You may have a visually stunning website — but are search engines understanding it correctly?
Having a live website is just the beginning. If your titles, descriptions, URLs, and images aren’t properly configured, your content could be invisible to both search engines and users.
Here’s a breakdown of common website issues, why they matter, and how to fix them.
Title Tags That Are Missing or Poorly Formatted
What they are: The clickable headlines that appear in search engine results.
Why it matters:
- Missing titles force search engines to guess — often poorly
- Titles that are too long get cut off
- Titles that are too short may lack clarity
Fix: Ensure every page has a clear, unique title that accurately reflects its content. Keep titles between 50–60 characters for best display.
Meta Descriptions That Are Missing or Incomplete
What they are: The brief text shown under your title in search results — your pitch to get clicks.
Why it matters:
- Without them, search engines auto-generate (and may miss the point)
- Too short or too long can reduce effectiveness
- Vague text fails to attract clicks
Fix: Write custom meta descriptions for key pages, ideally 150–160 characters long. Highlight the value of the page and include relevant keywords.
Missing Sitemap
What it is: A file that lists all your website’s pages for search engines to crawl.
Why it matters:
- Some pages may not get indexed
- Site structure could be unclear
Fix: Generate a sitemap using your CMS or an SEO plugin, then submit it via Google Search Console.
Missing Robots.txt File
What it is: A file that tells search engines which pages to crawl — or skip.
Why it matters:
- Search engines may waste time on irrelevant content
- Duplicate pages may be indexed
- Key content might be overlooked
Fix: Create a robots.txt file that allows access to important pages and blocks private or duplicate areas.
URLs That Are Difficult to Read
Why it matters:
- Long, messy URLs look untrustworthy
- URLs without keywords are less search-friendly
Fix: Use clean, descriptive URLs like: yourdomain.com/about instead of yourdomain.com/page?id=928374
Broken Links and 404 Errors
Why it matters:
- Users hit dead ends and may leave your site
- Search engines see it as poor site maintenance
Fix: Use tools to regularly audit broken links and redirect outdated URLs to relevant pages.
Server Errors (500-Level)
What they are: Errors caused by server issues, not users.
Why it matters:
- Your site may temporarily disappear from search results
- Visitors can’t access your content
Fix: Monitor server uptime and performance. Work with your hosting provider to resolve issues promptly.
Images Without Size Attributes
Why it matters:
- Layouts shift during loading, affecting user experience
- Slower load times
- Negative impact on Core Web Vitals
Fix: Always set width and height for images and compress them for faster loading.
Missing Alt Text for Images
Why it matters:
- Search engines can’t understand the image content
- Reduces accessibility for visually impaired users
- Limits visibility in image search
Fix: Add descriptive alt text to all meaningful images — describing the image clearly and concisely.
Why These Issues Matter
Websites with misconfigured or missing SEO signals often suffer from:
- Lower rankings in search results
- Higher bounce rates
- Reduced trust and conversions
- Missed traffic opportunities
How to Resolve These Issues
You can take action in three ways:
- Perform a manual review of key pages
- Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or marketgoo
Final Thought
You’ve already built your website. Now make sure it’s working for you — not against you.
Small technical fixes like title tags, image alt text, and sitemap configuration can make a significant difference in how search engines and users perceive your site.
If any of these issues sound familiar, it’s time to take action. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
