Introduction
A well-optimized website is essential for driving traffic, retaining customers, and growing your business.
But where do you even begin when it comes to auditing your site?
To save you time and effort, we’ve created the ultimate Website Audit Checklist divided into 6 simple phases.
1.
The Light Website Audit
Think of this as the foundation of your website audit. It focuses on key areas to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Checklist:
- Homepage: Clearly convey your business purpose, value, and include a prominent CTA above the fold.
- About Page: Share your mission, team, and story in a concise and engaging way.
- Contact Page: Provide multiple contact options and ensure forms are easy to use.
- 404 Page: Create a user-friendly error page with links back to the main site.
- General Checks:
- Business info is accurate and up-to-date.
- Navigation is intuitive.
- Pages are linked correctly.
- Footer includes social links and contact details.
Tools:
Your CMS (short for Content Management System) and a mobile device for testing on different platforms.
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2.
SEO Content Audit
A great website isn’t just about looking good—it needs to rank well on search engines. This phase ensures your content is optimized for both Google and users.
Checklist:
- Keyword Optimization: Include keywords naturally in titles, headers, meta descriptions, and body text.
- Meta Data: Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160.
- Internal Links: Link to other relevant pages for better SEO and navigation.
- Content Quality: Ensure content is clear, accurate, and engaging.
Tools:
Google Analytics, Search Console, and TinyPNG for image compression.
3.
Technical SEO Audit
A technically sound website ensures fast, secure, and error-free user experiences.
Checklist:
- Core Web Vitals: Improve page speed and mobile-friendliness.
- Sitemap & Robots.txt: Ensure only intended pages are indexed and correctly structured.
- Broken Links: Identify and fix any broken links.
- Duplicate Content: Use canonical tags or remove duplicates.
Tools:
Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, and Siteliner.
4.
Design & User Experience (UX) Audit
A visually appealing and functional website creates a positive impression and keeps users engaged.
Checklist:
- Navigation: Keep it simple and intuitive across all devices.
- Forms: Ensure forms are easy to complete and show error messages if needed.
- Visuals: Use high-contrast colors, consistent branding, and plenty of whitespace.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Test all interactive elements for mobile compatibility.
Tools:
CMS (short for Content Management System) and mobile devices for hands-on testing.
5.
Accessibility Audit
Your website should be usable for everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
Checklist:
- Text: Use clear headings, large fonts, and descriptive anchor text.
- Media: Add alt text to images, captions for videos, and transcripts for audio.
- Keyboard Navigation: Ensure all functionalities can be accessed via keyboard.
Tools:
Accessibility checkers like WAVE and webaccessibility.com
6.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Audit
Ultimately, your website should convert visitors into leads or customers. This phase ensures your website is optimized for action.
Checklist:
- Clear CTAs: Use action-oriented CTAs like “Get Started Today” and make them visually distinct.
- Landing Pages: Focus on one goal per page with a consistent design and message.
- Forms & Popups: Simplify forms and limit popups to non-intrusive placements.
Tools:
Google Analytics, CRM tools, and heatmaps for analyzing user behavior.
Free Website Audit Template
To make this process even easier, we’ve compiled all of these steps into a single Google Sheet template. Use it to track progress, prioritize tasks, and improve your website step by step.
Final Words
This checklist simplifies the complexities of website auditing into actionable steps. By following these phases, you’ll optimize your website for better traffic, engagement, and conversions. Need help with your audit? Contact us today for a free consultation!
Want expert help implementing these fixes?
Contact RSL Media Hub for a FREE consultation to optimize your website and turn it into a client magnet.
