Technical SEO Audits: Fixing Crawl Errors (Your Blueprint to a Healthier Website)
Struggling with search rankings? Your website might be suffering from hidden crawl errors—broken links, blocked pages, or slow-loading content that Google’s bots can’t properly index.
The good news? Fixing these issues is easier than you think, and it can boost your traffic, rankings, and revenue—whether you’re running a blog, e-commerce store, or affiliate site.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to audit and fix crawl errors, step by step. Plus, we’ll show you how to turn this skill into a profitable side hustle (because who doesn’t love getting paid to fix websites?).
Let’s dive in!
Why Crawl Errors Hurt Your Business (And How to Spot Them)
Google’s bots (aka “crawlers”) scan your site to understand its structure and content. If they hit 404 errors, blocked pages, or slow-loading assets, they’ll:
✅ Index fewer pages → Less visibility in search
✅ Rank you lower → Fewer clicks, fewer sales
✅ Waste crawl budget → Important pages get ignored
Common Crawl Errors to Watch For:
- 404 Not Found – Broken links (internal or external)
- 5xx Server Errors – Website crashes or timeouts
- Blocked by robots.txt – Accidentally hiding key pages
- Duplicate Content – Confusing Google with identical pages
- Slow Page Speed – Crawlers abandon slow-loading pages
Pro Tip: Use Google Search Console (GSC) to find these fast. Go to Coverage Report → Errors tab.
Step-by-Step: How to Fix Crawl Errors (Like a Pro)
1. Fix 404 Errors (Broken Links)
Why it matters: Dead links frustrate users and waste crawl budget.
How to fix:
– Use Screaming Frog SEO Spider (free version works) to scan your site.
– Redirect broken URLs to relevant pages (301 redirects).
– Update internal links pointing to dead pages.
side hustle Opportunity: Offer broken link audits for local businesses ($50-$200 per audit).
2. Resolve 5xx Server Errors
Why it matters: If your site crashes, Google can’t index it.
How to fix:
– Check server logs (ask your hosting provider if unsure).
– Optimize server resources (upgrade hosting if needed).
– Use UptimeRobot (free) to monitor downtime.
3. Unblock Pages in robots.txt
Why it matters: Accidentally blocking pages in robots.txt hides them from Google.
How to fix:
– Go to yoursite.com/robots.txt
– Remove lines like:
Disallow: /important-page/
- Test in Google Search Console → Robots.txt Tester.
4. Eliminate Duplicate Content
Why it matters: Google penalizes duplicate pages, splitting ranking power.
How to fix:
– Use canonical tags to tell Google which version to index.
– Merge similar content or 301 redirect duplicates.
– Check for URL parameters causing duplicates (e.g., ?utm_source).
5. Speed Up Slow Pages
Why it matters: Slow pages = higher bounce rates + lower rankings.
How to fix:
– Run Google PageSpeed Insights (free).
– Compress images (TinyPNG.com).
– Enable caching (ask your host or use WP Rocket for WordPress).
Pro Tip: Offer speed optimization services ($100-$500 per site).
How to Monetize This Skill (Turn It Into a Side Hustle)
Technical SEO audits are in high demand—businesses pay good money to fix crawl errors. Here’s how to get started:
1. Offer SEO Audits on Fiverr/Upwork
- Start with small audits ($50-$100).
- Upsell fixes (e.g., “I’ll fix 10 broken links for an extra $50”).
2. Sell Done-For-You Reports
- Use Screaming Frog + Google Data Studio to create automated reports.
- Sell them as templates on Etsy or Gumroad.
3. Create a Mini-Course
- Teach beginners how to fix crawl errors.
- Sell it on TheBizWizAcademy (or your own site).
Example Pitch:
“Struggling with SEO? My Technical SEO Audit Guide shows you how to find and fix crawl errors in 1 hour—no tech skills needed!”
Final Thoughts: Your Next Steps
Fixing crawl errors is one of the fastest ways to improve SEO—and it’s a skill you can monetize.
Your Action Plan:
1. Run a free audit (Google Search Console + Screaming Frog).
2. Fix the top 3 errors on your site.
3. Offer audits to others (start small, scale up).
Need help? Join TheBizWizAcademy’s Networking Community—connect with 1000+ entrepreneurs who’ve been where you are.
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