Log FileAnalysis
Crawl tools simulate a bot; server logs record the real one. We read your logs to see exactly how search engines treat your site.
Log File Analysis: what the work involves
Most SEO diagnostics rely on a simulated crawl or on Search Console's summarised stats. Both leave a gap: neither shows every request that Googlebot, Bingbot or other crawlers made to your server, nor which pages they never asked for. Without that record, teams argue from assumption about whether new pages are being found, whether old redirects are still being hit and whether crawlers are stuck in a parameter maze. Logs settle those questions with timestamps and status codes.
We agree access with your hosting or CDN provider, obtain a representative period of raw logs, and verify bot identity through reverse DNS so that fake crawlers are excluded. We then segment requests by section, template and response code, compare crawled URLs against your sitemap and crawl data, and surface patterns: heavily crawled junk, ignored priority pages, repeated 5xx errors and slow responses. Findings arrive with specific fixes and a method to repeat the analysis after changes.
Core features
Log collection and cleaning
Secure handling of raw access logs, with filtering to verified search engine bots so analysis reflects genuine crawlers only.
Crawl allocation breakdown
A view of requests per directory, template and parameter pattern, showing what share of bot attention each part of the site receives.
Status code and error mapping
Frequency of redirects, 404s and server errors served to bots, linking each to its source URL pattern for prioritised fixing.
Crawl versus sitemap gap
Comparison of URLs requested with URLs you want indexed, highlighting orphaned or ignored pages and unexpectedly crawled ones.
Crawl frequency trends
How often key pages are revisited and how quickly new URLs are first requested, giving real evidence about freshness.
Repeatable reporting
Scripted pipelines so the same analysis can be run monthly or after a release, tracking whether the changes altered bot behaviour.
What we get right before launch
Log access can be difficult
Shared hosting, CDNs and managed platforms may not expose raw logs easily. Getting them can need configuration, and we plan this before promising an analysis.
Fake bots distort the picture
Many requests claiming to be Googlebot are not. Verification by reverse DNS is essential, or the findings describe scrapers rather than search engines.
Privacy and data handling
Logs contain IP addresses. We limit analysis to bot requests, store data securely and delete it according to the retention terms agreed with you.
Tools and technology
- Screaming Frog Log File Analyser
- Python
- Google Search Console
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Looker Studio
- Chrome DevTools
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- Sitebulb
Common questions, answered
What do server logs show that Search Console does not?
Logs list every individual bot request including URL, time and response code, while Search Console summarises and samples. Logs reveal pages that bots never request and the exact errors they receive.
Do we need log analysis for a small website?
Usually not. For a few hundred pages, standard crawl and Search Console checks are enough. Logs earn their cost on large, complex or frequently changing sites or after a risky migration.
How do we get our logs?
Through your hosting provider, server access or CDN settings. We can guide your developer or host on what to export and for how long. We only need requests, not user content.
How much log data is enough?
Typically several weeks, enough to cover normal crawl cycles. Short samples can mislead. We recommend a period that includes a content update so we can see how quickly new pages are fetched.
More SEO services
All SEO servicesCrawl Budget Optimization
Crawl budget matters only on large sites, and there it matters a lot. We use server data to see where crawlers spend their visits and stop the waste.
Indexing Issue Fixes
A page that is not indexed cannot rank, and the reason is rarely the one people assume. We diagnose each excluded URL and fix the underlying cause.
JavaScript Rendering Audit
If key content only exists after scripts run, search engines may see an empty shell. We compare what users get with what crawlers receive and close the gap.
Ready to start your Log File Analysis project?
Tell us what you need and we will come back with a clear scope, timeline and the questions worth answering before any build starts.