Your site has worked hard all year. It doesn’t call sick or moan, and hopefully it doesn’t crash on you too often (if it does, maybe a new site is in order?). A website audit is one of the best ways to show your beloved online presence a bit of TLC. You can spot what’s dragging it down and what can give it a helping hand. Getting it sorted before the end of the year means you can roll into Q1 in better shape than ever.
Performance Comes First
Top of the list of your website checklist is how well it performs. What does this mean, though? Well site speed is a big one. Slow pages leak visitors and revenue as people get bored and click off. Working with web experts, you can figure out what’s bloating your load times, then fix the obvious culprits like Unoptimised images and heavy scripts.
Have you checked your vital signs?
We’ve been offering web design in the UK for long enough to know that you cannot neglect Core Web Vitals. It sounds complicated, but basically, it’s Google’s way of testing how fast or smooth your site feels to real people. They check three key things:
- How quickly does the main part of your page appear?
- Whether anything jumps around as it’s loaded.
- How responsive your site is when someone clicks/taps.
The benchmark is that 75% of people should have a “good” experience. Hit that, and you’re keeping your users and Google’s ranking metrics happy.
Not sure where to begin with your website audit? We can help.
We offer Hampshire-based web design and auditing services that make sure your site is pulling its weight. Get everything from design to development and from SEO to copy optimisation and content creation. Drop us a line to learn more.
Content Matters as Much as Code
A year-end website checklist needs to flag thin pages and date-stamp posts that need a refresh. It also spots gaps where your customers keep asking the same questions. Update evergreen pages and retire dead weight, while making sure your copy aligns with how your target audience actually searches.
Keep it Safe but Welcoming
Accessibility is (quite rightly) non-negotiable. WCAG 2.2. (the accessibility guidelines) tightened guidance to help more people use the web with ease. Reviewing keyboard focus, click-target sizes, and error help reduces friction for every visitor and stops anyone from feeling excluded.
Security is all about trust.
If parts of your site are still showing as “http” instead of “https,” it’s time to fix them. Make sure you’ve got a valid SSL certificate in place and clear out any mixed content errors. If you don’t, browsers warn visitors that your site isn’t secure, which puts people off and can harm your search rankings.
Website Audit Feels Overwhelming? Let Us Cut Through the Noise
We get it. Running a website audit and tackling the results feels like a lot. The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Our team takes the technical jargon, the website checklists, and the head-scratching off your plate. As a Hampshire-based web design agency, we can break everything down into clear steps and help you to prioritise what really matters. If you want to find out more about the impact of our web design on UK businesses, click here, or get in touch for a chat.
FAQs
Is a website audit all about high-tech changes?
Not at all. It covers design, content and user experience, as well as the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff.
Do I need one if my site looks fine?
Looks alone aren’t a reason to shirk on a website audit. They can be deceptive, and an audit can find the hidden gremlins.
How often should I audit my site?
Annually is the absolute minimum; twice a year or even quarterly is better.
Is a website audit cost-effective?
When you consider the damage that a bad website does to your business, this is 100% a yes.
