An audit is a diagnostic and planning engagement: it produces a prioritised map of technical, on-page, content, and competitive issues with evidence and phased recommendations. Ongoing SEO (such as on-page programmes or local SEO) executes that map month after month — new content, link outreach, SERP monitoring, and iterative tweaks. If you already know what to fix and have capacity, you may skip a full audit and start execution. If rankings dropped after a migration, leadership disagrees on priorities, or you need one document to secure budget, the audit comes first.
SEO
Comprehensive SEO audit
Technical crawl, content gaps and competitor benchmarks — delivered as a prioritised action plan you can execute or hand to us.
120+ point technical, on-page and content audit with a prioritised roadmap.
What you get
- Crawl and indexation review
- On-page and content analysis
- Competitor benchmark
- Phased roadmap
Who a comprehensive SEO audit is for
An SEO audit from Faraday Web Services is for organisations that need clarity before spending on content, links, or another redesign. Typical clients include B2B service firms, manufacturers, professional practices, hospitality groups, and ecommerce brands where organic search should drive qualified enquiries — but rankings, traffic, or lead quality have plateaued or slipped without an obvious cause.
You are a strong fit if you suspect technical debt (slow templates, indexation quirks, redirect chains), if service pages read well to humans but underperform in search, or if you operate in more than one country and are unsure whether UK, French, Belgian, or Swiss visibility is set up correctly. The audit is also the right first step after a website redesign or before a major custom website build, so you baseline performance and protect URLs that already earn clicks.
It is not a substitute for ongoing optimisation when you already have a clear programme and capacity to execute every month. In that case, on-page SEO or local SEO may be more efficient. When leadership wants a single, prioritised view of risk and opportunity — with evidence, not opinions — the audit is the anchor document.
What our SEO audit examines
We run a structured review across more than 120 checkpoints, grouped so findings map to actions your team or ours can take. The scope balances technical crawl integrity, on-page and content fit to search intent, and competitive context — because fixing titles alone rarely moves the needle if the site cannot be crawled efficiently or if rivals own the topics that convert.
Deliverables are written for decision-makers and implementers: executive summary, scored issue lists, evidence screenshots or export references, and a phased roadmap (quick wins, structural fixes, content programmes). Where relevant we tie recommendations to other Faraday services — for example performance optimisation for Core Web Vitals, or international SEO when hreflang and locale architecture need correction — without forcing a bundle you do not need.
Technical crawl, indexation, and site health
We crawl the site as search engines should: status codes, redirect chains, canonical tags, robots directives, XML sitemaps, pagination and faceted URLs, duplicate and thin content clusters, and internal link equity distribution. JavaScript-rendered content and staging exposure are checked where they affect indexation. Server response times, mobile usability signals, HTTPS and security headers sit alongside classic technical SEO — slow or unstable pages waste crawl budget and hurt rankings even when copy is strong.
For WordPress, Shopify, or custom stacks we note platform-specific patterns: plugin bloat, unoptimised media, cache misconfiguration, or structured data errors. Critical issues are separated from noise so developers know what blocks visibility versus what is cosmetic. Findings feed directly into engineering backlogs or our technical delivery queue if you prefer a single team to implement fixes.
On-page structure, content gaps, and intent match
Page-level review covers titles, meta descriptions, heading hierarchy, internal anchors, schema where it genuinely helps, and whether each URL targets a defensible keyword theme aligned to buyer intent. We map existing content against demand: missing service pages, weak category hubs, outdated blogs that attract the wrong traffic, and opportunities to consolidate cannibalising URLs.
Content quality is judged commercially, not by word count alone: do pages answer the questions that precede a quote, booking, or call? We flag thin doorway pages, boilerplate location blocks, and copy pasted across markets without localisation. Recommendations often pair with on-page SEO execution or AI-assisted SEO content workflows where scale matters — always with human review so brand tone and accuracy stay intact.
Competitor benchmarks and SERP context
You do not rank in a vacuum. We benchmark a focused set of competitors and SERP features for your priority keywords: who holds page one, which page types win (guides, comparisons, local packs), and where featured snippets or AI summaries appear. Gap analysis highlights topics and formats worth owning, and where chasing high-volume phrases would be wasted spend.
Backlink and authority signals are reviewed at a practical level — not vanity domain scores alone — to see whether visibility limits are technical and on-page or require a longer authority programme. Local and multi-location brands get additional notes on map pack presence and citation consistency when local SEO is in scope. The output is a realistic picture of what it would take to close gaps in the next quarter versus the next year.
From audit findings to a prioritised roadmap
The roadmap sorts work into phases so you can ship value early while larger projects are budgeted. Phase one typically covers indexation blockers, broken redirects after migrations, and quick on-page fixes on money pages. Phase two addresses information architecture, internal linking, and template-level SEO (category pages, filters, hreflang). Phase three is often content depth, digital PR, or local expansion — depending on where the audit showed the constraint.
Each item includes effort hints (developer hours, copywriting, approval cycles) and expected impact (visibility, traffic quality, conversion risk). We are explicit about dependencies: there is little point publishing fifty new articles if the CMS still outputs duplicate titles, or if performance optimisation is required before Google will treat the site as mobile-friendly. That honesty keeps internal teams aligned and avoids agency churn.
You may execute the roadmap in-house, with your existing SEO partner, or hand phases to Faraday. Many clients use the audit to scope a fixed on-page programme or a technical sprint, then revisit metrics quarterly. The audit document remains the contract for what “done” looks like — reducing debate when rankings move slowly but work is progressing.
How we deliver the SEO audit
Engagements follow a clear sequence with agreed access and deadlines, described in more detail on our process page. You work with senior practitioners who interpret data in business terms — not juniors who only export a generic tool PDF.
Discovery, access, and scope confirmation
We confirm markets (UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, or combinations), priority services, and competitors. You grant read access to Google Search Console, analytics, and optionally ads or CRM exports so we can separate ranking issues from conversion issues. Staging credentials help when production hides noindex rules or unfinished templates. A short questionnaire captures goals: more enquiries, better ecommerce revenue, recovery after a migration, or preparation for international rollout.
Analysis, validation, and reporting
Automated crawls are cross-checked manually on templates that matter — homepage, top service URLs, basket or booking flows, and locale variants. We reconcile crawl data with Search Console coverage and analytics landing pages. Workshops or async Q&A clarify constraints (legal disclaimers, legacy CMS limits, brand terminology). The written report uses plain English with technical appendices for developers.
Presentation, handover, and optional implementation
We walk stakeholders through the summary and roadmap, answer questions, and record decisions on what to defer. Source exports (crawl spreadsheets, keyword lists) are handed over so nothing is locked in our tools. If you want Faraday to implement, we translate phases into proposals — technical fixes, content sprints, international SEO, or local SEO — with refreshed timelines. Support continues via contact or a scoped follow-on engagement rather than open-ended retainers by default.
What influences SEO audit pricing
Pricing reflects site scale and complexity, not a flat sticker price. Factors include: number of indexable URLs, ecommerce or faceted navigation depth, number of languages or country folders, separate mobile or subdomain setups, competitor set size, and whether analytics or Search Console history is fragmented across properties.
Timeline matters when you need findings before a fixed launch or board date. Rush delivery is offered only when it does not skip manual validation on revenue-critical templates. Multi-brand groups or franchises with many location pages require scoped sampling rules so the audit stays affordable without pretending every duplicate storefront was hand-reviewed.
Transparent quotes list deliverables, assumptions, and exclusions (for example ongoing link building, paid media audits, or full content writing). Request a tailored estimate via our free quote form or contact page. Compare related offerings in the full services catalogue if you are weighing audit-only against audit-plus-implementation.
SEO audits for the UK, France, Belgium, and Switzerland
Faraday Web Services Ltd is UK-registered and works remotely with clients across the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Search behaviour, SERP layouts, and regulatory context differ by market — audits account for that instead of applying a UK-only checklist to French or Swiss properties.
For cross-border brands we review hreflang, locale URL patterns, duplicate content between languages, and whether hosting or CDN choices affect European performance. VAT, trust signals, and local proof (reviews, associations, address formats) influence click-through as much as meta tags. When organic visibility is primarily city-based, we align audit recommendations with local SEO tactics; when the priority is exporting services across borders, international SEO findings take precedence.
Bilingual delivery in English and French helps marketing and leadership teams share one roadmap. Whether your HQ is in London with sales in Lyon, or you are a Brussels agency serving UK clients, you get a single accountable team. Company background and policies are on the about page; engagement mechanics mirror other services documented in our process overview.
Why businesses choose Faraday for SEO audits
Clients choose us when they want actionable clarity, not a 200-page dump from a tool they already subscribe to. We combine crawl data, Search Console reality, analytics, and commercial judgement — the same senior people who implement websites and performance work, so recommendations are buildable.
We are independent of black-box ranking promises. If the honest answer is that authority or product-market fit limits SEO before another technical tweak, we say so. If AI-assisted research and drafting can accelerate content production without risking quality, we scope it with human editorial control. That balance protects trust and long-term rankings.
When you are ready to baseline organic search properly, start with a free quote — we will confirm scope, access needs, and delivery dates within one business day where possible.
Evidence over opinions
Every critical finding links to reproducible evidence: URL lists, before/after examples, Search Console charts, or competitor URLs. Priorities reflect impact and effort, not whichever issue appeared first in a crawl export. Stakeholders can challenge conclusions with data, which speeds approval for developer time and content budgets.
Implementation optional, never hostage
The audit stands alone. You keep full exports and the roadmap whether or not we execute phase two. Many clients return for implementation because the same team already understands their stack and constraints — but you are never locked into a retainer to receive the report. That model suits in-house marketing leads who need external diagnosis and internal buy-in.
Frequently asked questions
At minimum we need your live site URL, Google Search Console property access (or exports), and analytics view access for organic landing pages and conversions. Competitor names or keyword priorities you already track are helpful. For ecommerce or booking sites, sample category and product URLs speed review. Staging access is optional but useful when production hides noindex or unfinished templates. We do not require admin passwords for ads or CRM unless you want conversion path analysis included; that can be scoped separately.
A typical mid-size corporate or ecommerce site completes in two to four weeks from access grant to final presentation, depending on URL count, locales, and feedback speed. Very large catalogues or multi-country setups may use agreed sampling plus deep dives on template types. Rush timelines are possible when scope is fixed and manual checks on money pages are protected — we avoid same-day PDFs that skip validation. You receive a draft summary before the walkthrough so internal reviewers can prepare questions.
No ethical agency guarantees positions — algorithms and competitors change weekly, and rivals invest in content and links at the same time. The audit guarantees clarity instead: what is broken, what is weak versus rivals, and what to do in what order with evidence attached. Ranking improvements follow when you implement the roadmap with sufficient quality, realistic timelines, and measurement on organic conversions — not vanity rank trackers alone. We separate quick technical wins from longer content and authority work so leadership expectations stay grounded. Implementation sprints can be quoted separately with KPIs tied to indexation health, qualified traffic, or revenue from organic search.
Yes. We regularly audit properties targeting France, Belgium, and Switzerland as well as the UK, including bilingual sites where hreflang and locale templates must work together. Reviews include locale URLs, French SERP features, local competitor sets, and regulatory context for cookies or forms — not a literal translation of UK keyword lists pasted into a French report. Deliverables can be written in English or French; bilingual stakeholders often prefer an English master with French executive summaries for local marketing teams. When structural international issues are found, remediation is scoped as its own phase rather than buried in generic recommendations.
Both timings are valuable and solve different risks. Before redesign, an audit protects URLs and content that already perform, informs information architecture, and gives developers a redirect map requirement before templates are frozen. After launch, an audit verifies redirects, indexation, canonical tags, and template SEO so regressions are caught while caches and Search Console data are still fresh. We flag high-risk patterns during discovery: mass URL changes without redirect maps, stripping content hubs, or staging environments that leak into the index. Many clients pair a pre-launch audit with post-launch verification as a discounted bundle when Faraday also leads the redesign.
You receive an executive summary for leadership, a prioritised issue register tagged critical / major / minor, a phased roadmap with effort guidance, a technical appendix written for developers, and content or keyword opportunity notes for marketers. Exports typically include crawl spreadsheets, redirect samples, and key URL lists so your team can track fixes in Jira or similar tools. A live presentation walkthrough is standard; a recorded summary is available on request for stakeholders who could not attend. Raw exports from Search Console or analytics remain yours — we do not withhold data behind agency-only accounts after the project ends.
Yes, optionally and without pressure. Many clients hire us for technical fixes, on-page SEO, performance optimisation, international or local SEO, and content programmes derived directly from audit phases — because the same senior team already understands their stack and constraints. Implementation is quoted separately so audit fees stay fixed even if you pause for budget approval before phase two. You may also hand the roadmap to an in-house team or another agency; the document is written to be portable, with acceptance criteria per item so progress can be reviewed objectively in quarterly check-ins.
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