The Complete SEO Audit Checklist for Montreal Businesses
A comprehensive SEO audit is the foundation of any successful search engine optimization strategy. This checklist covers every critical area we review when auditing websites for Montreal businesses.
Technical SEO Checklist
Crawlability & Indexation
- Robots.txt is properly configured and not blocking important pages
- XML sitemap exists, is submitted to Google Search Console, and includes all important URLs
- No orphan pages (pages not linked from anywhere on the site)
- Proper canonical tags on all pages to prevent duplicate content
- No excessive redirect chains (keep redirects to 1-2 hops maximum)
Site Speed & Core Web Vitals
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 seconds
- First Input Delay (FID) under 100 milliseconds
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) under 0.1
- Images are optimized (WebP format, lazy loading, proper sizing)
- CSS and JavaScript are minified and deferred where possible
Mobile Optimization
- Site is fully responsive on all screen sizes
- Mobile-first indexing is properly supported
- Touch targets are appropriately sized (minimum 48x48px)
- No horizontal scrolling on mobile devices
- Fonts are readable without zooming
Security & Infrastructure
- HTTPS is active with valid SSL certificate
- HTTP to HTTPS redirects are in place
- No mixed content warnings (HTTP resources on HTTPS pages)
- Security headers are configured (HSTS, X-Frame-Options, CSP)
On-Page SEO Checklist
Title Tags & Meta Descriptions
- Every page has a unique title tag (50-60 characters)
- Every page has a unique meta description (150-160 characters)
- Primary keyword appears in the title tag, preferably near the beginning
- Meta descriptions include a call-to-action and target keyword
Heading Structure
- Each page has exactly one H1 tag containing the primary keyword
- H2-H6 tags follow a logical hierarchy
- Headings are descriptive and include relevant keywords naturally
Content Quality
- Content is original, comprehensive, and provides genuine value
- Primary and secondary keywords are used naturally throughout
- Content length is competitive with top-ranking pages for target keywords
- Internal links connect related pages with descriptive anchor text
- Images have descriptive alt text
Local SEO Checklist (Critical for Montreal)
Google Business Profile
- Profile is claimed, verified, and fully completed
- Business name, address, and phone (NAP) are consistent everywhere
- Correct business categories are selected
- Business hours are accurate and up-to-date
- Photos are high-quality and regularly updated
- Posts are published at least weekly
Local Citations
- NAP is consistent across all directories (Yellow Pages, Yelp, etc.)
- Listed in Quebec-specific directories
- Listed in industry-specific directories
Reviews
- Active review generation strategy is in place
- All reviews (positive and negative) are responded to
- Review count and rating are competitive with local competitors
Bilingual SEO Checklist (Quebec-Specific)
Language Configuration
- Hreflang tags are correctly implemented for EN and FR pages
- French and English versions have separate, unique content (not just translations)
- Keyword research is done separately for each language
- URL structure clearly indicates language (/fr/ prefix or subdomain)
- Language selector is easily accessible on every page
Backlink Profile Checklist
- Domain authority is tracked and trending upward
- No toxic or spammy backlinks (disavow if necessary)
- Backlink growth is steady and natural
- Links come from relevant, authoritative domains
- Anchor text distribution is natural and varied
Action Items After Your Audit
1. Prioritize by impact — Fix critical technical issues first, then optimize high-traffic pages
2. Set benchmarks — Record current rankings, traffic, and Core Web Vitals scores
3. Create a timeline — Spread fixes over 30-60-90 days based on priority
4. Monitor progress — Check Google Search Console weekly for improvements
5. Re-audit quarterly — SEO is ongoing. Schedule regular check-ups
Get a Professional SEO Audit
LIAWEB offers comprehensive SEO audits for Montreal businesses. Our team uses Screaming Frog, Semrush, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console to analyze every aspect of your site and deliver a prioritized action plan.
Request your free SEO audit — we will identify your biggest opportunities and quick wins.
Want to improve your rankings? Get a free SEO audit from LIAWEB and discover what is holding your site back.
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