Let’s be honest: if your website feels like it’s just vibing online with no clear purpose, it might be time to check what’s going on under the hood.
You’re not alone. So many brand designers, service providers and creatives launch their site and then… forget about it. Totally normal. But here’s the tea: even a beautiful site can flop if it’s not functional. If people are landing on your homepage and immediately ghosting you? That’s a problem. And that’s where a good ol’ website audit comes in.
The good news? You don’t need to be a tech wizard or spend $$$ on a developer to get clarity. This post is going to walk you through how to audit your own website, step-by-step. Easy, beginner-friendly, no coding required.
What Even Is a Website Audit?
In simple terms: a website audit is like a check-up for your site. You’re looking at what’s working, what’s not, and what might be confusing your visitors.
You’re not redesigning anything yet. You’re just taking inventory.
Imagine your website is a storefront. You want to make sure the lights are on, the sign is readable, and people can find what they came for without tripping over a broken doormat. Same energy.
The 6 Key Areas You Need to Audit
If this were a to-do list, it would be the most satisfying one ever. Here are the core areas you should be checking:
1. Homepage First Impressions
Your homepage is like a dating app profile. You’ve got about 5 seconds to make someone stay. So ask yourself:
- Can visitors tell who you are and what you do in 5 seconds?
- Is your main CTA (call to action) clear and visible?
- Does your homepage work well on mobile? (Seriously. Go check it right now.)
- Does the design still feel aligned with your brand or does it scream “2017 Canva aesthetic”?
2. Navigation & User Journey
Your website shouldn’t feel like a maze. Users should be able to glide through your site like butter on warm toast.
Ask:
- Are the menu items clear and easy to find?
- Can users find your Services, About, and Contact pages in one or two clicks?
- Do your buttons say what they actually do? (No more “Click Here” ambiguity.)
- Is there a clear next step on every page?
3. Branding Consistency
Consistency is sexy. Is your branding being a little too… chaotic?
Check for:
- Are fonts and colors the same across all pages?
- Are you using high-quality visuals that match your brand vibe?
- Are your graphics, icons and photos current? (Or are we still seeing that stock photo from 2013?)
- Is your tone of voice consistent in your copy?
4. Content & Copy
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.
- Is your copy skimmable? (Think: short paragraphs, bold headings, bullet points.)
- Is your offer/service explained clearly? Can a new visitor tell what you sell?
- Are there outdated links or random lorem ipsum blocks?
- Are your headlines doing their job and grabbing attention?
Bonus: Sprinkle some keywords naturally in there. Don’t stuff them like a Thanksgiving turkey.
5. SEO Basics
You don’t need to be an SEO expert, but a few basics go a long way.
Check for:
6. Forms & CTAs
You’d be shocked how many people have broken forms.
Test:
- Can someone fill out your form without errors?
- Does it actually go somewhere? Like your inbox or CRM?
- Is the submit button visible and functioning?
- Are there clear CTAs on every main page?
Pro tip: Make your CTA buttons action-oriented: “Book Your Spot” > “Submit”. Or “Shop Templates” > “Click Here”.
Free Tools That Make This Way Easier
You don’t have to do this all manually. Here are a few tools that take the heavy lifting off your plate:
- PageSpeed Insights — Tells you if your site is dragging and what’s slowing it down
- Broken Link Checker — Finds links that go nowhere (awkward)
- SEO SiteCheckup — Quick view of your SEO health
- Hotjar — If you want to nerd out, this tool shows how people interact with your site (where they scroll, click, drop off, etc.)
What To Do With Everything You Find
After going through your audit, you’ll have a list of things to fix. But don’t panic, you don’t need to do everything in one sitting.
Sort your fixes like this:
Quick Wins
- Fix broken links
- Update page titles
- Optimize images
Medium Effort
- Clean up homepage copy
- Replace outdated visuals
- Add new CTA buttons
Longer-Term Fixes
- Redesign a confusing layout
- Rebrand visual identity
- Rewrite entire service pages
How Often Should You Audit Your Website?
At least twice a year. But also:
- When you launch something new
- When your offers shift
- When you notice traffic dropping or conversions falling off
Keep a running list of things to check and update. A simple Notion doc works great for this. You could even create a recurring reminder to audit every 6 months.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Please don’t do these:
- Waiting until your website is “perfect” to update it (spoiler: it never will be)
- Ignoring mobile view (over 50% of users will visit from their phone!)
- Leaving “Coming Soon” pages live for 2 years
- Using a homepage as a storage closet for every single thought you’ve ever had
Your Website Deserves Some Maintenance Love
You wouldn’t drive your car for years without a service check. Your website deserves the same love. Auditing your site regularly keeps it sharp, functional and aligned with your goals.
You don’t need to hire anyone. You just need this checklist, a bit of time, and your favorite playlist in the background.
And if you’re ready for a shortcut? Grab my Website Audit Checklist Template to walk you through it all with zero stress.
You got this.
