Technical SEO Basics: Site Speed, Indexing, Mobile-Friendliness

Part of 🔧 On-Page and Technical SEO with AI Tools (Articles 14–16) in Launch and scale an SEO business using AI tools

Part of the Course: “SEO with AI – From Clueless to Cashflow”

 

So let’s start with a brutally honest question


Have you ever clicked on a website, waited more than 3 seconds, and then bailed like your ex did after that awkward brunch with your mom?

Yeah. Same.

That, my friend, is why technical SEO matters. It’s the not-so-sexy part of SEO that most people either ignore, fear, or completely botch. But here’s the wild part: You can have the best content on the planet, and it still won’t rank if your site is slower than a Monday morning.

Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

But don’t stress—today we’re breaking this stuff down into real, relatable, beginner-friendly bits. No tech snobbery. No 5-paragraph rants about DNS records (well, maybe half a paragraph…).

Let’s dive in.

🧠 So, What Is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO is like your website’s plumbing. It keeps things flowing, but you don’t really notice it until something clogs, leaks, or smells weird.

It includes:

  • Site speed (aka: how fast your page loads before your audience loses patience and finds a cat video instead)
  • Indexing (can Google find your pages?)
  • Mobile-friendliness (does your site work on a phone, or does it turn into a scrolling nightmare?)

And yeah, there’s more. But we’re starting with these three because they’re deal-breakers. The non-negotiables. The holy trinity of don’t-screw-this-up SEO.

🚀 1. Site Speed: Because Nobody Has Time for a Snail

Imagine walking into a store and waiting 5 full seconds for the door to open. You’d probably walk away, right?

Well, Google agrees.

Why Site Speed Matters:

  • Google uses it as a ranking factor (it’s not just about “user experience” anymore—it’s about survival).
  • It impacts bounce rate, time on site, and conversions.
  • People will judge you for it. Fast.

What Slows Sites Down (Real Talk Edition):

  • Giant uncompressed images (looking at you, 5MB stock photos)
  • Bloated themes and plugins (yes, WordPress users, this is for you)
  • Cheap hosting (shared hosting is like living with 19 roommates and one bathroom)

Quick Fixes Using AI & Tools:

  • Use PageSpeed Insights (Google’s tool): It’ll yell at you in color-coded bars.
  • Compress images automatically with tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel.
  • Ask ChatGPT:

“Give me step-by-step instructions to improve site speed for a WordPress site.”
It’ll give you a plan. You still have to do the thing, but it’s way less intimidating.

Pro Tip: Go minimalist. Fewer bells = faster load time. Your website shouldn’t feel like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

🔍 2. Indexing: If Google Can’t Find You, You Don’t Exist

Okay, picture this: You throw a massive party. You decorate, you make snacks, you even set out the good plates. But
 you forgot to give anyone your address.

That’s what happens when your pages aren’t indexed.

What Indexing Means:

It’s the process of getting your content added to Google’s library. No index = no visibility.

Common Rookie Mistakes (No Judgment Zone):

  • You accidentally noindex your pages (yes, it happens more than you think).
  • Your robots.txt is saying “Google, stay outta my yard.”
  • Your site has crawl errors that feel like digital potholes.

Fix It Fast (Even If You’re Not a Tech Nerd):

  • Use Google Search Console. It’s like having access to your own diagnostic tool, and it’s free.
  • Ask ChatGPT:

“Can you create a checklist for indexing issues on my blog?”
It’ll break it down so even your grandma could understand.

Also, check this:

  • Go to Google and type: site:yourdomain.com
    If you see nothing, that’s
 not good. If you see a bunch of old, weird pages? Also not good. Time to clean house.

đŸ“± 3. Mobile-Friendliness: Because Everyone’s on Their Dang Phone

Not to sound dramatic, but if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you might as well send your SEO dreams into the abyss with Vine and floppy disks.

The Reality:

  • Over 60% of all Google searches come from mobile devices. (Source: 2025 and the fact we’re glued to our phones.)
  • Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing. That means it’s looking at your mobile site before your desktop version.

Symptoms of a Mobile-Hot-Mess Site:

  • Text too small to read (squinting is not a UX strategy)
  • Buttons the size of Tic Tacs
  • Pages that require horizontal scrolling (why?!)

Quick Mobile Fixes:

  • Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool.
  • AI can help you rewrite and reformat content to be more mobile-first. Try:

“Rewrite this blog post so it’s easy to skim on mobile, using short paragraphs and bold subheadings.”

Pro Tip: Always preview your site on your actual phone. Don’t assume. If it’s hard to read while lying in bed half-asleep, it’s not mobile-friendly enough.

đŸ› ïž How AI Fits Into the Technical SEO Game

Look, AI won’t fix every broken thing on your site (yet). But it can help you:

  • Create checklists tailored to your site’s CMS (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)
  • Explain error messages in simple language
  • Generate HTML/CSS snippets if you need to tweak layouts
  • Help draft messages to developers (because “Hey can you fix the thing?” doesn’t cut it)

đŸ˜© When You Feel Overwhelmed


First of all, you’re not alone. Seriously.

Technical SEO can feel like trying to fix a car engine when you don’t even know how to pop the hood. But here’s a little pep talk for you:

Breathe. Break it into steps. Use your tools. Ask for help. You don’t have to know everything—you just need to know how to find it and what to prioritize.

Site speed? Start there.
Indexing? Next.
Mobile? Always.

One fix at a time. That’s the game.

💡 TL;DR: Your Beginner’s Technical SEO Survival Kit

Here’s what you need to remember:

  • Speed = Make it fast. Compress. Simplify. Clean it up.
  • Indexing = Let Google in. Check Search Console. Don’t block yourself.
  • Mobile = Test your site on phones. Prioritize legibility and usability.

And when in doubt? Ask your AI assistant. Use tools. Experiment. Curse mildly under your breath. Then keep going.

💬 Final Thoughts

Technical SEO might not be the part of SEO that gets all the glory or headlines, but it’s the backbone. The engine. The quiet MVP.

And with a sprinkle of AI, a little grit, and a willingness to Google your way out of technical confusion, you’ll be shocked at how much you can figure out.

No code degree required. No beard-stroking SEO guru needed. Just curiosity, some caffeine, and a refusal to give up when a plugin breaks.

You’ve got this. Promise.

 

👣 Up Next in the Course: “Content Strategy with AI: Writing for Humans and Ranking with Robots”
Get ready to create content that connects, converts, and actually ranks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *