The 301-Aspect Framework
Most SEO tools give you data. ParadoxSEO gives you judgment. Our framework transforms raw metrics into actionable intelligence using gate-based scoring that separates critical issues from noise.
Why Gate-Based Scoring?
Percentage scores lie. A site with 85% health could have a catastrophic indexing issue buried in the remaining 15%. Gate-based scoring ensures critical failures are never hidden by passing metrics.
Critical Gate
11 aspects — ALL must pass
If any Critical aspect fails, the entire audit receives an F grade. These are existential issues: blocked indexing, site-wide penalties, HTTPS failures. No amount of good performance elsewhere compensates.
Essential Gate
22 aspects — 90% must pass
After passing Critical, Essential aspects determine baseline health. These cover core technical SEO: valid sitemaps, proper canonicals, mobile usability. Missing a few is acceptable; missing many indicates systemic issues.
Important Layer
14 aspects — 80% for Grade A
Important aspects differentiate good from great. Schema markup, internal linking depth, content freshness. Failing these won't tank your SEO, but addressing them unlocks competitive advantage.
Grading Summary
How It Works
Three steps from raw data to boardroom-ready output.
Connect Your Data
We pull metrics from Ahrefs, Google Search Console, and other sources. No manual data entry required.
- Ahrefs API integration for backlink and keyword data
- Google Search Console connection for real performance metrics
- PageSpeed Insights for Core Web Vitals
- Custom crawl data for technical issues
Apply the Framework
Our 301-aspect framework evaluates every dimension of SEO health, competitive position, and governance maturity.
- 102 Health aspects across 6 categories
- 157 Competitive aspects across 9 categories
- 42 Governance aspects for operational maturity
- Gate-based scoring eliminates vanity metrics
Get Actionable Output
Receive boardroom-ready deliverables that translate technical findings into commercial language.
- Executive summary with clear recommendations
- Prioritised action plan with effort/impact matrix
- Competitive benchmarking against your market
- Progress tracking for ongoing engagements
16 Categories, 301 Aspects
Every dimension of modern SEO, systematically evaluated.
Infrastructure
15 aspects
Server, hosting, CDN, SSL, and foundational technical setup
Core Web Vitals
15 aspects
LCP, CLS, INP, and performance metrics that affect rankings
Indexability
20 aspects
Crawlability, robots, sitemaps, and search engine access
Architecture
15 aspects
Site structure, URL patterns, and information hierarchy
On-Page
20 aspects
Title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and content markup
Device
10 aspects
Mobile optimization, responsive design, and cross-device experience
Visibility
42 aspects
Keyword rankings, SERP features, and search presence
Entity
18 aspects
Brand signals, Knowledge Graph, and entity recognition
Content
20 aspects
Content quality, depth, freshness, and topical authority
Intent
15 aspects
Search intent alignment and user journey optimization
Links
18 aspects
Backlink profile, domain authority, and link quality
Local
15 aspects
Local SEO, GBP optimization, and geographic targeting
AI Visibility
16 aspects
AI Overview optimization, LLM citations, and AEO readiness
Audience
10 aspects
Target audience alignment and persona optimization
Context
10 aspects
Market context, competitive landscape, and industry factors
Governance
42 aspects
SEO maturity, processes, documentation, and team capabilities
See the Framework in Action
Run a free audit on your domain and experience gate-based scoring firsthand.