What is a website audit? A website audit is a process where we check your website against a list of best practices.
Websites can be designed in sooooo many ways. But there are some standard “rules” that make a website more appealing to visitors. A more appealing website means more visits and longer visits. More visits means, hopefully, more revenue!
So, what is it we actually check for in a website audit? Here’s a list of things I look at here at Pink Toad Studio.
The 3-second rule
The first thing I check is, within 3 seconds of your site popping up, do I know what your business is about. According to this article in Entrepreneur magazine, that’s how long you’ve got to make a connection.
Do your colours suit your business?
There’s a whole psychology behind colours. I give you my impression of what your colours are saying about your business.
Is it easy to read?
Are the words on your website easy to read? Is the font big enough and clear enough? Some script fonts can be hard to read! Does colour of the words stand out from the background?
Are the images crisp and clear?
Website images – pictures and graphics – have to walk a thin line between quality and size.
I check for images that have been stretched too far. And for ones that just don’t seem to belong. I watch for images that take a long time to load.
Is there whitespace?
Information crowded on a website will likely be ignored. I look for generous margins that make the content stand out.
Can I find my way around?
Is it easy to get around your site? Is your menu well-planned?
A good rule of thumb to follow is the 3-click rule. Can your visitors find what they’re looking for in 3 clicks or less? I’ll check that!
Do I know what to do?
Can I tell what you want me to do once I get to your website?
Do you want me to sign up on your email list? Do you want me to go to your shop? Maybe you’d like me to check out your services.
I like it when the next step is clear!
Content is Queen!
In this step I look at the content. Home page blurbs, blog posts, sales pages.
I look for headings that match the content. For content that’s relevant to your business.
I check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Nit-picky things but, if you want to be taken seriously, you need to get these right.
Can I find a way to reach you?
I look for contact information. Can I easily find an email address? Or a phone number? Maybe a contact form?
If someone wants to reach out to you, how easy is it for them to figure out how?
Now we get technical…
How fast does your website load?
People online don’t have a lot of patience. Your website needs to load quickly to keep their attention.
I us tools like GTmetrix to see how fast your site loads on desktops and laptops, tablets and phones.
Do all your links go to the right place?
Broken links can be soooo annoying. I check your links to make sure they go to where they say they should go to. This includes links to social media and other pages.
Does your site work well on mobile?
According to this study, 53.3% of internet searches were done using a mobile device in 2019.
I visit your site on my phones and tablets to see if it’s user-friendly.
Is your site secure?
Have you noticed some of the websites you visit have a “Not Secure” label next to their name? This happens when a website doesn’t have an SSL certificate.
Google does’t like sites that don’t have SSL certificates. I check to see if yours does.
Whew, that’s a lot, right? And then, when I’m done, I send you a detailed report on what I found. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
But I don’t just leave it there, I also suggest ways to improve your website for your visitors. I even offer help if you’d like some.
So, are you ready for a website audit? Yes? Great! Email me at amanda@pinktoadstudio.com!
