A website audit is an assessment of a website with the goal of improving its effectiveness and performance. It can be used to evaluate all aspects of a website, including its content, design, structure, SEO elements and code. A website audit can also be used to identify technical issues, for example, things that could be preventing search engines from indexing the site properly, or from the site running as quickly as it should.
Ultimately, the goal of a website audit is to identify the currect situation and allow you to implement steps to improve the visibility and usability of a website. Website audits can be conducted manually or with specialised software. When done manually, website audits typically involve reviewing the code, structure, include an SEO audit and look at the content of a site. From there it is possible to make recommendations for improvements. When done with software, website audits can be more comprehensive and often include automated reports that go into a great amount of detail.
For a free website audit click here
What should be included in a website audit
A website audit is an important tool for evaluating the health of your website and how it is viewed by search engines. The website audit should include a review of a whole host of things including:
- ranking positions
- competitive analysis
- internal links
- broken links
- page speed
- on page seo
- meta tags
- meta titles
- meta descriptions
- alt text
- backlink profile
- core web vitals
- different types of traffic (organic traffic, paid traffic, social traffic, direct traffic and referral traffic)
- website url structure
- a social media audit across different platforms
- a technical audit looking at any coding issues
- mobile usability and mobile speed
- navigations
- CTA’s
This isn’t a comprehensive list but will give you a good starting point for a website audit checklist if you are completing a manual website audit.
By regularly conducting audits, you can identify areas that need improvement and take steps to keep your website running smoothly. Content is one of the most important aspects of your website. Make sure that your content is well-written, informative, and relevant to your target audience. The design of your website should be clean and user-friendly.
Visitors should be able to easily navigate your site and find the information they’re looking for. Usability is also important. Your website should be easy to use on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. Performance is another key factor in a successful website.
Your site should load quickly and run smoothly. If you’re not sure how to conduct a website audit, there are many online tools and resources that can help. By taking the time to regularly audit your website, you can ensure that it is operating at its best.
How often should your website be audited
While there is no definitive answer to how often a website audit should be conducted, there are some general guidelines that can be followed. For smaller sites, it is generally recommended to conduct an audit at least once per year. For larger sites, or sites with high levels of traffic, it is generally recommended to conduct an audit at least every six months.
You may choose to run smaller audits in between, for example an SEO audit should be run more regularly than a full website audit.
However, these are only general guidelines, and the frequency of audits may need to be increased or decreased depending on the specific needs of the site. For example, if a site experiences a significant amount of changes, it may be necessary to conduct more frequent audits.
Conversely, if a site is relatively static, it may be possible to conduct audits less often. Ultimately, the decision of how often to audit a website should be based on the specific needs and goals of the site.
If you are regularly monitoring metrics such as traffic and lead generation through the website and this suddenly changes or starts to perform less well, you may wish to conduct an unplanned website audit to identify any issues.
How can you perform a website audit on your own
A website audit is an important tool for anyone who wants to maintain a high-quality site. By regularly checking your site for potential problems, you can make sure that your visitors have a positive experience.
You should definitely have Google Analytics, Google Search Console and Google Insights set up and be regularly monitoring both of these tools for things like internal links, core web vitals, external links, website speed and to keep an eye on traffic fluctuations. Oh and of course your website ranking and search engine positions.
There are a few different ways to perform a website audit. One method is to use a web-based tool such as Screaming Frog, this is great for SEO audits. This program will crawl through your site in the same was search engine crawlers will and identify any technical SEO or on page SEO issues.
You can also use other free audit tools such as Siteliner to check for duplicate content or website pages with low content.
Another option is to manually check each page of your site. This can be time-consuming, but it’s a good way to get a detailed look at your site.
Finally, you can hire a professional to perform an audit for you. This is generally the most expensive option, but it’s also the most thorough. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you perform a website audit on a regular basis.
What are the benefits of having a website audit performed
A website audit is an important tool for any business that relies on its online presence and search engine optimization to generate leads or sales. By performing a regular website audit, businesses can ensure that their website is up to date with the latest best practices and that it is optimised for search engine ranking. Additionally, an SEO audit can help to identify any areas where the website is underperforming, such as in terms of conversion rates or traffic levels. By addressing these issues, a business can significantly improve its chances of success in the online world. In short, there are many good reasons to have a website audit performed on a regular basis.
A website audit is an important tool for any business that wants to have a strong online presence and perform well in the search engines. By having an audit checklist and regularly auditing your website, you can ensure that it is performing optimally and identify any areas that may need improvement.
Although you can perform a website audit on your own, it may be beneficial to hire a professional to do so. A professional web auditor will have the experience and knowledge necessary to provide you with an in-depth analysis of your website and make recommendations for improvements. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire someone else to do it, regular website audits are essential for keeping your site running smoothly and ensuring that your customers have a positive experience when they visit your site.
We do offer a free website audit, but if you would like a more in-depth website audit completed alongside a checklist of actions to take to improve performance, then please get in touch today!