Last Updated on December 8, 2025

Starting an SEO Audit

Follow these steps every time you begin a new SEO audit:

 

  1. Open the Agency Google Drive
    • Navigate to the shared drive where all client folders are stored
  2. Find the Client’s Folder
    • Open the folder for the client you’re auditing
  3. Create a New Audit Document
    • Click New in the top-left corner
    • Hover over Google Sheets
    • Select “From a template”
  4. Choose the Correct Audit Template
    • You’ll land in the template gallery
    • In the “Audits & Reports” section, select: “Client Name In-Depth SEO Audit.”
  5. Rename the File
  6. Begin working through the tabs in order.
    • Each tab builds on the previous one, so follow the sequence from left to right.

Audit Walkthrough

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

Everything you need for this tab is found in Ahrefs and Search Console.

Ahrefs

  • Log into Ahrefs
  • Enter the client’s URL into the top bar
  • Simply record the DR and Ref. Domains from the backlink profile

Search Console

  • Log into Search Console
  • Click on “Search results”
  • Record the Clicks and Impressions for the last 4 months, 1 month at a time (record November, then December, then January, etc.)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)

This tab helps you understand how the site performs for non-branded, high-value keywords—the queries that actually represent demand, not people already searching for the business by name.

  • Pull the top non-branded queries from Google Search Console.
    • Go to: Performance → Search Results → Queries
    • Apply a filter to exclude branded terms.
  • Add the keywords in, plus:
    • KD (from Ahrefs)
    • Volume (from Ahrefs)
    • Clicks (from Search Console)
    • SC Position (from Search Console)