Free Website Audit Checklist for Small Businesses

Regular website audits are essential for maintaining a strong online presence. This comprehensive checklist will help you identify issues, opportunities, and areas for improvement on your website. Use this guide to audit your site and create an action plan for improvements.

Why Audit Your Website?

Regular website audits help you:

• Identify technical issues that hurt user experience
• Find SEO problems affecting search rankings
• Discover security vulnerabilities
• Improve conversion rates
• Stay competitive in your market
• Ensure your site works on all devices

Website Audit Checklist

1. Technical Performance

• □ Page load time is under 3 seconds
• □ Website works on mobile devices (responsive design)
• □ All pages load without errors (no 404 errors)
• □ Website works in all major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
• □ SSL certificate is installed (HTTPS enabled)
• □ Website is accessible (no broken links)
• □ Forms are working correctly
• □ Images are optimized and load quickly
• □ Website has proper error pages (404, 500, etc.)
• □ Site structure is logical and easy to navigate

2. Mobile Optimization

• □ Website is fully responsive (works on phones, tablets, desktops)
• □ Text is readable on mobile without zooming
• □ Buttons and links are large enough to tap easily
• □ Navigation menu works well on mobile
• □ Forms are easy to fill on mobile devices
• □ Images display correctly on mobile
• □ No horizontal scrolling required
• □ Mobile page speed is optimized
• □ Touch targets are appropriately sized (at least 44x44 pixels)

3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• □ Each page has a unique, descriptive title tag
• □ Meta descriptions are present and compelling
• □ URLs are clean and descriptive
• □ Heading tags (H1, H2, H3) are used properly
• □ Images have alt text descriptions
• □ Internal linking structure is logical
• □ Sitemap.xml is present and submitted to Google
• □ Robots.txt file is configured correctly
• □ Website is registered with Google Search Console
• □ Local SEO is optimized (if applicable)
• □ Google Business Profile is set up and optimized
• □ Content is original and valuable

4. Content Quality

• □ Content is clear, well-written, and error-free
• □ Content is relevant to your target audience
• □ Content is regularly updated
• □ Contact information is easy to find
• □ About page clearly explains your business
• □ Services/products are clearly described
• □ Pricing information is clear (if applicable)
• □ Call-to-action buttons are prominent and clear
• □ Content answers common customer questions
• □ Blog or resources section is updated regularly

5. User Experience (UX)

• □ Navigation is intuitive and easy to use
• □ Important information is easy to find
• □ Contact information is visible on every page
• □ Website has a clear purpose and message
• □ Design is professional and consistent
• □ Colors and fonts are readable and accessible
• □ Website loads quickly
• □ No pop-ups that are intrusive or hard to close
• □ Search function works (if included)
• □ Website is easy to navigate for first-time visitors

6. Security

• □ SSL certificate is installed and working
• □ Website software/plugins are up to date
• □ Strong passwords are used for admin accounts
• □ Regular backups are performed
• □ Security plugins are installed (if using WordPress)
• □ Contact forms are protected from spam
• □ No security warnings in browser

7. Conversion Optimization

• □ Clear call-to-action buttons on every page
• □ Contact forms are easy to find and use
• □ Phone number is clickable on mobile
• □ Email address is clickable
• □ Social proof is displayed (testimonials, reviews)
• □ Trust signals are present (certifications, guarantees)
• □ Checkout process is simple (for e-commerce)
• □ Multiple ways to contact you are provided
• □ Value proposition is clear on homepage

8. Analytics and Tracking

• □ Google Analytics is installed and working
• □ Google Search Console is set up
• □ Conversion tracking is configured
• □ Goals are set up in analytics
• □ Regular review of analytics data
• □ Facebook Pixel is installed (if using Facebook ads)

9. Social Media Integration

• □ Social media links are present and working
• □ Social sharing buttons are on blog posts
• □ Social media profiles are active and updated
• □ Website content is shareable on social media

10. Legal and Compliance

• □ Privacy policy is present and up to date
• □ Terms of service are included (if applicable)
• □ Cookie consent is implemented (if required)
• □ Copyright information is displayed
• □ Business registration information is accurate

How to Use This Checklist

1. Go through each section: Check off items as you review them
2. Test on different devices: Check your site on mobile, tablet, and desktop
3. Use tools: Use Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Search Console, and other tools to verify technical aspects
4. Get feedback: Ask friends, family, or customers to review your site
5. Prioritize issues: Focus on fixing critical issues first (security, broken links, mobile usability)
6. Create an action plan: List what needs to be fixed and prioritize
7. Schedule regular audits: Review your website quarterly or after major changes

Common Issues Found in Audits

Based on my experience auditing websites for Nigerian businesses, here are the most common issues:

• Slow loading times: Often due to unoptimized images
• Poor mobile experience: Websites not optimized for mobile devices
• Missing contact information: Hard to find phone numbers or addresses
• Outdated content: Information that's no longer accurate
• No SSL certificate: Website not secure (no HTTPS)
• Broken links: Links that don't work
• Poor SEO: Missing meta tags, no Google Business Profile
• No analytics: Not tracking website performance

Next Steps After Your Audit

1. Document findings: Create a list of all issues found
2. Prioritize fixes: Address critical issues first (security, broken functionality)
3. Create a timeline: Set deadlines for fixing issues
4. Implement fixes: Fix issues yourself or hire a professional
5. Re-audit: After making changes, audit again to verify improvements
6. Monitor results: Track improvements in analytics and user feedback

Conclusion

Regular website audits are essential for maintaining a strong online presence. This checklist covers all the key areas you need to review. Use it regularly to ensure your website is performing at its best and providing a great experience for your visitors.

Remember, a well-maintained website is an investment in your business growth. Don't let small issues become big problems—audit your site regularly and fix issues promptly.