SEO Audit Checklist for Businesses in Jordan and Saudi Arabia (2026 Guide)

Most business websites in Jordan and Saudi Arabia are leaving serious money on the table — not because they have bad products or services, but because Google can barely find them.

A recent study found that 75% of users never scroll past the first page of Google search results. If your business isn't ranking on page one for searches like "web design company in Amman" or "online store Riyadh," your competitors are getting those clients instead of you.

The good news? Most of the issues holding back websites in the GCC region are fixable — and many of them are free to fix. In this guide, we'll walk you through a complete SEO audit checklist designed specifically for businesses in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC market. We'll cover exactly what to check, what to fix, and how to prioritize your effort for maximum impact.

At Ijjad, we've audited dozens of business websites across Amman, Riyadh, Dubai, and the broader region. The same core issues come up again and again. This guide distills what we've learned.

1. Is Google Actually Finding Your Website?

Before anything else, you need to know whether Google can see your website in the first place. This is the foundation of all SEO.

How to check: Go to Google and type site:yourwebsite.com. If pages show up, Google has indexed you. If nothing shows up, you have a serious visibility problem that needs to be fixed before anything else matters.

What to look for:

• Are all your important pages indexed? (Home, Services, Contact, Blog)

• Are any pages you don't want indexed showing up? (404 error pages, duplicate pages, admin pages)

• Does your website show up for your own brand name?

Common issue in the GCC market: Many businesses built on website builders like Hostinger, Wix, or Squarespace sometimes have pages that accidentally get set to "no-index," meaning Google is blocked from listing them. Check each important page's SEO settings and make sure indexing is enabled.

The fix: Submit your sitemap through Google Search Console at search.google.com/search-console. This tells Google exactly which pages exist and should be indexed. After submitting, check back in 2-3 weeks to see the Coverage report — it will show you which pages are indexed, which are excluded, and why.

2. Technical SEO: The Hidden Foundations

Technical SEO is the part most business owners skip because it's invisible — but it's often the biggest reason a site isn't ranking.

Page Speed

Google officially uses page speed as a ranking factor, and it matters even more in Jordan and Saudi Arabia where mobile internet speeds can vary. A slow website doesn't just hurt rankings — it loses customers. Research shows that 53% of mobile users leave a site that takes more than 3 seconds to load.

How to check: Visit pagespeed.web.dev and enter your URL. Aim for a score of 70 or higher on mobile. Below 50 is a serious problem.

Common culprits on GCC business websites:

• Uncompressed images (a single hero image over 2MB can destroy your score)

• Too many plugins or third-party scripts

• No browser caching

• Slow hosting servers (hosting matters more than most people realize)

Mobile Responsiveness

Over 70% of web traffic in Jordan and Saudi Arabia comes from mobile devices. Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at your mobile site to determine your ranking — not your desktop version.

Check your website on a real phone, not just by shrinking your browser window. Does the text stay readable? Do buttons work without zooming? Does the menu function properly?

HTTPS and Security

Your website must run on HTTPS (you'll see a padlock icon in the browser). If your site still runs on HTTP, Google flags it as "not secure" — which damages both trust and rankings. Most modern hosting providers include free SSL certificates. Enable it in your hosting settings if you haven't already.

Canonical URLs

Are you running www.yoursite.com and yoursite.com as two separate versions? Google may see these as duplicate sites and split your ranking power between them. Pick one version and set up a redirect from the other. Make sure every internal link, your sitemap, and your schema markup all reference the same version consistently.

3. On-Page SEO: What Google Reads on Every Page

On-page SEO is the most direct way to tell Google what each page is about and which searches it should appear for.

Meta Titles and Descriptions

Every page on your website needs a unique, keyword-optimized meta title (50-65 characters) and meta description (150-160 characters). These are what users see in Google search results before clicking.

A weak title: "Home - Our Company" A strong title: "Web Design Services in Amman, Jordan | Custom Websites from 500 JOD - Ijjad"

The difference is enormous. The strong version tells Google what the page is about, includes a geographic qualifier (Amman, Jordan), mentions a relevant keyword (Web Design Services), and gives users a reason to click (transparent pricing).

For businesses in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, always include geographic qualifiers in your meta titles for service pages. "Web design company" competes globally. "Web design company in Amman" or "website development Riyadh" targets exactly the customers you want.

Heading Structure (H1, H2, H3)

Every page should have exactly one H1 heading — your main topic — with your primary keyword included naturally. Supporting sections should use H2 and H3 headings with secondary keywords woven in.

This isn't just for SEO. It makes your content scannable, which reduces bounce rate, which Google also uses as a ranking signal.

Content Quality and Length

Google's algorithm increasingly rewards genuine expertise. For service pages, aim for at least 600-800 words of real, useful content. For blog posts, 1,500-2,500 words is the sweet spot for competitive topics.

Critical for bilingual websites: If you have both Arabic and English versions of your site, each language version needs its own unique content — not just a translation. Google treats them as separate pages. Use hreflang tags to tell Google which language each page is intended for. This is commonly missed by Arabic-English websites in the GCC and is a significant missed opportunity.

Image Optimization

Every image on your website should have an alt attribute — a text description that tells Google what the image shows. This also helps with accessibility and Google Image Search.

Poor alt text: alt="image1.jpg" Good alt text: alt="Custom e-commerce website design for Saudi Arabia retail business"

Also make sure your image file names are descriptive: ecommerce-website-jordan.jpg is far better than IMG_3847.jpg.

4. Local SEO: Critical for Jordan and Saudi Arabia Businesses

If your business has a physical location or serves clients in specific cities, local SEO is one of the highest-ROI activities you can do — and most businesses in the region are barely scratching the surface.

Google Business Profile

This is the single most impactful free tool for local businesses in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Your Google Business Profile controls what appears in Google Maps and the local results box that appears above organic search results.

To set it up: Visit business.google.com, claim your business, and fill out every field completely — business name, address, phone, hours, website, services, photos, and description. Add photos of your office, team, and work. Businesses with complete profiles get significantly more clicks and calls.

Key detail: The name, address, and phone number (NAP) on your Google Business Profile must match exactly what's on your website and in your schema markup. Even small differences — "Street" vs "St." — can confuse Google and weaken your local ranking.

Schema Markup (Structured Data)

Schema markup is code you add to your website that helps Google understand your business in a structured, machine-readable way. It directly influences rich results — the enhanced listings in Google that show star ratings, prices, FAQs, and other details that stand out from regular results.

At minimum, your website should have:

• LocalBusiness schema with your name, address, coordinates, phone, hours, and services

• WebSite schema for site-level information

• FAQPage schema on pages with frequently asked questions

• Service schema with pricing on your service pages

Learn more about our SEO services and how we implement schema markup for businesses in Jordan and the GCC.

Local Citations and Directories

Make sure your business is listed consistently across local directories relevant to Jordan and Saudi Arabia — Google Maps, Yellow Pages Arabia, OpenSooq business listings, and industry-specific directories. Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across these citations strengthens your local authority.

5. Content and Keywords: What Are You Actually Ranking For?

Most business websites in Jordan and Saudi Arabia make the same mistake: they write content for themselves, not for how their customers search.

Keyword Research for the GCC Market

Before writing any content, research how your customers actually search. A business in Amman offering accounting services might assume people search for "accounting company Jordan" — but the actual high-volume search might be "محاسب في عمان" (Arabic) or "best accountant Amman" or "accounting firm Jordan small business."

Use Google's free tools: Type your main service into Google and study the autocomplete suggestions and "People also ask" section. These are real searches real people are using right now.

Bilingual keyword strategy: In Jordan and Saudi Arabia, your customers search in both Arabic and English. A strong SEO strategy covers both languages with dedicated pages, not just translations. Arabic keywords often have less competition and can deliver faster results.

Content Gap Analysis

Look at what pages your competitors have that you don't. If three competing web design companies in Amman all have pages targeting "e-commerce website development Jordan" and you don't, you're invisible for that search.

Every service you offer should have its own dedicated page, not just a paragraph on a single services page.

Blog Content for Long-Tail Traffic

Blog posts targeting specific questions your customers ask are among the most cost-effective ways to drive qualified traffic. Examples for a web design company in Jordan:

• "How much does a website cost in Jordan?" (high intent, people ready to buy)

• "WooCommerce vs Shopify for Saudi Arabia e-commerce" (comparison searchers)

• "How to add Arabic to my website" (specific problem searchers)

Each post brings in visitors already interested in exactly what you offer.

6. Sitemap and Crawlability

Your XML sitemap is a file that lists every important page on your website, helping Google discover and index them efficiently.

What your sitemap should include:

• All service pages

• Blog posts

• Portfolio pages

• Contact page

• About page

What your sitemap should NOT include:

• 404 error pages

• Duplicate pages

• Privacy policy (optional, low priority)

• Pages blocked by robots.txt

Submit your sitemap through Google Search Console and resubmit it whenever you add significant new content. Check it periodically at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml to make sure it looks correct.

7. Backlinks: Building Authority in the GCC Market

Backlinks — other websites linking to yours — remain one of Google's strongest ranking signals. A website with strong, relevant backlinks outranks a website with better on-page SEO in most competitive searches.

Where to build backlinks in the Jordan and Saudi Arabia market:

• Local business directories: Get listed on Jordanian and Saudi business directories and industry associations

• Partner websites: If you work with suppliers, partners, or clients, ask for a mention and link on their website

• Press coverage: Local tech and business publications in Jordan (like venture.com and jordantimes.com) occasionally cover agency news and expert commentary

• Guest blog posts: Write valuable content for industry blogs in the MENA region

• Social profiles: LinkedIn company page, Facebook business page — these count as basic citations

Avoid paid link schemes or low-quality link directories. Google penalizes these and the damage can take months to recover from.

Your Priority Order: Where to Start

If you've read this far, you might be wondering where to start. Here's how we'd prioritize based on impact and effort:

Week 1 — Foundation:

1. Set up Google Search Console and submit your sitemap

2. Fix any indexing errors in the Coverage report

3. Make sure HTTPS is enabled

4. Resolve www vs non-www conflict

Week 2 — On-Page: 5. Write unique meta titles and descriptions for every page 6. Add schema markup (LocalBusiness, FAQ, Service) 7. Fix heading structure on all service pages

Week 3-4 — Local and Content: 8. Create and fully complete your Google Business Profile 9. Audit for duplicate or competing pages and consolidate 10. Identify your 3-5 highest priority keyword targets and optimize pages for them

Ongoing:

• Publish 2-4 blog posts per month targeting high-intent questions

• Build local citations and backlinks consistently

• Monitor Google Search Console weekly for new issues

How Long Does SEO Take in Jordan and Saudi Arabia?

This is the question every business owner asks. The answer depends on your competition, your starting point, and how aggressively you implement changes.

For local searches with moderate competition (most Jordanian and Saudi Arabian cities for most industries), you can expect:

• First improvements visible: 4-8 weeks after fixing technical issues

• Meaningful traffic increase: 3-6 months of consistent work

• Competitive first-page rankings: 6-12 months for established keywords

SEO is a long-term investment, not a quick fix. But every improvement you make compounds over time — unlike paid ads that stop the moment you stop paying.

Do You Need Professional Help?

Some parts of this checklist are genuinely DIY-friendly — setting up Google Search Console, completing your Google Business Profile, and writing better meta titles are all things a motivated business owner can handle.

But schema markup, technical SEO fixes, keyword research strategy, and ongoing content creation are where most businesses get stuck or make costly mistakes. An error in your schema markup can trigger Google penalties. Poor keyword targeting wastes months of content effort.

At Ijjad, we offer full SEO audits and implementation for businesses in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the GCC. We handle the technical work, build your content strategy, and track your rankings monthly — so you can focus on running your business.

Not sure where your website stands? Contact our team for a free SEO consultation. We'll review your website, identify your biggest opportunities, and tell you exactly what it would take to outrank your competitors.

We've helped businesses across Amman, Riyadh, Dubai, and the wider GCC region improve their Google visibility and drive more qualified leads. View our portfolio or learn about our SEO services.

Ready to fix your SEO? Get a free consultation from Ijjad — web design and SEO experts based in Amman, Jordan, serving businesses across the GCC. Contact us today →

Ijjad is a web design and development agency based in Amman, Jordan. We build websites, e-commerce stores, and mobile applications for businesses in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the GCC — with bilingual Arabic and English support.