The top 4 things to look for in a website audit

Have you ever done a website audit?

They can be a little bit intimidating.

A website audit is kind of like cleaning a messy room. I’m not talking a quick 5 minutes and you’re done sort of clean… No, the kind of room that you avoid because you know it needs to be cleaned and you just don’t know where to start. We’ve all been there, right? (RIGHT!?!?) You get home late from a big trip, unpack your toothbrush so you can fall into bed, race into work the next morning, and come home to realize you’re too tired to even look at your suitcase. So you don’t. And four days later you wonder why all your dirty laundry is strewn all over the floor and you have no clean clothes. So you sleep on the couch because you’re not sure where your bed is…

Whoa.

That got out of hand really quickly.

A website audit can feel the same way.

But it’s important, right? We all know we should do it every so often. We encourage a full audit every year, and a general audit every six months or so.

Are you ready to do it?

Let’s make it manageable. Just enough that you can make an improvement, but not get too overwhelmed. Kind of like getting your toothbrush out of your suitcase. Please, I’m begging you, brush your metaphorical teeth here.

Ready? Here are the top 4 things to look for when doing a website audit.

Website Audit1. Is your site mobile friendly?

Let’s start with the big one, shall we? Nearly 70% of internet users in the US browse on a mobile device. (Source) That’s a BIG deal, especially if your site isn’t mobile friendly.

So what does mobile friendly actually mean? Mobile friendly means users viewing your site on their phone don’t have to pinch and scroll just to read text that looks tiny, or swipe around to get a full view of your site. It means the experience on their phone is just as intuitive as viewing your site on a laptop or desktop.

2. Is there a clear action for users to take?

So many websites are set up with no flow in mind. Who is your typical user? What are they supposed to do when they get to your site? Is it easy for that action to happen? We always ask our clients this:

If you had the superpower to reach your hand through your computer screen and guide visitors somewhere on your site, where would you take them?

The answer to that question will tell you exactly what your call to action needs to be, and how the flow of your site needs to be set up. We work with many actors. Visitors to their sites are often casting directors who want to see a reel right away. So we put the reel right where they can see it. If a casting director has to spend precious time clicking and searching a site for a reel, they’ll go somewhere else. And you’ve just lost yourself the role of a lifetime. Don’t let that happen. Figure out exactly where visitors need to go, and make a clear path for them to get there!

3. Are you delivering a consistent message across all platforms?

Does your site match the rest of your marketing materials? Do your customers see the same logo on your website, on facebook, and in your office? If so, great! If not… let’s get that fixed, shall we? Delivering a consistent message through branding gives your clients the same experience no matter where they find you. Have you ever ordered something from Amazon? Have you noticed their logo on every box they ship? Or their logo on the tape around the box? That’s consistency. Consistency creates impact.

4. Are you excited to share your site?

This may seem like a funny question to ask, but it’s actually quite telling. If you’re hesitant to share your site, what’s holding you back? Is your site dated? Is the information incorrect? Is the navigation a nightmare? Answering this question alone can be one of the best questions to get your website audit started in a powerful way.

That’s it! You’ve done it. A website audit in 4 questions. Good job you!

If you’re excited to share your site, post it in the comments below!

(And if you need help with something you’ve found, why not schedule a free consultation call now? 

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