Separate access, indexing and quality
A page can return HTTP 200 while offering little value for a query. It can also be useful yet inaccessible to a crawler. Check status and resources, content availability, indexing directives, canonical selection and the actual answer separately. A sitemap assists discovery without guaranteeing inclusion. An observed ranking does not replace a technical check.
Sample multiple page families
Choose a homepage, category, article, product page and tool. Add a nonexistent URL and an old address. Record expected response, observed response and ownership for every case. Check HTML links, necessary images, title, H1 and rendered content. One successful page does not validate every variation of a template.
Make the repair inspectable
Save an example of the fault before changing it. Repeat the same test under equivalent conditions afterwards and inspect adjacent pages. For content defects, identify the question resolved and evidence added. For redirects, show status and destination. A technical pass removes a particular obstacle; it does not promise a ranking.
- Rule
- Test case
- Owner
- Evidence
Worked example
An empty category returns HTTP 200 with the title “Products”. The check concerns actual availability and usefulness. A fix might publish a relevant selection or properly remove the page; adding keywords to the title does not resolve missing content.
Check before moving on
These checkboxes are not saved.
Sources & method
- Google — Helpful content ↗
- Google — Canonical URLs ↗
- Google — JavaScript SEO ↗
- Google — Spam policies ↗
Sources reviewed on 1 October 2026. Worked calculations use explicitly hypothetical inputs.
Topic provenance: SEO : Et si on suivait réellement les directives de Google ? (2009-10). Search Engine Feng Shui. Byline retained in the publication feed: fhouste.
This guide is newly written in 2026. It does not reproduce the earlier text and is not attributed to its historical author.