Website Audit Checklist

1. Does your site use HTTPS?

HTTPS encrypts data between your server and visitors. Google uses it as a ranking signal, and browsers flag non-HTTPS sites as insecure.

2. Is your site indexed in Google Search Console?

Without Search Console verification, you have no visibility into how Google crawls your site or whether indexing issues exist.

3. Does your site have an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap helps search engines discover and prioritize your pages, especially on larger sites or sites with limited internal linking.

4. Does your site return proper 404 pages for missing URLs?

Custom 404 pages prevent users from hitting dead ends and help search engines understand which URLs are invalid.

5. Are your canonical tags properly configured?

Canonical tags prevent duplicate content issues by telling search engines which version of a page is the primary one.

6. Does every page have a unique title tag under 60 characters?

Title tags are the single most important on-page ranking factor. Unique, concise titles help search engines and users understand each page.

7. Does every page have a unique meta description under 160 characters?

Meta descriptions appear in search results and directly affect click-through rates. Duplicate or missing descriptions waste opportunities.

8. Does every page have exactly one H1 tag?

A single H1 per page establishes a clear content hierarchy for search engines and assistive technologies.

9. Are your images using descriptive alt text?

Alt text makes images accessible to screen readers and helps search engines understand visual content for image search rankings.

10. Are your URLs clean and descriptive (no query strings)?

Clean URLs are easier to share, remember, and parse by search engines. They also communicate page content at a glance.

11. Is your content original (not copied from other sites)?

Duplicate content triggers ranking penalties. Original content signals authority and earns organic backlinks.

12. Do you publish new content at least monthly?

Regular publishing signals to search engines that your site is active, and gives you more keyword-targeting opportunities.

13. Does your content target specific keywords?

Without keyword targeting, your content relies on luck to match search queries. Strategic targeting drives qualified traffic.

14. Do you have content for each stage of the buyer journey?

Awareness, consideration, and decision-stage content captures visitors at every point in their path to purchase.

15. Are your pages at least 300 words?

Thin content struggles to rank. Pages under 300 words rarely provide enough depth to satisfy search intent.

16. Can users reach any page in 3 clicks or fewer?

Deep navigation structures frustrate users and make it harder for search engines to crawl your full site.

17. Does your site have a clear call-to-action on every page?

Every page should guide users toward a next step. Missing CTAs leave visitors without direction.

18. Is your navigation consistent across all pages?

Inconsistent navigation confuses users and increases bounce rates. Predictable menus build trust.

19. Do your forms have clear labels and error messages?

Poorly labeled forms cause abandonment. Clear labels and inline validation improve completion rates significantly.

20. Does your site use readable fonts at 16px or larger?

Text below 16px strains readability on mobile devices. Larger text reduces bounce rates and improves accessibility.

21. Is your site mobile-responsive?

Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site does not work on mobile, it will struggle to rank on any device.

22. Does your site load in under 3 seconds?

53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Speed is a direct ranking factor.

23. Are images optimized and properly sized?

Unoptimized images are the most common cause of slow load times. Proper formats and sizes can cut page weight by 50% or more.

24. Do you avoid intrusive popups on mobile?

Google penalizes sites with intrusive interstitials on mobile. Popups that cover content hurt both rankings and user trust.

25. Are touch targets at least 44x44 pixels?

Small tap targets cause mis-taps and frustration on touch devices. Apple and Google both recommend a minimum of 44x44px.