Verify what Google can actually see
Use Search Console URL Inspection and Google’s testing tools to confirm that important pages are crawlable, return the right status, expose useful content and are not unintentionally blocked.
Canonical and sitemap signals should agree
Canonical URLs, internal links and sitemap entries should point toward the same preferred pages. Contradictory signals make a site harder to reason about for both crawlers and developers.
Performance is part of page quality, not a trophy score
Optimize real user experience: avoid unnecessary script, stabilize layout, keep interaction responsive and make the mobile experience complete. A perfect lab score is not a guarantee of ranking.
Accessibility and SEO overlap
Semantic headings, descriptive links, labels, keyboard access and understandable content help users and make the page structure clearer. Treat accessibility as a product requirement rather than an SEO hack.
The technical job is to remove barriers to discovery and use. The content still has to deserve the visit.
Google explicitly notes that meeting requirements and best practices does not guarantee crawling, indexing or ranking.