In this post, I'm going to show you exactly how to perform a technical local SEO audit that actually works.
You'll also see the specific issues I've found (and fixed) that helped local businesses in Colorado Springs increase their visibility by 127% in just 6 months:
It gets better:
All of these audit techniques are working GREAT right now in 2025.
With that, here's how to identify and fix the most common technical local SEO issues using proven (and little-known) methods.
This single fix helped one of my clients jump from page 3 to the local pack in just 8 weeks:
Here's exactly what I found:
First, I ran their site through Google PageSpeed Insights.
Their Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) was a whopping 4.2 seconds. Ouch.
So I dug deeper into the issues.
Specifically, I discovered their hero image was 2.8MB and completely unoptimized.
I also found that their JavaScript was blocking the rendering of above-the-fold content.
The fix was straightforward:
And just like that, their LCP dropped to 1.8 seconds.
This entire process took about 3 hours.
And the results? They started ranking for "Colorado Springs professional services" within weeks.
Because they do.
NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone) is the foundation of local SEO.
But how do you find every single citation that might be hurting your rankings?
One easy tactic: search for variations of your business name in quotes.
For example, I searched "Colorado Springs SEO" and found 47 different listings.
Google's autocomplete feature will also suggest related searches that reveal citation opportunities.
Like "Colorado Springs SEO services" and "Colorado Springs SEO company."
Then, I audit each listing for consistency...
And when I find discrepancies, I fix them immediately.
Tools like BrightLocal's Citation Tracker can help you find even more citation sources.
The key: make sure every single mention of your business has identical NAP information.
Google's AI-powered crawlers in 2025 are incredibly sophisticated.
But they still can't read your mind.
If your robots.txt file is blocking important pages, you're invisible.
Here's how to audit your crawlability:
First, check your robots.txt file by adding /robots.txt to your domain.
Look for these common mistakes:
Next, submit your XML sitemap to Google Search Console.
Your sitemap should include:
Finally, use the "Inspect URL" tool in Search Console to test how Google sees your most important pages.
This will reveal JavaScript rendering issues or other problems that prevent proper indexing.
Duplicate content is like kryptonite for local SEO.
And in 2025, Google's algorithms are more aggressive than ever at detecting it.
Here's my process for finding and fixing duplicate content:
First, I use tools like Copyscape or Siteliner to scan the entire website.
These tools reveal:
Then, I implement the appropriate fix:
For pages that serve the same purpose, I consolidate them into one robust page.
For necessary duplicates (like printer-friendly versions), I add canonical tags pointing to the main version.
For location pages with similar content, I ensure each page has unique, locally-relevant information.
The result? Clean, unique content that search engines can properly categorize and rank.
Schema markup is your secret weapon for standing out in search results.
But most businesses either skip it entirely or implement it wrong.
Here's what works in 2025:
Local Business Schema is absolutely essential. Include:
Review Schema helps you control how star ratings appear in search results.
Service Schema tells Google exactly what services you offer and where.
For Colorado Springs SEO, I implemented schema that includes service areas like "Colorado Springs, CO" and "El Paso County."
Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate your markup.
And remember: JSON-LD format is Google's preferred method for schema implementation.
Poor site architecture is like having a store with no signs.
People get lost and leave.
Here's how to structure your local business website:
Keep your most important pages within 3 clicks of your homepage.
Create clear navigation paths:
Use breadcrumb navigation to help both users and search engines understand your site structure.
Internal linking should follow a logical hierarchy, with your most important local pages receiving the most internal links.
For example, if you serve multiple locations, link from your main service pages to specific location pages.
This tells Google which pages are most important for local searches.
With over 60% of local searches happening on mobile devices, mobile optimization isn't optional.
It's survival.
Here's my mobile audit checklist:
First, test your site with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test.
Look for these common issues:
Next, check your mobile page speed.
Mobile users expect pages to load in under 3 seconds.
Optimize for mobile by:
Finally, test your site on actual mobile devices, not just desktop browser tools.
Real-world testing reveals issues that automated tools miss.
HTTPS isn't just about security anymore.
It's a ranking factor that affects your local visibility.
But simply installing an SSL certificate isn't enough.
Here's how to audit your HTTPS implementation:
Check that ALL pages redirect from HTTP to HTTPS versions.
Mixed content warnings can hurt your rankings and user trust.
Ensure your:
Update your XML sitemap to include only HTTPS URLs.
And don't forget to update your Google Business Profile and other citations with your secure URLs.
Use tools like SSL Labs' SSL Test to verify your certificate is properly configured.
Broken links are like dead ends on a highway.
They frustrate users and waste your link equity.
Here's how I find and fix them:
Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your entire site.
Look for:
Fix broken internal links immediately.
For broken external links, either update them with working URLs or remove them entirely.
Consolidate redirect chains into direct 301 redirects.
And make sure orphan pages are either linked from relevant content or redirected if they're no longer needed.
This cleanup improves both user experience and crawl efficiency.
Technical SEO isn't a one-time fix.
It requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Here's my maintenance routine:
Set up automated monitoring in Google Search Console for:
Schedule monthly technical audits using tools like:
Keep a technical SEO checklist and work through it quarterly:
Document everything you find and fix.
This creates a baseline for measuring improvement and helps you spot recurring issues.
After auditing hundreds of local business websites, I see the same issues over and over.
Here are the most common problems and their solutions:
Problem: Pages loading slower than 3 seconds
Solution: Optimize images, enable caching, minimize HTTP requests, and use a content delivery network (CDN)
Problem: Inconsistent business information across the web
Solution: Create a master NAP document and systematically update all citations to match exactly
Problem: Missing or incorrect schema markup
Solution: Implement all essential local business schema using JSON-LD format and validate with Google's tools
Problem: Poor mobile experience
Solution: Adopt responsive design, optimize for touch navigation, and ensure fast mobile loading speeds
Problem: Crawlability issues preventing indexation
Solution: Fix robots.txt, submit clean XML sitemaps, and resolve JavaScript rendering problems
Two key regulatory considerations affect technical local SEO in 2025:
First, data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA require transparent cookie policies and user consent mechanisms. Ensure your tracking and analytics implementations comply with local privacy laws.
Second, accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) are increasingly important for both legal compliance and SEO. Search engines favor sites that work well for users with disabilities.
Several trends are reshaping technical local SEO in 2025:
AI-powered search is becoming more sophisticated, requiring cleaner technical setups and better-structured data.
Voice search continues growing, demanding optimization for conversational queries and local intent.
Mobile-first indexing is now the default, making mobile technical performance more critical than ever.
Core Web Vitals have evolved to include Interaction to Next Paint (INP), replacing First Input Delay (FID) as a ranking factor.
Ready to audit your local business website?
Start with the biggest impact items first:
Core Web Vitals optimization will give you the fastest ranking improvements.
NAP consistency fixes will boost your local pack visibility.
Schema markup implementation will enhance your search result appearance.
Mobile optimization will capture the majority of local searchers.
And ongoing monitoring will prevent issues from recurring.
Remember: technical local SEO is about creating the best possible experience for both users and search engines.
When you fix the technical foundation, everything else works better.
Which technical issue will you tackle first?
Are you going to start with Core Web Vitals or dive into NAP consistency?
Either way, you'll want to make sure your overall local SEO strategy supports these technical improvements.
Need help with your technical local SEO audit? Contact Colorado Springs SEO for a detailed analysis of your website's technical health and local search performance.
