome metrics for each initiative
Common Pitfalls
Data Collection Errors:
- Don't rely on single tool data - cross-reference findings
- Avoid auditing during major Google algorithm updates
- Don't ignore JavaScript rendering issues for SPAs
- Skip vanity metrics - focus on revenue-driving keywords
Prioritization Mistakes:
- Don't fix easy issues first - prioritize by business impact
- Avoid perfectionism on low-traffic pages
- Don't ignore competitor analysis - missing 40% of opportunities
- Skip generic recommendations - customize for B2B buyer journey
Roadmap Issues:
- Don't create unrealistic timelines for technical changes
- Avoid recommending wholesale platform changes without strong ROI case
- Don't ignore resource constraints - account for developer availability
- Skip tracking setup - establish baseline metrics before starting work
B2B-Specific Considerations:
- Long sales cycles mean tracking should include assisted conversions
- Technical buyers research extensively - optimize for information queries
- Account for multiple decision makers in keyword strategy
- Industries with compliance requirements need special technical considerations