Online stores with large catalogs
Filters and sorting can create thousands of near-duplicate URLs. We review canonicals, parameters and sitemaps so crawlers reach the product and category pages that matter.
Technical SEO
For site owners whose pages are not being crawled, indexed or loaded well. Our technical SEO specialists audit the site and deliver a prioritized fix list.
Get a technical SEO audit planTalk to our team
- Crawling and indexing audits of robots.txt, sitemaps and canonicals
- Site speed and Core Web Vitals findings with developer-ready steps
- Monthly reporting on technical findings and open fixes
Quick answer
A technical SEO specialist is a professional who finds and fixes site-level problems that stop search engines from crawling, indexing and rendering a website's pages. Pugmarks Media provides this work as technical SEO. It starts with a site audit, then a prioritized fix list covering robots.txt, sitemaps, canonicals and page speed.
01Overview
What is Technical SEO?
Technical SEO is the work of making a website easy for search engines to crawl, index and render, so its pages can be found and shown in results. A technical SEO specialist focuses on the site's foundations rather than its copy or backlinks.
Think of a search engine as a visitor with a limited amount of time. If the site blocks it, sends it in circles or loads too slowly, some pages may never be read. Content quality does not help much if the page cannot be reached.
Here is a concrete example. An online store has 200 products but its filters, such as color and size, create thousands of near-duplicate URLs. Search engines spend their crawl time on those variations, and the product pages you care about are visited less often or indexed under the wrong address.
A specialist would crawl the site, find the duplicates and check which URLs are indexed. The fixes might include canonical tags that point to the main version, cleaner internal links and an XML sitemap that lists only the pages you want found.
Other common areas include redirects, robots.txt rules, page speed, structured data and site structure. Most of these are invisible to visitors, which is why problems often go unnoticed until traffic or indexed pages drop.
Our team of 25+ SEO specialists handles this work as part of our SEO services. Each engagement starts with an audit so the fixes are based on what is actually wrong with your site.
02Fit
Who Technical SEO is for
Teams planning a migration or redesign
A new platform or URL structure can break redirects and indexing. We audit before launch and check afterward, so marketing and developers can fix problems early.
Sites with pages missing from search
If pages are not indexed, the cause is often blocked rules, duplicate signals or weak internal links. You get a prioritized fix list showing which pages are affected and why.
Businesses with slow or unstable pages
Slow loading and layout shifts hurt visitors and can affect search performance. We give developers clear steps on images, scripts and caching.
Multi-location and multi-language sites
Many locations or language versions often cause duplicate content and wrong-region pages. We check URL structure and signals so each version is clear to search engines.
Companies on custom or JavaScript-heavy platforms
Content built by scripts may not render fully for crawlers. We test how pages render and report what search engines can and cannot see.
03Scope
What's included
- Crawl and index reviewWe check robots.txt, XML sitemaps, canonical tags and index coverage. Site owners learn which pages search engines can reach and which are blocked or duplicated.
- Core Web Vitals findingsWe review load time, layout shift and responsiveness on key templates. Your developers receive specific, ready-to-build recommendations instead of a generic speed score.
- Rendering checksWe test whether search engines can see content that depends on JavaScript. This helps teams on custom or script-heavy platforms find pages that load for users but not for crawlers.
- Site architecture reviewWe map URL structure, internal links and crawl depth. Stores and large sites learn which important pages sit too far from the homepage.
- Structured data planWe recommend schema markup for articles, products, FAQs and local business pages. Marketing teams get a clear list of what to add and where.
- Monthly technical reportingWe report on technical findings and open fixes every month. Owners and developers can see what is done, what is pending and what comes next.
04Process
How our Technical SEO works
6 steps. You always know what's next.
The same path for every engagement.
11 to 3 days (estimate)
Hold a discovery call
We ask about your platform, goals, recent migrations and known problems. You share your site details and any past audits. You receive a short scope note confirming what we will review and what we need from you.
21 to 5 days, depending on how fast access is granted
Get access to your accounts
We request read access to Google Search Console, analytics and, where needed, server logs or the CMS. You grant permissions. You receive confirmation that data is flowing, so the audit rests on real crawl and index data.
31 to 3 weeks, depending on site size
Audit crawling, indexing and rendering
We crawl the site and check robots.txt, sitemaps, canonicals, redirects, index coverage, JavaScript rendering and page speed. You answer questions about templates and past changes. You receive documented findings with evidence for each issue.
4About 1 week (estimate)
Agree strategy and work plan
We rank issues by impact and effort, then walk you through the plan on a call. You approve priorities and decide who implements each fix. You receive a prioritized fix list with developer-ready steps. Nothing goes live before approval.
52 to 6 weeks, depending on developer capacity
Fix and verify the priorities
Your developers, or ours where agreed, apply the first set of fixes, such as redirects, canonicals, sitemaps and speed items. We test each change in staging or live. You receive confirmation of what shipped and what remains.
6Ongoing, monthly
Monitor and report monthly
We recheck crawl and index data, watch for regressions after releases and update the open-fix list. You review a monthly report on findings and progress. You then decide what to tackle next.
05Deliverables
What you get
| Deliverable | What it is | Cadence | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery scope note | Short document confirming what we will review and what we need from you | One-time | Days 1-3 |
| Site access setup | Read access confirmed for Search Console, analytics and the CMS | One-time | Week 1 |
| Crawl and index audit | Review of robots.txt, XML sitemaps, canonicals and index coverage | One-time, then rechecked quarterly | Weeks 1-2 |
| Core Web Vitals findings | Load, layout shift and responsiveness notes for key templates | Quarterly | Weeks 2-3 |
| Rendering checks | Tests of whether search engines can see JavaScript-dependent content | One-time, repeated after major releases | Weeks 2-3 |
| Prioritized fix list | Developer-ready tasks ranked by impact and effort | One-time, updated monthly | After audit |
| Strategy and work plan | Agreed plan for fixes, approved by you before changes go live | One-time | After audit |
| Migration and redesign checks | Redirect and indexing review before launch and after | Per project | Before launch |
| Monthly report | Technical findings, completed fixes and open issues | Monthly | First month after kickoff |
06Compare
Technical SEO: in-house team, agency or Pugmarks Media
Swipe to compare →
| Criteria | In-house | Typical agency | Pugmarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Recruiting and onboarding before work begins | Varies by agency and contract setup | Discovery call and site audit first, then an agreed work plan |
| Specialization | One or two people covering many tasks | Often generalists, depth varies | Team of 25+ SEO specialists |
| Reporting | Set by your own internal process | Cadence differs by agency | Monthly reporting on findings and open fixes |
| Cost model | Salary, benefits and tools | Retainer or project fee | Scope-based; see the pricing page |
| Risk | Single point of failure if the hire leaves | Depends on who is assigned to your account | Plan agreed with you before any changes go live |
| Flexibility | Fixed headcount, hard to scale up quickly | Limited by contract terms | Scope adjusts with site size and needs |
07Cost
What does Technical SEO cost?
The cost of technical SEO depends on the size and complexity of your site, the number of pages and locations involved, and how competitive your market is. A 50-page brochure site needs less work than a store with thousands of filtered URLs or a planned migration. We scope the work after the audit call, so the quote reflects what your site needs. See our pricing page or contact our team to request a quote.
Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.
See all packages11Years in business
08Proof
Results for clients like you
Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.
Ask our teamWhat does a technical SEO specialist do?
A technical SEO specialist finds and fixes site-level problems that stop search engines from crawling, indexing and rendering pages. Typical work covers robots.txt, XML sitemaps, canonical tags, redirects, page speed and JavaScript rendering. The specialist then gives developers a prioritized list of fixes they can build.
How is technical SEO different from regular SEO?
Technical SEO deals with how a site is built and served, while regular SEO usually focuses on content and links. Technical work makes sure search engines can reach and read your pages. Content and backlinks then have a fair chance of mattering. The two work best together.
When do I need a technical SEO specialist?
You need a technical SEO specialist when pages are missing from search, the site loads slowly, or a migration or redesign is planned. Large online stores with filtered URLs also benefit. If your developers want specific, ready-to-build recommendations, an audit is a sensible first step.
How long does a technical SEO audit take?
The length of a technical SEO audit depends on the size of your site and how quickly we get access to your accounts. Every engagement starts with a discovery call and a site audit. We then agree a strategy and work plan with you before any changes go live.
How much does technical SEO cost?
The cost depends on the size and complexity of your site, the number of pages and locations, and how competitive your market is. A small brochure site needs less work than a large store or a migration. We scope the work after the audit call. See our pricing page or get in touch.
What access do you need to my website?
We typically ask for read access to Google Search Console and analytics. Where needed, we also request server logs or the CMS. Read access lets us base the audit on real crawl and index data. You stay in control, and nothing changes on your site until we agree the plan.
Will technical SEO fixes improve my rankings?
Technical SEO fixes can help search engines reach and understand your pages, but no one can guarantee rankings or traffic. Results depend on your market, your content and how quickly fixes are built. Removing crawl and speed barriers is a sound foundation for other SEO work.
Will I get regular updates on technical SEO work?
Yes, we report monthly on technical findings and open fixes. Each report shows what we found, what has been fixed and what is still waiting on development. That keeps your marketing and developer teams working from the same list. You can contact our team to discuss how reporting would fit your workflow.
09Keep reading
Related services and guides
Our related services and guides cover PPC management, entity optimization, SEO-led web design and online reputation management for site owners.
Get in touch
Talk to our team about your site's technical issues
Start with a discovery call and a site audit. We agree a work plan with you before any changes go live. Contact our team to set up the first conversation.
