Website Audit Checklist

A full website audit checklist covering SEO, performance, security and more.

Published June 28, 2026

Technical SEO and indexing

Crawl the site to find broken links, redirects and orphan pages.
Check that important pages are indexable and not blocked by robots.txt.
Verify the XML sitemap is current and submitted to search engines.
Review canonical tags to prevent duplicate-content issues.
Confirm the site is served over HTTPS with valid redirects from HTTP.
Check structured data and fix validation errors.
Review crawl stats and coverage in Search Console.

On-page content

Ensure each page has a unique, descriptive title tag and meta description.
Check heading structure uses one H1 and logical subheadings.
Review content for accuracy, relevance and outdated information.
Add descriptive alt text to images.
Identify thin, duplicate or cannibalizing pages to improve or consolidate.
Confirm internal links point to relevant, working pages.
Check that key pages target clear, intended keywords.

Performance and Core Web Vitals

Measure load time and Core Web Vitals on mobile and desktop.
Compress and serve images in modern formats with correct sizing.
Minify CSS and JavaScript and remove unused code.
Enable browser caching and a CDN where appropriate.
Reduce render-blocking resources and defer non-critical scripts.
Confirm the site is fully responsive across screen sizes.

Security

Confirm a valid TLS certificate and force HTTPS everywhere.
Keep the CMS, plugins, themes and dependencies up to date.
Add security headers such as HSTS and a content security policy.
Verify backups are running and can be restored.
Scan for malware and known vulnerabilities.
Enforce strong admin passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Accessibility

Test keyboard-only navigation across the site.
Check color contrast meets WCAG guidelines.
Verify images, buttons and form fields have descriptive labels.
Confirm headings and landmarks help screen reader users navigate.
Ensure videos have captions and media has text alternatives.
Run an automated accessibility scan and fix flagged issues.

User experience and conversion

Test core user journeys such as search, navigation and checkout.
Check forms work, validate clearly and submit successfully.
Confirm clear calls to action on key pages.
Review mobile usability, including tap targets and readability.
Check for intrusive popups or layout shifts that frustrate users.
Verify error and 404 pages guide users back into the site.

Analytics and tracking

Confirm analytics is installed correctly on all pages.
Verify key conversions and events are tracked accurately.
Check that Search Console and analytics are connected.
Review traffic and behavior trends for sudden drops or spikes.
Confirm consent and privacy tracking comply with regulations.
Set up reporting so findings can be monitored over time.

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A website audit checklist is a list of checks for reviewing an existing site's health across every dimension that matters. It covers SEO, performance, security, accessibility, user experience, content and analytics — so you find what's holding the site back and know exactly what to fix first.

Websites drift over time: broken links accumulate, pages slow down, security patches lag, content goes stale and tracking breaks. A periodic audit surfaces these problems before they cost you traffic, rankings, conversions or trust.

This checklist organizes the audit into clear areas — technical SEO, on-page content, performance, security, accessibility, UX and analytics — so you can work through one section at a time and turn findings into a prioritized action list.

Use the printable version during quarterly reviews, or save the PDF and share it with your marketing team, developers or clients so everyone audits to the same standard. It suits small business sites and large ones alike.

FAQ

How often should I audit my website?

Run a full audit at least once or twice a year, and a lighter check quarterly. Audit after major changes too, such as a redesign, platform migration or significant traffic drop, so you catch regressions early.

What areas does a website audit cover?

A thorough audit reviews SEO and indexing, page performance, security, accessibility, user experience, content quality and analytics tracking. This checklist includes each so you get a complete picture rather than only checking rankings.

Do I need technical skills to run an audit?

Many checks are straightforward with free tools for crawling, speed and accessibility. Some fixes — like server security or Core Web Vitals — may need a developer. Use the checklist to find issues, then route technical fixes to the right person.

What should I do after the audit?

Turn findings into a prioritized list by impact and effort. Fix high-impact, low-effort issues first, such as broken links, missing meta tags and slow images, then plan larger work like security hardening or content rewrites.

Is this website audit checklist available as a PDF?

Yes. You can print it or download the PDF to run consistent audits and share results with your team or clients, ticking off each area as you review it.