SEO Tools FAQ

What does an HTTP status checker do?

Traffsite's HTTP status checker sends a request to the URL you enter and reports the response code. That code tells you whether the page loaded, moved or failed, which is usually the first thing to learn when you debug a problem.

Which HTTP status codes should I watch most closely?

Start with 5xx and 429 codes, because they can slow crawling across your whole site. Then look at 4xx codes on pages you want in search. Use 301 for permanent moves and 302 for temporary ones. A 200 that shows an error message also deserves a look, since it can count as a soft 404.

Why does my page return 200 but still not appear in Google?

A 200 means the server delivered the page, not that Google has indexed it. Google says a success code does not guarantee indexing. The page might be blocked by robots.txt, marked noindex, treated as a soft 404 or still waiting in the queue.

What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?

Both send visitors to a new URL. A 301 signals a permanent move, so search engines treat the new address as the main one. A 302 signals a temporary move, so the original address is expected to come back.

What should I do when a URL returns a 503 error?

A 503 means the server is overloaded or closed for maintenance. Google treats it as a server error, slows down and tries again later. Check your hosting dashboard, see whether maintenance is planned and run the check again once it ends.

Why does the checker show a 403 when my page loads in a browser?

Some servers block automated tools to stop spam and scraping. Your browser gets through, but the checker does not. Open the page yourself to confirm that it works, and ask your host to allow the request if you need a clean result.

Read the HTTP Status Checker guide

What does a redirect checker do?

It sends a request to the URL you enter, follows each Location header and reports every step in the chain. You see the starting URL, each redirect target, the status code at every hop and the final page that loads.

What is a redirect chain?

A chain is a run of redirects where one URL sends visitors to a second URL, which sends them to a third, and so on. Each extra hop adds delay for visitors and work for crawlers. The cleanest setup sends the original URL straight to its destination.

Is a 301 better than a 302?

Use a 301 when the move is permanent and a 302 when it is temporary. Google treats a 301 as a strong sign that the destination should be canonical, while a 302 is a weak sign. Pick the code that matches how long the move will last.

How many redirects will Google follow?

Google's crawlers follow up to 10 redirect hops by default, though some Google products use different limits. Google ignores the content at the redirecting URL and processes the final target. A chain that runs past the limit ends in an error instead of a page.

Can a redirect checker find a redirect loop?

Yes. A loop shows up as a chain that returns to a URL it already visited, so no final page ever loads. The checker stops at the repeat or reports too many redirects. A loop often means a rule matches its own destination, so review the server or CDN rules for that path.

Do redirects pass ranking signals?

A permanent redirect is one of the strongest signals Google uses to pick the canonical URL, and it helps move signals from the old address to the new one. It does not promise that every signal moves. Point the old URL at a relevant live page, not the home page.

Read the Redirect Checker guide

What does a broken link checker do?

It crawls the pages you point it at, collects the links in the content and flags every one that leads to an error. Traffsite shows the page that holds the link, the address it points to and the status code that came back.

What counts as a broken link?

Any link that fails to take a visitor to real content. That includes 404 and 410 responses, server errors in the 5xx range, links to domains that no longer exist and redirect chains that end in an error.

Do broken links hurt SEO?

A broken link alone does not pull a ranking down. But a page that returns 404 or 410 is removed from the index over time, and links help search engines find new pages. Broken internal links also frustrate visitors, so fixing them is part of basic site care.

What is a soft 404?

A soft 404 is an error page that returns a 200 code instead of a 404. The page tells visitors it is missing, but the server says all is well. Google may treat these pages as errors, so fix them or return a true 404.

How often should I scan my website for broken links?

Run a full scan once a month and a smaller one after every release, migration or round of edits. External sites change without warning, so a monthly pass catches links that rotted since the last check.

Can I check external links with a broken link checker?

Yes. Most tools review both internal and outbound links. Some servers block automated requests, so treat a single failed external check with care. Open the link in a browser before you edit it.

Read the Broken Link Checker guide

What does an internal links checker do?

It crawls your site, collects the links between your own pages and shows how they connect. Traffsite reports the inbound and outbound links for each page, the anchor text, the click depth and any links that end in an error.

What is the difference between internal and external links?

Internal links connect pages on the same site. External links point to other sites. An internal links checker looks only at the first kind, which are the links you fully control.

Why are internal links important for SEO?

Google uses links to find new pages and to understand how pages relate to each other. A page with several relevant internal links is easier to discover than a page with none, and the link text gives context about what the destination holds.

How many internal links should a page have?

There is no fixed number. A short article may need three or four useful links, while a category page may need dozens. The test is relevance. Every link should help the reader reach a page that answers their next question, and the same destination should not repeat in several places.

What is crawl depth?

Crawl depth is the number of clicks needed to reach a page from the home page. Pages that sit closer to the surface are easier for visitors and crawlers to find, so keep your important pages within a few clicks.

Do internal links need to be in the HTML?

Yes. Google can generally crawl a link only when it is an anchor element with an href attribute. A clickable div or a link that appears only after a user action may not be found, so keep your key links in the HTML.

Read the Internal Links Checker guide

What does a duplicate link checker do?

It scans a page or a whole site, groups links by destination and shows where the same URL appears more than once. Traffsite lists the page, the link text, the destination and the number of times the link appears.

Are duplicate links bad for SEO?

Google does not list repeated links as a spam issue, so a second link to the same page is not a penalty by itself. The problem is clutter. Repeated links add noise and make the main link harder to spot.

Should I remove every repeated link?

No. Some repetition is normal and useful, especially in a header or footer that appears across the site. Focus on the main content area, where two links to the same place compete for one click. Keep the one with the clearer context and the more descriptive text.

Should an image and its title share one link?

Usually yes. When a card has an image link and a title link to the same page, merge them into one. Keyboard and screen reader users then meet the destination once, and your click data stays in one place.

Does a duplicate link checker find duplicate pages?

Not directly. It finds repeated links, not pages with similar content. If two different URLs serve the same page, use a canonical checker or a content audit. A duplicate link report can still show which URL your links treat as the preferred one.

How often should I run a duplicate link check?

Run it after a template change, a redesign or a CMS migration, and then as part of a monthly site audit. Templates are the usual source of repeated links, so a check after any layout release catches most of them early.

Read the Duplicate Link Checker guide

What does an anchor text checker do?

It collects the visible text of every link on a page or site, groups the links by destination and shows which phrases are used. Traffsite makes it easy to spot generic labels, empty links, repeated phrases and link text that does not match the page it points to.

Why is anchor text important for SEO?

Anchor text tells people and Google something about the page being linked to. A descriptive phrase gives context before the click. A generic phrase such as "click here" gives neither the reader nor the search engine a useful clue.

What is a good anchor text example?

A good example is a short, specific phrase that describes the destination, such as broken link report or redirect chain guide. It should read naturally in the sentence, make sense out of context and avoid stuffing several keywords into one link.

Can anchor text be too optimized?

Yes. Repeating the same exact keyword phrase in every link can look forced, and Google's spam policies treat keyword stuffing and link spam as violations. A natural mix of descriptive phrases, partial matches and plain page names is safer and easier to read.

What anchor text does Google use for an image link?

When an image sits inside a link, Google uses the image's alt attribute as the anchor text. That makes descriptive alt text useful for both accessibility and link context. An empty alt attribute leaves the link with no text to work with.

Should every link have different anchor text?

Not every link needs a unique phrase, but the text should fit the sentence and the destination. Repeating a site name in a menu is normal. Repeating the same commercial keyword across dozens of articles is not. Aim for natural variation, not a strict rotation.

Read the Anchor Text Checker guide

What is an orphan page?

An orphan page is a page with no internal links pointing to it. A visitor can reach it only through a direct URL, a search result, an external link or a sitemap. It may be live, but the rest of the site offers no path to it.

What does an orphan page checker do?

It crawls your site, builds a map of internal links and lists pages that receive no links from other pages. Traffsite compares that list with your sitemap or URL list, so you can tell hidden pages from pages that are simply new.

Can Google index an orphan page?

It can. A sitemap, an external link or a crawl request can help Google find the URL. But an internal link gives Google a path from known content and adds context that a sitemap does not. Indexing is possible without internal links, yet discovery and understanding are weaker.

Are orphan pages bad for SEO?

Not automatically. A private page, a thank you page or a test page may have no links on purpose. The problem is an important page that no one can find. It gets fewer visits, less internal context and less chance to earn links of its own.

How do I fix an orphan page?

Add a link from a relevant parent page, a category listing or a related article. If the page is outdated, redirect it to a close replacement or remove it. Then update the sitemap and run the checker again to confirm the page has a path.

How often should I check for orphan pages?

Run a check after a migration, a redesign or a large content release, then once a month as part of a site audit. New pages are the usual source, because a page can go live before anyone adds a link to it.

Read the Orphan Page Checker guide

What does a meta tag checker do?

It fetches a page and reads the metadata in the head. Traffsite reports the title, meta description, robots directives, viewport and charset, so you can see what is missing, duplicated or set by mistake.

Does the meta description affect rankings?

No. Google describes the meta description as a hint for the snippet, not a ranking factor. It may use the tag when it summarizes the page better than the visible content, and it may write its own snippet. A clear description can still improve clicks.

Is there an ideal length for a meta title?

There is no fixed limit. Google cuts title links to fit the device, so a long title may be trimmed. Put the most useful words first, keep the title unique and check it on a phone as well as a desktop.

Why does Google show a different title from my title tag?

Google builds title links automatically and treats the title element as one source among several. It may use the main heading, other prominent text, the Open Graph title, anchor text or structured data. A vague, duplicated or outdated title makes that more likely, so keep it specific and in line with the visible heading.

Should I add meta keywords to my pages?

No. Google does not use the meta keywords tag, and it has no effect on indexing or ranking. Leave the tag out.

What should I check first in a meta tag audit?

Start with the robots directive, because a stray noindex removes a page from search. Then check the title and description for accuracy and duplication. After that, confirm the viewport, charset and canonical link. Fixing the template usually solves the problem across many URLs.

Read the Meta Tag Checker guide

What does a canonical checker do?

It reads the canonical tag on a page and compares it with the URL you tested. Traffsite shows the target, tells you if the page points to itself and flags a target that returns an error or a redirect.

Is rel=canonical a directive?

No. Google calls it a strong hint, not a rule. Google still makes the final call after weighing redirects, HTTPS, sitemap entries and internal links. The tag states your preference, but it cannot force the choice.

Should a canonical page have a canonical tag pointing to itself?

Usually yes. A self-referential tag confirms your preferred address and stops small differences, such as a tracking tag or a trailing slash, from creating a second version. Use the absolute URL you want in search.

Can I use robots.txt or noindex to canonicalize a page?

No. Google advises against both. A robots.txt block stops crawling but can leave the URL indexed without its content, and noindex removes the page from search. Use a canonical tag or a redirect, and keep the page crawlable so Google can read the signal.

What is stronger, a redirect or a canonical tag?

A redirect. A permanent redirect is a strong signal that the target should be canonical. Use a redirect when the old URL should stop serving content. Use a canonical tag when both versions need to stay available.

Why does Google pick a different canonical than my tag?

Google may see stronger signals elsewhere, such as a redirect, an HTTPS version, a sitemap entry or internal links that all favour another URL. A target that errors out or a tag in the body can also weaken your choice. Fix the mismatch instead of adding more tags.

Read the Canonical Checker guide

What does a robots.txt checker do?

It fetches the robots.txt file from a domain, parses the rule groups and tests URLs against them. Traffsite shows which user agent each group covers, which paths are allowed or blocked and if a sitemap is declared.

Does robots.txt remove a page from Google?

No. Robots.txt controls crawling, not removal from the index. To keep a page out of search, let Google crawl it and add a noindex tag or an X-Robots-Tag header.

Why is my noindex rule ignored?

The page is probably blocked by robots.txt. Google must crawl a URL to see a noindex tag or header, so remove the disallow rule and request a recrawl. A noindex line written inside the robots.txt file itself is not supported either.

How long does Google keep an old robots.txt file?

Google generally caches the file for up to 24 hours. If the file returns a server error, Google may keep using the last good copy for up to 30 days while it retries. Changes can therefore show up later than you expect.

Can I block CSS and JavaScript with robots.txt?

You can, but Google needs those files to render a page and understand its content. Blocking them can make a page look broken to Googlebot. Allow them unless you have a clear reason to hide a file.

What happens if robots.txt is missing or returns an error?

A missing file means no rules, so crawling is open. A server error is different. Google pauses crawling for a while, then uses the last good copy for up to 30 days. A redirect chain that reaches five hops is treated like a 404.

Read the Robots.txt Checker guide

What does a sitemap checker do?

It fetches a sitemap, parses the XML and reports whether the file is well formed. Traffsite counts URLs, follows a sitemap index, checks status codes and flags pages that are redirected, blocked or marked noindex.

Does a sitemap guarantee that Google will index a page?

No. Google calls a sitemap a hint. It helps discovery and can improve crawling on large or complex sites, but it does not promise that every listed URL is crawled or indexed. Each page still has to be reachable and worth including in search.

Does every site need a sitemap?

Not always. A small site where every page is linked from another page may do fine without one. A sitemap helps most on large, new or media rich sites.

How many URLs can one sitemap contain?

One sitemap can hold up to 50,000 URLs and can be at most 50 MB uncompressed. Larger sites should split the list into several files and use a sitemap index. The index can be submitted as a single entry.

Should I include every URL in my sitemap?

No. List the canonical URLs you want in search results. Leave out pages that redirect, return errors, sit behind a robots.txt block or carry a noindex rule. A short list of healthy pages beats a full export of every URL the site can produce.

Does Google use priority and change frequency?

No. Google ignores both values. It does use the last modified date when the dates are consistently and verifiably accurate. If they are not, update them only when a page changes in a meaningful way.

Read the Sitemap Checker guide

What does an indexability checker do?

It tests the signals that decide whether a page can appear in search: HTTP status, robots meta tag, X-Robots-Tag header, robots.txt rules, canonical tag and soft 404 patterns. It reports the blockers it finds. It does not read Google's private index.

How do I check whether a page is indexable with Traffsite?

Paste the full URL into the Traffsite indexability checker and run the check. You get the status code, robots directives, robots.txt result, canonical comparison and soft 404 signals in one report, with blockers listed first.

What is the difference between crawlability and indexability?

Crawlability is whether Googlebot can fetch the page. Indexability is whether Google can add it to the index after crawling. A page can be crawlable and still blocked by a noindex tag, a canonical pointing elsewhere or a soft 404.

Why is a page not indexed even though it returns 200?

A 200 means the server delivered content, not that Google indexed it. The page may carry a noindex tag, be blocked by robots.txt, canonicalize to another URL, look like a soft 404, or simply be new. A 200 is the start of the check, not the end.

Does a noindex tag work if robots.txt blocks the page?

No. Google must crawl the page to see the noindex rule. If robots.txt blocks the URL, Googlebot may never read the tag, and the page can still appear in results when other sites link to it. Remove the block, let Google crawl the page, and the noindex will be seen.

Can a canonical tag make a page unindexable?

A canonical is a hint, not a rule, but a clear canonical pointing at another URL can lead Google to treat that page as the main version. If you want the page indexed on its own, use a self-referential canonical and make the content distinct.

Read the Indexability Checker guide

What does an Open Graph checker do?

It reads the Open Graph and Twitter card tags on a page and shows the preview they are likely to produce. Traffsite lists each tag, flags missing or malformed values and highlights images or URLs that would break the card.

Do Open Graph tags help Google rankings?

No. Google does not document Open Graph tags as a ranking factor. It does list the Open Graph title as one of several sources it may use for a title link, so an accurate tag can help, but Google may choose different text.

Which Open Graph tags matter most?

Start with the title, description, image, URL and type tags. Add the Twitter card tag and its matching title, description and image fields if people share your links on X. Together, these control the headline, summary, picture and destination in a preview.

What size should an Open Graph image be?

Platforms vary, but a wide image around 1200 by 630 pixels is a common choice. Check the guide for the platform that matters most to you, and make sure the file loads fast at a full URL.

Why is my link preview showing the wrong image?

The usual causes are a missing image tag, a relative path, an image that blocks crawlers or a cached preview from an older version of the page. Confirm that the tag holds a full URL and that the file loads in a browser, then refresh the cache in the platform debugger.

Should the Open Graph URL match the canonical URL?

Yes. Point it at the same address you want people to visit and your canonical tag names. A mismatch can send shares to a staging host, an old domain or a duplicate URL, which splits attention and makes the preview harder to trust.

Read the Open Graph Checker guide

What does a schema checker do?

It reads the structured data on a page, parses it and lists the types and properties it finds. Traffsite also flags syntax errors, missing required fields and values that do not match the visible content.

Is schema markup a ranking factor?

No. Google does not describe structured data as a ranking factor. It helps Google understand a page and can make the page eligible for a search feature, but eligibility is not a guarantee. A structured data manual action affects rich results, not ranking.

Which structured data format should I use?

Google supports JSON-LD, microdata and RDFa, and it recommends JSON-LD in most cases. It keeps the markup apart from the visible HTML, which makes nested items easier to read and less likely to break when a template changes.

Why is my structured data showing an error?

Common causes are a trailing comma, an unescaped quote, a missing required property, an unsupported type or a value that disagrees with the page. One syntax error can stop a JSON-LD block from being read, so fix the parse error first and then recheck the fields.

Can I still get FAQ rich results?

No. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results in May 2026 and dropped FAQ support from the Rich Results Test in June 2026. FAQPage remains valid schema.org markup, but it is not a route to a FAQ rich result now.

Does a valid schema guarantee a rich result?

No. Google does not promise that structured data will appear as a rich result, even when the markup passes the Rich Results Test. The page must also follow the content policies, represent its visible content and meet the guidelines for that feature.

Read the Schema Checker guide

What does an hreflang checker do?

It reads the hreflang annotations for a page, groups them into a cluster and checks the relationships between versions. It flags missing return links, invalid codes, broken URLs and canonicals that point away from the version being checked.

How do I check hreflang tags with Traffsite?

Enter the URL of any version in the cluster and run the check. The Traffsite hreflang checker detects whether the tags are in the HTML, HTTP headers or sitemap, then shows every alternate, its code, its return links and any errors.

Is hreflang a ranking factor?

No. Google describes hreflang as a way to point users to the most appropriate language or region version of a page. It helps with matching and is not a ranking boost.

What happens if return links are missing?

If page X names page Y as an alternate, page Y must name page X back. When links are not reciprocal, Google may ignore the annotations, so the cluster stops working as intended.

What is x-default used for?

x-default names the fallback page for users whose language or region does not match any other version. It is often a language selector or global page, and it takes no language code of its own.

Which language and region codes are valid?

Language uses ISO 639-1 (en, de, fr) and region uses ISO 3166-1 Alpha 2 (GB, CH, US). A region cannot stand alone, and codes like UK or EU are invalid. For the United Kingdom, use en-GB.

Read the Hreflang Checker by Traffsite guide

What does an SSL checker do?

It connects to a host over HTTPS, reads the certificate the server presents and checks the hostname, issuer, dates and chain of trust. Traffsite also reports the TLS version, the redirect from HTTP and any resources that load over an insecure connection.

Does an SSL certificate improve Google rankings?

Google's public documentation does not list a certificate as a ranking boost. Google does recommend HTTPS for security, and an invalid certificate can affect which URL it treats as canonical. The practical value is trust and a clean setup.

What is a chain of trust?

A browser trusts a certificate when it can build a path from the site certificate, through one or more intermediate certificates, to a root certificate in its trust store. If the server leaves out an intermediate, some browsers and devices cannot finish the chain and show a warning.

Why is my certificate invalid when it has not expired?

Common causes are a hostname the certificate does not cover, an incomplete chain, a certificate installed on the wrong host variant, a server clock that is off or a revoked certificate. The checker usually names the test that failed.

What is mixed content?

Mixed content is a secure page that also loads scripts, styles, fonts or images over HTTP. Browsers may block the active files or mark the page as not fully secure. Move every resource to HTTPS and check the templates for hard coded HTTP addresses.

How often should I check my SSL certificate?

Check after every renewal, server change, CDN change or new hostname, and keep a monthly check for your main domains. Automate renewal where you can and set an alert well before the expiry date.

Read the SSL Checker guide

What does a favicon checker do?

It reads the favicon link on your home page, follows the address to the image file and reports the format, dimensions, aspect ratio and response code. It also checks whether the rel value is one Google supports and whether the file and home page can be crawled.

How do I check my favicon with Traffsite?

Enter your site address into the Traffsite favicon checker and run the check. You get the icon preview, the link tag, the file's size and format, and the crawl status of the home page and icon, with any blockers listed first.

Does a favicon improve rankings?

No. Google's favicon guidance covers eligibility for the icon that may appear in search results, not ranking. A favicon can help people recognize your site as a result, but there is no promise it will move a page up.

What size and format should a favicon be?

Google requires a square icon with a 1:1 aspect ratio, at least 8x8 pixels, and recommends larger than 48x48. Supported formats are BMP, GIF, ICO, PNG, JPEG, PPM and TIFF, so a common PNG or ICO file works if it meets the size rules.

Why is my favicon not showing in Google?

Google may not show a favicon even when the guidelines are met. Common obstacles are a blocked home page, a blocked icon file, an unstable URL, an unsupported format or a recent change that has not been recrawled yet. Crawling can take days to weeks.

Can a subdomain have its own favicon?

Yes. Google supports one favicon per hostname, and a subdomain counts as its own hostname. A subdirectory does not. The icon for example.com also applies to example.com/news, while news.example.com can declare a different icon.

Read the Favicon Checker by Traffsite guide

What does an image alt checker do?

It scans the images on a page and shows the alt attribute for each one. The report flags images with no alt text, empty alt text, repeated descriptions and obvious keyword stuffing, so you can fix the weak ones in context.

How do I check alt text with Traffsite?

Enter the page URL into the Traffsite image alt checker and run the scan. You get every image on the page with its alt text and a status, so you can sort by missing or weak descriptions and fix them first.

Does alt text help rankings?

Google uses alt text, along with computer vision and page content, to understand what an image is about. That can help an image appear in relevant results, but Google does not promise rankings because of alt text alone.

How long should alt text be?

Google does not set a fixed character count. Aim for a concise description of the subject and its role on the page, usually one short sentence. A linked image needs enough text to work as anchor text on its own.

Should decorative images have empty alt text?

Yes. An empty alt attribute tells assistive technology to skip an image that adds no information, such as a divider. The exception is an image inside a link, where empty alt text leaves the link without useful anchor text.

What is the difference between missing and empty alt text?

Missing means the alt attribute is absent, so assistive technology may read out the file name instead. Empty means the attribute is present but blank, which is correct for decorative images and a problem for meaningful ones.

Read the Image Alt Checker by Traffsite guide

What does an SEO checker do?

It reviews the on-page parts of a URL and reports what is missing, duplicated or hard to read. Traffsite covers the title, meta description, headings, canonical, image alt text, social tags, content depth and page speed.

Is the page score a Google metric?

No. A page score is a prioritization tool built from the checks a product runs. Google does not publish a single page score, and the number does not measure how Google will rank the page.

Which elements should I review first?

Start with the title and meta description, because they shape the search result. Then check the headings, the canonical URL and image alt text. Social tags and page speed come next, followed by a wider content review.

Can an SEO checker guarantee higher rankings?

No. A checker can find issues worth fixing, but rankings depend on many systems and on the quality and relevance of the page. A clean report is a useful starting point, not a promise of a better position.

Does a high score mean a page will rank well?

Not necessarily. A score usually covers on-page checks such as metadata, headings and links. It cannot judge how well the page answers a query compared with other pages.

How often should I run the check?

Run it before publishing a new page, after a template or CMS change and again during a regular content review. There is no official schedule. The value comes from catching regressions early and fixing the same issue across a template.

Read the SEO Checker guide

What is an SEO audit?

It is a structured review of a site's crawlability, indexability, metadata, content, links and technical setup. The output is a list of issues ranked by impact, not a single score. A good audit shows which pages need work and what to fix first.

How many pages should a site audit crawl?

A small site can be crawled in full. A large site may need a sample that covers each template and section, followed by a full crawl when time allows. A sample shows the pattern, but it does not prove that every page is healthy.

What does an SEO audit check first?

Access. Confirm that pages return 2xx responses, that robots.txt is not blocking important sections and that key pages can be indexed. Only then should the audit move on to titles, descriptions, headings, content depth, internal links and speed.

Does an SEO audit improve rankings?

Not by itself. An audit finds the problems that may be holding a site back. Rankings can improve when the fixes make pages easier to crawl, index and understand, but the audit is a diagnostic step and not a ranking tactic.

How often should I run an SEO audit?

Run a full audit after a migration, a redesign or a platform change. For a stable site, a quarterly audit is a sensible rhythm, with a shorter check after each release. The right pace depends on how often the site changes.

What should I fix after an SEO audit?

Fix issues that block crawling or indexing first, then problems that affect many pages through a template. Titles and descriptions come next, followed by content and internal links. A fix that helps a template is usually worth more than one that helps a single page.

Read the SEO Audit guide

What does an SEO analyzer check?

Most tools report the title and meta description, the heading outline, word count, repeated terms, the mix of internal and external links, and images that are missing alt text. Some add a readability estimate or a list of technical tags. Read the findings as observations about the page, not as a pass or fail grade.

Does Google use keyword density as a ranking factor?

Google does not publish a keyword density target, and its guidance does not describe one. Repeating a phrase to hit a percentage can cross into keyword stuffing, which Google lists as a spam policy violation. Write the phrase where it reads naturally, then stop.

Can an SEO analyzer tell me whether a page will rank?

No. A page level report describes structure and wording. It cannot measure how a page compares with every competing result, and Google does not expose its ranking signals. Use the findings to improve clarity, then judge results with Search Console data over time.

Is a readability score required by Google?

No readability score is required or published by Google. The useful standard is whether your intended reader can follow the page. Google's guidance asks whether content is well written, easy to follow and free of spelling and grammatical mistakes, which a person is better placed to judge than a formula.

Should I put the main keyword in every heading?

No. Headings exist to help readers navigate, and Google's starter guide notes that heading order does not matter to Search, though a logical order helps screen readers. Write headings that describe the section. Repeating a phrase in all of them makes the outline harder to scan and can look like stuffing.

How often should I run an SEO analyzer?

Run it when a page is drafted, when it is substantially edited, and when a page loses traffic for a reason you cannot explain. It is a review step, not a monitoring system. Pair it with Search Console to see how the page actually performs after the changes go live.

Read the SEO Analyzer guide

What does an AI SEO checker do?

It sends a page or a draft to a language model with review instructions, then returns findings about the title, headings, body copy, links or structured data. Traffsite cites the Google document behind each finding, so a person can check the claim.

Does Google penalize AI-generated content?

Google does not treat content as a violation just because AI helped make it. It asks if the content is helpful, reliable and made for people. Its spam policy targets scaled content made mainly to manipulate rankings.

Can an AI SEO checker tell me why my page is not ranking?

No. It can comment on the page in front of it, but it cannot see Google's index, the queries a page appears for or the competing results. Use Search Console for performance data and treat the checker as a content reviewer.

How do I verify an AI finding?

Open the cited Search Central document and read the section it points to. Confirm that the page really has the problem, since the model may have misread the HTML or missed rendered content. If no source backs the claim, keep it as a suggestion.

Can an AI SEO checker make up a source?

Yes. A model can invent a citation or misquote a document. That is why you should open every link and read the section before you act.

Is an AI SEO checker better than a standard SEO checker?

They do different work. A standard checker confirms measurable facts such as status codes, canonical tags and missing metadata. An AI review is better at explaining context and spotting gaps in an argument. The strongest workflow uses both.

Read the AI SEO Checker guide

What does a ranking checker do?

It takes a keyword and a domain, looks through a set of search results up to a chosen depth, and reports where that domain appears. Many tools add the pages above it, the date of the check and a history graph. It measures a position at a point in time.

Is a ranking check accurate?

No check can guarantee an exact position. Results differ by location, language and device, and a signed in search can look different from a neutral one. A checker reports what its data source returned with its settings. Treat the number as a close reading, not a certified fact.

Why does my rank differ from what I see in my browser?

Your browser carries a location, a language, a device profile and possibly a signed in history, while the checker uses its own settings. Results can also change between the two checks. Compare runs that use the same settings before deciding that one of them is wrong.

How often should I check keyword rankings?

Weekly or monthly is enough for most sites. Daily checks produce noise, and positions can move for reasons that have nothing to do with your work. Check after a release, a migration or a content update, then give the change time before judging it.

Can a ranking checker track more than one keyword?

Yes. Most tools accept a list of keywords and return a table with a position for each one. Group the list by topic or page so the report answers a question, such as how a product page performs across its buying terms, instead of producing a wall of numbers.

Does checking rankings improve them?

No. Checking measures a result, it does not change it. Rankings move when Google's systems reassess pages against many signals, and Google does not promise that any edit will produce a given position. Use the history to decide where to work, then improve the page itself.

Read the Ranking Checker guide