Improving your lighthouse SEO score

I know how it feels to be neck-deep in running a business and having to deal with all the technical stuff, especially SEO. When I first started dealing with Lighthouse SEO scores, I remember feeling like it was just one more thing to add to the ever-growing list of responsibilities. Like you, I’m focused on growth, customers, and scaling. The idea of digging into the backend of my site to fix “technical SEO” wasn’t exactly thrilling.

But here’s the thing: improving that Lighthouse SEO score is absolutely worth the effort. As business owners, we live and die by traffic, and SEO is the engine that drives organic traffic—traffic you don’t have to pay for. The better your SEO, the more visibility you get, which means more visitors, more leads, and, eventually, more sales. That score? It’s one of the clearest indicators of how well your site is performing in the eyes of search engines like Google, and trust me, getting it right makes a real difference.

What Is Lighthouse and Why It Matters

Let me break it down. Google's Lighthouse tool is like a diagnostic check-up for your website. It runs audits on performance, accessibility, and—most importantly for us—SEO. Think of it as Google’s way of telling you exactly what’s wrong and what’s right with your site. It gives you a score out of 100 and shows you specific areas that need improvement. The higher your score, the better Google ranks you in search results.

Why does this matter for us as founders? Well, the SEO score impacts more than just visibility. It’s about how users interact with your site. A poor SEO score usually means users aren’t having a good experience, and Google is smart enough to recognize that. The lower your score, the more likely your site is going to be buried in search results, which means less traffic and fewer opportunities to convert visitors into customers.

I’ll be honest—hitting a perfect 100 isn’t always realistic, and that’s okay. The goal here isn’t perfection; it’s improvement. A boost from 60 to 80 could lead to a significant uptick in traffic and engagement. That’s what we’re after—steady gains that make a tangible difference to your business.

Setting Expectations

In this guide, I’m not going to throw a bunch of jargon at you. I’m going to walk you through some actionable steps you can take right now to improve your Lighthouse SEO score. Whether you’re a technical expert or someone who’s only tinkered around with your website, this is all stuff you can get done.

We’ll cover the basics of running an audit, interpreting the results, and fixing common SEO issues that might be holding your site back. My goal here is to give you practical advice you can implement today, without needing a developer on hand 24/7. And as someone who’s been in the trenches, I’ll share what worked for me and what you should avoid.

SEO isn’t magic, but it is one of the most effective ways to drive organic growth for your business. Improving your Lighthouse SEO score is part of that, and by the end of this, you’ll have a clear path forward to making it happen.

Key Factors Affecting Your Score

Alright, now let’s get into the nitty-gritty—what exactly affects your Lighthouse SEO score and how you can tackle each factor. Think of this section as your SEO checklist, broken down into manageable parts. This isn’t about doing everything at once—it’s about understanding what needs to be done and why it matters.

Meta Tags Optimization

Let’s start with meta tags. They may seem small, but they pack a punch when it comes to improving your Lighthouse SEO score.

Title Tags are one of the most critical aspects of on-page SEO. Your title tag is the first thing Google and users see, so it needs to be unique, relevant, and descriptive. Don’t get fancy here; clarity wins. Each page on your site should have a different title tag that clearly describes what the page is about. Ideally, keep it between 50 to 60 characters and include your target keyword early on. This not only helps search engines understand the content, but it also improves your click-through rates.

Next are meta descriptions. This little snippet is what shows up under your page title in search results. It’s like your sales pitch—it needs to be compelling enough to make people want to click. Avoid keyword stuffing and duplication. Each page needs a unique description that gives users a reason to choose your link over someone else’s. Think of it like writing a mini ad for your page.

Header Tags Structure

Now, let’s talk about header tags (H1, H2, etc.). They’re the backbone of your page’s structure and help both search engines and users navigate your content. Your H1 tag should be your main headline, typically the title of your article or page. After that, you can use H2 through H6 tags to break down your content into digestible sections.

Why does this matter? Because well-organized content is easier to read and understand, both for your visitors and for search engines. Google loves structure, and it’ll reward you with better rankings if your content is easy to follow.

Image Optimization

Images can be a silent killer of your SEO score if you’re not optimizing them. First, focus on alt attributes. Alt text isn’t just for accessibility (though that’s important, too)—it’s also a way for search engines to understand what an image is about. Write clear, descriptive alt text for each image, ideally incorporating relevant keywords where it makes sense. This not only boosts your overall SEO but can also help you rank in image search results.

Another thing that often gets overlooked is image size and format. Large images slow down your load time, and a slow site means a lower Lighthouse SEO score. Compress your images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality. And while you’re at it, use modern image formats like WebP. They’re much smaller than JPEGs or PNGs and load faster, which is exactly what you want.

Canonical URLs

Duplicate content is a common issue that can drag your SEO score down. This is where canonical URLs come in. A canonical tag tells search engines which version of a page is the “master copy” when you have multiple pages with similar or identical content. Implementing these correctly helps ensure that your SEO efforts aren’t diluted across multiple versions of a page.

Mobile-Friendliness

Let’s be real: if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing out big time. Google has shifted to mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your site to rank you. If your site isn’t responsive (i.e., it doesn’t look and function well on mobile devices), your Lighthouse SEO score will take a hit.

A good mobile experience isn’t just about resizing the content; it’s about ensuring that the design adapts, loads quickly, and is easy to navigate. Make sure buttons are easily clickable, content is readable without zooming, and there’s no horizontal scrolling.

HTTPS Implementation

Security is no longer optional, especially for SEO. Google has made it clear that websites using HTTPS—which encrypts data between your site and its visitors—get a ranking boost. If your site is still using HTTP, it’s time to upgrade. Obtaining an SSL certificate is fairly straightforward and most hosting providers offer them for free these days. Once installed, it’ll not only help your Lighthouse score but also build trust with your audience. After all, who wants to visit a site flagged as “Not Secure”?

Robots.txt and Sitemap.xml

Your robots.txt file is like a roadmap for search engines, telling them which pages they should and shouldn’t crawl. It’s easy to mess this up, though. One common mistake is accidentally blocking important pages from being crawled, which can prevent them from appearing in search results. Double-check that your robots.txt file is set up correctly.

Then there’s sitemap.xml, which is like your site’s directory. It helps search engines understand your site structure and index your pages more efficiently. Ensure that your sitemap is updated regularly, especially if you add new content often.

Structured Data and Schema Markup

If you want to stand out in search results, structured data is your friend. Adding schema markup to your site’s HTML helps search engines understand the context of your content. This can result in rich snippets—those enhanced search results that show additional information, like product ratings or event details. Implementing JSON-LD schema markup is one of the easiest ways to do this, and it can make your pages more appealing to users, which improves click-through rates.

Avoiding Redirect Chains and Broken Links

One of the quickest ways to tank your Lighthouse SEO score is by having too many redirects or broken links. Redirect chains—where one URL redirects to another, which then redirects again—slow down your site and frustrate users. Try to fix these by ensuring that each redirect goes directly to the final URL.

Broken links are another issue. They signal poor maintenance and degrade user experience. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find and fix broken links on your site.

Lastly, your site’s crawlability and indexability are fundamental to how search engines view your content. If Google can’t crawl your site, it can’t index your pages, and if your pages aren’t indexed, they won’t rank—simple as that. Use Google Search Console to check for crawl errors and make sure your most important pages are being indexed. Regular audits are key here.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

As we dive deeper into optimizing your Lighthouse SEO score, it’s important to talk about what not to do. SEO is full of traps that can derail your efforts, often without you even realizing it. I’ve made a few of these mistakes myself when I was first starting out, and I’ve seen countless business owners struggle with the same pitfalls. Let's cover some of the most common issues that trip up founders trying to improve their SEO. If you avoid these, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Overlooking Basic SEO Practices

First up: don’t neglect the basics. It’s easy to get caught up in the fancy aspects of SEO and forget that simple things—like meta tags and header structures—are foundational. Your meta tags (title tags and meta descriptions) are like the front door to your content. If they aren’t optimized, Google and other search engines won’t know what your page is about, and neither will users. Make sure each page has a unique and relevant title tag that includes your primary keyword, and the same goes for meta descriptions.

Headers (H1, H2, etc.) are another essential but often overlooked part of on-page SEO. Properly structured headers not only help users skim your content more easily, but they also signal to search engines what’s important on the page. Using just one H1 tag per page, with descriptive subheadings (H2, H3), organizes your content and improves its readability for both users and search engines.

Don’t let these details slip by—get the basics right, and the rest will follow.

Another common oversight is alt text for images. It's an easy win for accessibility and SEO, but so many sites ignore it. Alt text isn’t just a fallback for when images don’t load; it helps search engines understand the content of your images, which can boost your ranking in image search results. Every image should have alt text that’s clear, descriptive, and ideally includes a relevant keyword. It might seem like a small thing, but it adds up.

Excessive Use of Plugins

If you’re using WordPress or any other CMS, plugins are often your best friend. They can save you time and offer incredible functionality without needing to code. But here’s the catch: too many plugins can slow your site to a crawl. This is especially problematic for your Lighthouse SEO score because site speed is a major ranking factor.

The more plugins you have, the more requests your site makes to load. Not all plugins are built with performance in mind, and some might conflict with each other or introduce vulnerabilities. Before installing a plugin, ask yourself if it’s absolutely necessary. Does it add real value to your site?

If not, it might be better to skip it. Regularly audit your plugin list and get rid of any that you no longer need. Streamlining your site’s functionality will help it run faster, which leads to better user experience and better SEO.

Duplicate Content

Duplicate content can be a major headache. It confuses search engines, and instead of boosting your ranking, it can lead to penalties. When search engines find multiple pages with the same or very similar content, they struggle to decide which one to rank. As a result, both versions might rank lower, or worse, they might get ignored entirely.

You’ll want to avoid this by using canonical tags. A canonical tag tells search engines which version of a page is the “master copy.” If you have duplicate pages (or even similar product pages), the canonical tag makes sure Google knows which one should be indexed.

Similarly, if you need to remove a page permanently, always use a 301 redirect to guide users and search engines to the right place. Without it, you risk losing valuable link juice and confusing both Google and your visitors.

Neglecting User Experience

Let’s talk about user experience (UX). It’s easy to focus so much on SEO that you forget why people are coming to your site in the first place—to find information, buy something, or interact with your brand. No matter how well-optimized your site is for search engines, if the user experience is bad, visitors will bounce right off.

Balancing SEO and usability is key. Your site’s navigation should be intuitive, making it easy for users to find what they need quickly. Clean design, clear calls to action, and fast load times go a long way. Think of it this way: Google’s primary goal is to give its users the best possible results. If visitors are leaving your site because it’s hard to navigate or it looks outdated, Google takes notice and your rankings will drop.

SEO is not just about driving traffic, it’s about keeping that traffic. If users land on your site and stay, that’s a signal to Google that your site is relevant and valuable.

Ignoring Analytics and Data

Finally, one of the biggest mistakes I see is ignoring the data. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. If you’re not tracking your site’s performance, you’re essentially flying blind. Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console give you insight into how your site is performing. You can see where your traffic is coming from, which pages are popular, and where visitors are dropping off.

Organic traffic, bounce rate, and conversion rate are critical metrics you should be tracking. Organic traffic shows you how well your SEO efforts are driving visitors. A high bounce rate means users aren’t sticking around, which could signal that something’s off with your content or site experience.

Conversion rate tells you if visitors are taking the actions you want them to—whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for your newsletter, or filling out a contact form.

Data is your compass. Without it, you’re just guessing. And SEO is no place for guesswork. Regularly review your analytics, identify what’s working, and tweak what’s not. SEO isn’t static; it requires ongoing adjustments based on real data. The more you know, the better you can refine your strategy.

Conclusion

We’ve covered a lot, but hopefully, you now have a clearer understanding of how to approach your Lighthouse SEO score and SEO efforts in general. Whether it’s optimizing meta tags, fixing technical issues, or leveraging tools like SEOJuice, there are plenty of actionable steps you can take to improve your SEO and ultimately, drive more traffic and growth for your business.

The key takeaway here? SEO isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s an ongoing process that requires constant tweaking, monitoring, and adjusting. But with the right tools and a solid approach, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think of it as part of your business’s long-term investment. The work you put in today will continue to pay off for months, even years, down the line.

Improving your Lighthouse SEO score is just one part of the bigger picture, but it’s a crucial one. SEO success isn’t built overnight, but by taking a proactive, consistent approach, you’ll see measurable improvements over time.

Stick with it, stay informed, and don’t hesitate to use the tools and resources at your disposal. They’ll save you time and make your SEO journey a lot smoother.