Technical SEO Audit for Kalakriti: Indexing, Performance & Backlink Analysis

Illustration of technical SEO process with gears, crawl bots, backlink structure, and performance metrics

🛍️ Project: Kalakriti – Shopify Website SEO Audit

Role: SEO Analyst (Beginner Project)
Project Type: Self-initiated Audit for Portfolio
Date: March 2025 

Overview:

Conducted a comprehensive technical SEO audit for Kalakriti, a Shopify-based ethnic wear store, focusing on crawlability, indexing, site performance, and mobile usability to identify and address technical barriers affecting organic search performance.

Observations & Insights:

  • Detected 97 GET-parameter URLs causing potential index bloat and weak internal linking on 11 pages.

  • Found duplicate/missing H1s, poor anchor text usage, and 71% of images missing alt text.

  • Identified render-blocking scripts and large images slowing load times; Core Web Vitals flagged.

  • Noted mobile issues like improper viewport setup and cramped tap targets.

  • Flagged inconsistent, missing, or poorly optimized metadata across pages.

  • Tools Used

    Screaming Frog, Site Bulb, Lighthouse, Schema Markup Validator, Page Speed Insights, Semrush Site Audit Tool, Semrush Backlink Analytics

  • Outcome

    Uncovered critical technical SEO issues affecting Kalakriti’s visibility and user experience. Provided actionable recommendations to enhance crawl efficiency, on-page optimization, site speed, and mobile responsiveness, laying the groundwork for improved search engine performance.

Website: Kalakriti
URL: 
https://shopkalakriti.in/
Industry:
Retail and Manufacturing
Website Health:
 Good
Title Tag:
Needs Improvement
Content Quality:
Needs Improvement
SEO Effort Required:
High

Part 1: Executive Summary

Overall SEO Health Score: 90/100

Key Issues

Crawlability & Indexing Issues

URL contains a form with a GET method (High Potential Issue)

This can create unnecessary URLs, impacting crawl efficiency and causing index bloat.

URLs affected: 97

Has only one followed internal linking URL (High Opportunity)

These pages have weak internal link equity, making ranking difficult.

URLs affected: 11

On-Page SEO Issues

Duplicate H1 Tags (Medium Issue)

Multiple pages have identical H1 tags, leading to keyword cannibalisation.

URLs affected: 6

Empty H1 Tags (Medium Opportunity)

Pages are missing an H1, which weakens SEO structure and user understanding.

URLs affected: 1

Images with Missing Alt Text (Medium Opportunity)

Missing alt attributes affect accessibility and SEO potential.

Images affected: 1.1K (71.11%)

Internal Links with No Anchor Text (Medium Opportunity)

Pages contain links with missing anchor text, reducing SEO value.
URLs affected: 94 (96.91%)

Outgoing Followed Links with Non-Descriptive Anchor Text (Medium Opportunity)

Pages use vague anchor text like “click here,” reducing clarity.

URLs affected: 6

Incoming Followed Links with Non-Descriptive Anchor Text (Medium Opportunity)

Internal links use generic text instead of descriptive keywords.

URLs affected: 1

Site Speed & Core Web Vitals

Render-blocking JavaScript and CSS (Medium Issue)

Delays in page interactivity due to unoptimized scripts.

Unoptimised Image Sizes (Medium Opportunity)

Large images slow down the page loading speed.

Mobile Usability & Responsiveness

Viewport Configuration Issues (Medium Issue)

Causes content scaling problems on mobile devices.

Tap Targets Too Close Together (Medium Issue)

Makes navigation difficult for mobile users.

Technical & Security Issues

Meta Description Issues:

Too Long: 66 URLs (68.04%)

Too Short: 96 URLs (98.97%)

Missing Meta Descriptions: 25 URLs (25.77%)

Title Tag Issues:

Too Long: 96 URLs (98.97%)

Too Short: 45 URLs (46.39%)

 

Quick Wins (Easily Fixable Issues)

  • Optimize title tags and meta descriptions (too short/long).
  • Fix duplicate and missing H1 tags.
  • Add alt text to all images.
  • Fix broken or missing anchor text in internal links.
  • Reduce render-blocking JavaScript and CSS.
  • Improve viewport settings for a better mobile experience.

Priority Actions (High-Impact SEO Fixes)

  • Fix URL form submission issue with GET method to prevent index bloat.
  • Improve internal linking structure to strengthen link equity.
  • Enhance site speed by optimizing images and scripts.
  • Fix mobile responsiveness issues to enhance user experience.
  • Implement structured data for rich results.
  • Ensure proper canonicalization to avoid duplicate content issues.

Part 2: Indexing and Crawlability Report

Robots.txt & Sitemap

  • Robots.txt Status: ✅ (Properly configured)
  • Sitemap Status: ✅ (Present, but needs improvement)
  • Blocked Pages: ❌ No critical pages blocked, but unnecessary pages may need disallowing.

Google Search Console Coverage

  • Indexed Pages: 94
  • Excluded Pages: 3

Crawl Budget Optimization

  • Low-value pages wasting crawl budget: ✅ Yes (Unnecessary GET form URLs, duplicate meta issues)
  • High-priority pages indexed correctly: ❌ Needs Optimization (Some key pages have weak internal links)

Part 3. Site Speed & Performance

Core Web Vitals

Mobile

Screenshot of Core Web Vitals report showing high Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) at 8.7s, First Input Delay (FID) at 180ms, and zero Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) of Mobile - Kalakriti

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 8.7 s
  • First Input Delay (FID): 180 ms
  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0

Desktop

Desktop Core Web Vitals report showing fast LCP at 0.8s, FID at 120ms, and zero CLS - Kalakriti

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 0.8 s
  • First Input Delay (FID): 120 ms
  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0

Mobile Usability

  • Mobile-Friendly:
  • Viewport Configuration: ❌(Issues present)

Page Load Speed

  • Desktop Speed Score: [97/100]
  • Mobile Speed Score: [61/100]
  • Largest Bottlenecks:
BottleneckImpactSolution
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) - 8.67sCritical 🚨Optimise images, enable lazy loading, and improve server response time
Minimise main-thread work - 2.9sHigh ⚠️Reduce JavaScript execution time, optimise CSS & animations
Reduce unused JavaScript (118 KiB savings)High ⚠️Remove unnecessary JS, defer non-critical scripts
Reduce unused CSS (24 KiB savings)Medium 🟡Purge unused CSS, inline critical styles
Defer offscreen images (36 KiB savings)Medium 🟡Enable lazy loading for images below the fold
Serve static assets with an efficient cache policy (5 resources found)Medium 🟡Implement proper caching rules for JS, CSS, and images
Avoid an excessive DOM size (1,301 elements)Medium 🟡Reduce unnecessary HTML elements, optimise page structure
Avoid long main-thread tasks (6 long tasks found)Medium 🟡Optimise third-party scripts and reduce render-blocking resources
Minimize third-party usage (150ms delay)Medium 🟡Remove unnecessary third-party scripts (e.g., fonts, ads, tracking pixels)
Avoid chaining critical requests (13 chains found)Medium 🟡Optimise resource loading priorities, reduce dependency chains

Part 4: On-Page SEO Factors

Meta Tags Optimization

  • Title Tags: (Needs improvement) ❌
  • Meta Descriptions: (Needs improvement) ❌
  • H1 & Header Structure: (Needs improvement) ❌

URL Structure

  • SEO-friendly URLs: (Needs improvement) ❌
  • 301 Redirects for Old URLs: ✅

Content Quality & Duplicates

  • Thin Content Issues: ✅ (Needs improvement)
  • Duplicate Content: ✅No duplicate content found
  • Keyword Optimization: (Needs improvement)

Part 5: Technical SEO Factors

Structured Data & Schema Markup

  • Schema Type: Organization and Website schema found.

Screenshot showing Organization and Website schema detected with no errors in structured data markup on the site

  • Errors in Schema Markup: ✅

Canonicalization & Redirects

  • Canonical Tags Implemented: ✅
  • Redirect Chains: [No] No redirect chains
  • Broken Links: ✅ No broken links.

HTTPS & Security

  • SSL Certificate Installed: ✅ No malware or security warnings were identified on the website.
  • Mixed Content Issues: ✅ No mixed content issues were detected; all resources are loaded securely over HTTPS.
  • Malware or Security Warnings: ✅ No malware or security warnings were identified on the website.

Part 6: Backlink & Off-Page Analysis

Total Backlinks: 17

The website currently has a limited backlink profile, which can impact its authority and ranking potential. Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant sources is essential to improve domain trust and organic search visibility.

Toxic Backlinks: Yes

Some backlinks appear to be from low-quality or potentially spammy sources. Toxic backlinks can negatively affect SEO by lowering site credibility in Google’s eyes and potentially leading to ranking penalties. A disavow process should be considered for harmful links.

Domain Authority: 11

Kalakriti’s domain authority (DA) is relatively low, which indicates limited trust and influence in search rankings. Improving DA requires a strong content strategy and link-building efforts from reputable sites.

Competitor Link Analysis: Summary

  • Competitor Authority & Backlinks
    • Competing brands in the leather goods and artisan fashion industry generally have higher domain authority (DA 30+).
    • They acquire backlinks from fashion blogs, sustainability websites, and media publications.
  • Common Backlink Sources Among Competitors
    • Industry Directories: Many competitors are listed in luxury fashion and artisan craft directories.
    • Guest Posts & PR Mentions: Articles and interviews on sustainability, ethical fashion, and craftsmanship drive backlinks for competitors.
    • E-commerce Listings & Marketplaces: Some competitors gain authority through backlinks from platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Etsy, or niche artisan marketplaces.
    • NGO & Sustainability Partners: Ethical brands often earn backlinks from NGO collaborations or certifications related to sustainability.

Actionable Recommendations

Disavow Toxic Backlinks

  • Use Google’s Disavow Tool to remove harmful links from spammy or low-quality websites.

Improve Link Building Strategy

  • Target Fashion & Sustainability Blogs: Get featured on blogs discussing artisan leather goods, eco-friendly fashion, and handcrafted accessories.
  • Leverage PR & Storytelling: Pitch brand stories to online magazines, news websites, and local craft communities.
  • List in Reputable Directories: Submit Kalakriti to luxury fashion and sustainable brand directories for better credibility.
  • Partnerships & Collaborations: Engage in ethical fashion forums, NGOs, and influencer collaborations for backlinks and brand mentions.

Competitor Benchmarking

  • Analyze top-ranking competitors and replicate their high-authority link sources through outreach and partnerships.

By implementing these off-page SEO strategies, Kalakriti can significantly improve its domain authority, search rankings, and brand trust in the long run.

Part 7: Recommendations & Action Plan

A structured roadmap is essential to tackle critical SEO issues and improve site performance, user experience, and search rankings. Below is a priority-based action plan with high, medium, and low-priority fixes.

High Priority Fixes (Immediate Impact on SEO & UX)

Indexing & Crawlability Issues

Fix URLs with GET Method Forms (97 affected URLs)

  • These create duplicate URLs, causing index bloat and wasting crawl budget.
  • Solution: Change GET forms to POST where necessary and implement canonical tags.

Improve Internal Linking for Pages with Weak Link Equity (11 affected URLs)

  • These pages have only one followed internal link, making them harder to rank.
  • Solution: Add contextual internal links from high-authority pages to distribute link equity.

On-Page SEO & Technical Issues

Fix Duplicate & Empty H1 Tags (7 affected URLs)

  • Multiple or missing H1 tags confuse search engines and users.
  • Solution: Ensure one unique, keyword-optimized H1 per page.

Add Missing Meta Descriptions (25 URLs) & Fix Length Issues

  • Meta descriptions improve CTR & SEO.
  • Solution: Ensure optimized, unique descriptions (150–160 characters).

Fix Images with Missing Alt Text (1.1K affected images, 71% of total)

  • Missing alt text hurts accessibility & image search rankings.
  • Solution: Add descriptive alt attributes for all images.

Optimize Internal Links with No Anchor Text (94 affected URLs, 96.91%)

  • Broken or missing anchor text reduces SEO value.
  • Solution: Ensure descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text for internal links.

Improve Site Speed & Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

  • LCP on mobile: 8.7s (Very Slow) → Target < 2.5s.
  • Solution:
    • Optimize the largest content elements (e.g., images, banners).
    • Minimize main-thread work (2.9s delay) by deferring JavaScript.
    • Reduce unused CSS (24 KB) & JS (118 KB).
    • Enable efficient caching for static assets.

Fix Mobile Usability Issues

  • Viewport configuration errors → Pages are not properly responsive.
  • Tap targets too close together → Poor mobile navigation.
  • Solution: Implement proper scaling & touch-friendly buttons.

Structured Data & Schema Markup

  • Expand the use of schema markup to include BreadcrumbList and Product schemas to further enhance search engine understanding and potentially improve rich results.

Medium Priority Fixes (Important but Not Critical for Immediate SEO Gains)

URL & Redirect Fixes

Ensure Proper 301 Redirects for Old URLs

  • Solution:
    • Preserve high-ranking pages.
    • Redirect old URLs to new optimized ones.

Optimize Canonicalization

  • Solution:
    • Implement self-referencing canonical tags to avoid duplicate content.

Backlink & Off-Page SEO Fixes

Disavow Toxic Backlinks

  • Some backlinks come from low-quality sources.
  • Solution: Submit a disavow file in Google Search Console.

Build High-Authority Backlinks

  • Low domain authority (DA 10) → Competitors have DA 30+.
  • Solution:
    • Get featured in industry blogs and sustainability websites.
    • Submit to luxury fashion & ethical brand directories.
    • Leverage guest blogging, partnerships & PR mentions.

Fix Render-Blocking JavaScript & CSS

  • Delays interactivity and impacts Core Web Vitals.
  • Solution:
    • Defer offscreen images and reduce unused CSS/JS.

Low Priority Fixes (Minor Enhancements & Maintenance Tasks)

Optimize Outgoing Links (6 URLs with vague anchor text like “click here”)

  • Solution: Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., “View leather tote bags collection”).

Fix Structured Data Issues

  • Solution: Validate schema markup (Breadcrumbs, Products, FAQs) in Google Rich Results Test.

Monitor HTTPS & Security

  • Ensure the SSL certificate is valid and no mixed content issues exist.

Optimise Large Images

  • Reduce image sizes for faster load times without losing quality.

Enhance User Timing & Performance Metrics

  • Avoid long main-thread tasks (6 long tasks found) that slow interactivity.

Part 8: Conclusion

Kalakriti has a strong SEO foundation (90/100 SEO score) but faces critical indexing, crawlability, and performance issues that must be addressed for better rankings and user experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Site Indexing Issues – Fix GET form URLs, enhance internal linking, and disallow unnecessary pages.
  • On-Page SEO Improvements – Optimize H1 tags, meta descriptions, alt text, and internal linking.
  • Site Speed Optimization – Improve LCP (8.7s), reduce JavaScript & CSS bloat, and enable caching.
  • Mobile Usability Fixes – Resolve viewport scaling and tap-target issues.
  • Backlink Strategy – Remove toxic backlinks and build high-authority links to increase DA.

Recommended Next Steps

  • Immediate (0-1 month): Fix high-priority SEO & technical issues.
  • Short Term (1-3 months): Improve site speed, mobile usability, and backlink profile.
  • Long Term (3-6 months): Implement structured data, optimize internal linking, and track improvements.

Suggested Re-Audit Date:

90 Days from Fixes Implementation to track rankings, traffic, and performance improvements.

Attachments:

  • PageSpeed Insights Report
  • Screaming Frog SEO Crawl Data
  • Semrush Site Audit