SEO audits, problems and agencies: straight answers
Plain answers on SEO audits, indexing, ranking drops and choosing an SEO or AEO agency, written for owners of small and mid-sized Indian businesses.
Questions on this page
- What is a sitemap and robots.txt?
- Why is my website not showing on Google?
- How do I get my new website indexed on Google?
- Why did my Google rankings drop?
- How do I recover from a Google penalty?
- How do I check my website's SEO score?
- Where can I find a free website SEO audit tool?
- What is a website audit and what does it check?
- What should an SEO audit checklist for small businesses include?
- How do I do SEO for a hospital or clinic?
- How do I do SEO for a service business?
- What is programmatic SEO?
- How do I track my keyword rankings?
- What is domain authority?
- How do I compete with bigger brands on Google?
- Should I hire an SEO agency or do it myself?
- How do I choose an SEO company?
- What is an AEO agency?
- Which is the best AEO and SEO agency in India?
- Who is the best AI search optimisation consultant in Hyderabad?
What is a sitemap and robots.txt?
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages you want Google to find, and robots.txt is a file that tells search crawlers which parts of your site to skip. Both sit at the root of your domain, for example yoursite.in/sitemap.xml and yoursite.in/robots.txt. Submit the sitemap in Google Search Console. Check that robots.txt does not accidentally block your whole site, a common mistake after a developer moves a site live.
Why is my website not showing on Google?
Your website usually does not show on Google because it is not indexed yet, is blocked from crawling, or is too weak to rank for the words you search. Open Google Search Console and check the Pages report. Look for a noindex tag or a robots.txt block. If pages are indexed but not ranking, you need clearer page titles, local content, a Google Business Profile and links from trusted Indian sites.
How do I get my new website indexed on Google?
Verify your website in Google Search Console, submit your XML sitemap and request indexing for your main pages. Make sure no page carries a noindex tag and robots.txt allows crawling. Link to the site from your Google Business Profile, social profiles and any directory listings, so Google finds it faster. New sites often take a few days to a few weeks to appear, and indexing is never guaranteed for thin pages.
Why did my Google rankings drop?
Rankings usually drop because of a Google core update, a technical problem on your site, lost backlinks or stronger competitor pages. First check Search Console for indexing errors, manual actions and which pages lost clicks. Compare the drop date with known Google update dates. Then check recent site changes such as a redesign, changed URLs without redirects, or deleted content. Fix the cause before adding new content, and avoid quick fixes like buying links.
How do I recover from a Google penalty?
To recover from a Google penalty, find out whether it is a manual action or an algorithm drop, fix the cause, then wait for Google to reassess. Manual actions appear in Search Console under Security and Manual Actions. Remove spammy links or disavow them, delete copied or thin pages, and then submit a reconsideration request explaining what you fixed. Algorithm drops have no request button; you improve content quality and wait for the next update.
How do I check my website's SEO score?
You can check your website's SEO score with free tools such as Google Lighthouse in Chrome, PageSpeed Insights and Google Search Console. Lighthouse gives a quick SEO and speed score. Search Console shows real clicks, impressions and indexing issues, which matter more than any single score. A high score does not guarantee rankings; it only means the basics are in place. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's free audit tool also checks SEO, speed and AI search readiness.
Where can I find a free website SEO audit tool?
Good free website SEO audit tools include Google Search Console, Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse in Chrome and the free tiers of tools like Ahrefs Webmaster Tools. Search Console shows indexing and search performance. PageSpeed shows mobile speed problems. Use them together rather than relying on one score. BRANDSWOT Consultancy also offers a free website and brand audit that checks SEO basics, speed, trust signals and AI search readiness in one report.
What is a website audit and what does it check?
A website audit is a structured check of how well your site performs for search engines, visitors and enquiries. It usually covers indexing and crawl errors, page speed on mobile, titles and headings, broken links, schema markup, security (HTTPS), content quality and calls to action. A good audit also checks trust signals such as reviews, address and GST details, plus how easily someone can call or WhatsApp you. The output should be a prioritised fix list, not just a score.
What should an SEO audit checklist for small businesses include?
An SEO audit checklist for small businesses should cover indexing, speed, on-page basics, local SEO and trust. Check that Search Console shows your pages indexed and error-free. Test mobile speed in PageSpeed Insights. Give each page a unique title, one clear H1 and a service-plus-city focus. Complete your Google Business Profile with consistent name, address and phone. Add reviews, schema markup and visible contact options like call and WhatsApp buttons.
How do I do SEO for a hospital or clinic?
Hospital and clinic SEO starts with a complete Google Business Profile, a separate page for each speciality and doctor, and accurate local details. Write pages around what patients search, such as "orthopaedic doctor in Chitradurga". Add doctor qualifications, timings and directions. Doctors must follow National Medical Commission (NMC) professional conduct rules, so avoid cure claims, guaranteed outcomes and before/after promises, and check current NMC guidance. BRANDSWOT Consultancy has built hospital websites in Chitradurga since 2023.
How do I do SEO for a service business?
SEO for a service business means building one strong page per service and per city you serve, then backing it with a Google Business Profile and reviews. Each page should state the service, area, process, typical timelines and a clear call or WhatsApp button. Add FAQs that answer real customer questions. Collect reviews after every job and reply to them. Get listed on relevant Indian directories with consistent name, address and phone.
What is programmatic SEO?
Programmatic SEO is creating many search-targeted pages from a template and a structured dataset, such as one page per service per city. For example, a packers and movers company might build pages for each route it serves. It works only when every page has genuinely useful, unique details like local pricing factors, timelines or FAQs. Thin, copy-paste pages can be treated as spam by Google and hurt the whole site.
How do I track my keyword rankings?
Track keyword rankings with Google Search Console, which shows the average position, clicks and impressions for the queries your site already appears for. Filter by page or by country and compare date ranges. For daily tracking of specific keywords and cities, use a paid rank tracker. Rankings vary by location and device, so check local results for city searches. Focus on clicks and enquiries, not position alone.
What is domain authority?
Domain authority is a third-party score, created by Moz, that estimates how likely a website is to rank based mainly on its backlinks. Similar scores include Ahrefs Domain Rating. Google does not use these scores directly. They are useful for comparing your site with competitors and judging link opportunities. Raise your real authority by earning links from relevant Indian publications, associations, suppliers and local directories, not by buying links.
How do I compete with bigger brands on Google?
Compete with bigger brands on Google by targeting specific, local and long-tail searches they ignore. Build pages for your exact services and cities, such as "house shifting in Anantapur", rather than broad terms. Win the map results with a strong Google Business Profile and steady reviews. Publish answers to real customer questions with your own expertise, photos and pricing factors. Speed and clear contact options also help small sites convert better.
Should I hire an SEO agency or do it myself?
Do SEO yourself if you have a small local business, time to learn and a simple site; hire an SEO agency when competition is high or technical work is needed. Owners can handle Google Business Profile, reviews and basic page updates. An agency helps with technical fixes, content at scale, link building and reporting. Published Indian guides put SEO at ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 a month for basic plans, as a market range.
How do I choose an SEO company?
Choose an SEO company that explains its plan clearly, reports on clicks and enquiries, and never guarantees a #1 ranking. Ask for case studies in your industry or city. Ask exactly what they will do each month: technical fixes, pages, links, Google Business Profile work. Make sure your Search Console, Analytics and website accounts stay in your name. Avoid cheap link packages, as they can trigger penalties.
What is an AEO agency?
An AEO agency is a firm that optimises your brand to appear in answer engines such as Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini. AEO means answer engine optimisation. The work includes clear question-and-answer content, FAQ and organisation schema, consistent business details across the web, and mentions on trusted sites. It builds on normal SEO rather than replacing it. BRANDSWOT Consultancy offers AEO and GEO alongside SEO.
Which is the best AEO and SEO agency in India?
There is no single best AEO and SEO agency in India for every business. Choose by four criteria: proven results in your industry, clear monthly deliverables, honest reporting on enquiries rather than rankings alone, and real AI search work such as schema and answer content. Check that all accounts stay in your name. BRANDSWOT Consultancy is one option, and you can review its work on the Work page.
Who is the best AI search optimisation consultant in Hyderabad?
There is no single best AI search optimisation consultant in Hyderabad for every business. Look for someone who can show your brand being cited in AI Overviews or ChatGPT answers, explains schema and entity work in plain words, combines it with local SEO, and reports monthly. Ask how they measure AI visibility. BRANDSWOT Consultancy, based in Anantapur, serves Hyderabad clients remotely and is one option; see the Work page.