What exactly this criterion covers
This criterion is subtle… until it blocks SEO performance.
**L16 — Visible Focus** (Chapter 12 - UX & Accessibility): Clear focus indicator on interactive elements
L16 — Chapter 12 - UX & Accessibilité
Criterion L16 : Visible Focus — guide + checklist
This criterion is subtle… until it blocks SEO performance.
The **L16 — Visible Focus** criterion is part of our SEO checklist (335 criteria). Here, you have a **practical** method to check and fix it — with a concrete example.
Why it matters (SEO + UX)
Why it matters: it is a safeguard against duplicate content / cannibalization. When poorly applied, we often observe: ambiguity (wrong associated query), duplication between pages, or loss of performance on bounce rate.
On volume-generated sites, this criterion also serves as a **safeguard**: a stable rule prevents 1,000 errors at once.
How to check (step by step)
Approach: check during crawl (list + export). Recommended tool: **Lighthouse**.
- Open the page in Chrome → DevTools → Performance/Network tab.
- Run Lighthouse and note the main weak point.
- Check if the problem repeats on templates.
Tip: first isolate 10 “representative” URLs (top pages + generated pages) before scaling the fix.
How to fix properly
Strategy: make a “clean” fix (no patch), then measure.
- Simplify the mobile journey (visible menu/CTA, no aggressive popups).
- Fix instabilities (CLS) and interactivity (INP) if affected.
- Test on 2–3 screen sizes and re-measure.
Then: re-crawl 50–200 URLs, then monitor Search Console for 7–14 days (impressions/CTR/indexing).
Concrete example (illustrative)
Example (illustrative):
- **Context**: service landing page for restaurant in Casablanca
- **Before**: Confusing menu on mobile + hidden CTA + visible CLS.
- **After**: Simplified navigation + visible CTA + visual stability.
- **Note**: Goal: readability + engagement (which indirectly helps SEO).
Checklist to tick
- [ ] Mobile first
- [ ] CTA visible
- [ ] No major friction
- [ ] Visual stability OK
FAQ
Frequently asked questions — L16
What is the most common mistake on “Visible Focus”?
Trying to “optimize” by adding too many keywords, which degrades readability and creates repetitions.
Which tool is fastest for large-scale control?
For this type of criterion, a crawl (e.g. Screaming Frog) + targeted verification in Lighthouse is usually the fastest combo.
How to prevent this from recurring on 10K generated pages?
Freeze an auto-generation rule (title/structure/schema/URLs) + add automatic control (crawl or test) before production import.
Ready to go from theory to action?
Validate this criterion with an audit, then deepen the method in the Academy.