The word ‘audit’ can have negative meaning which can be worry some. However, a website audit is very different, it’s aim is to assist companies in assessing how well their website is working and identify any improvements that need to be made.
For example, it can detect a broken link, which is a link that should the user follow it, gives 404 not found or sends the user to a page / domain that does not exist. Website audits can assess how well links are working, and point out those which need updating.
Broken links are usually a surprise for website owners, since they typically aren’t something that gets discovered except when doing a website audit. When you find broken links, you may even be able to identify any lost business as a result of the technical fault. It may not be possible to win this business back, but it certainly should be your focus to prevent it happening in future!
Website Audit: Basics Overview
Auditing a website can also identify other things besides these broken links. These can include the ease of searching for a site, the information being displayed, and navigability. Website audits target these and other vital factors which can influence both SEO and technical usability of the website. As a result of a website audit, both web designers and marketeers should have a clear picture of what improvements and issues can be addressed to ensure the website is as fit as possible. Web auditing also provides additional information on whether the site is using every feature available on the Internet. It is very easy to simply forget or not take advantage of the different areas of the Internet; especially those that have only recently begin to see an increase in popularity, such as social networking sites.
A good audit will provide a lot of information including:
a. How visitors are arriving at a site, whether it’s from online paid advertising, blogs, search engines, backlinks from press releases or articles about the company.
b. What kind of information most visitors to the site are looking for.
c. How easy that information is to find on the site.
d. How effective the site’s section labels are.
e. What keywords are getting the highest rankings in search engines.
In companies where security is paramount, auditing should be able to identify weak points in the armour and security vulnerabilities that may be exploitable but may have escaped detection.
When Should You Perform A Website Audit
Web audits are an effective process for not only identifying existing issues and snags, but also helpful when planning further development and enhancements. Audits can prove more valuable than most imagine. They can help identify very hidden issues that could have gone undetected for sometime. It’s important to note that many of the issues can have a negative impact on your SEO and rankings making it worthwhile for most companies to invest in a website audit.