Free Website Audit Checklist

Sensing that your website might benefit from an audit but unsure of the process? Perhaps you’re aiming to attract new clients for your agency through a comprehensive website audit.

Explore our website audit checklist to identify crucial issues that demand attention. We’ve eliminated the unnecessary details and focused on pinpointing key issues that not only require fixing but also have a significant impact on both SEO and user experience.

Let us guide you through the essentials, ensuring that your website is optimized for success.

Navigating through the myriad of factors involved in auditing a website can be overwhelming. Our website audit checklist doesn’t aim to cover every potential aspect. Instead, it strategically directs your attention to the 20% of critical elements that contribute to 80% of the impact.

Here’s why our checklist stands out:

1. Simplicity: Easy-to-follow steps with clear instructions ensure a straightforward auditing process.
2. Outsourcing Made Simple: Whether you delegate tasks to an employee, freelancer, or virtual assistant, our checklist simplifies the outsourcing process.
3. Interactive Approach: Enjoy the satisfaction of checking off each item as you progress through the checklist.

Are you considering a website audit for a potential new client? Our checklist becomes your ally in selling marketing and web design services. Rather than bombarding clients with a report filled with technical jargon, focus on the issues that truly matter and align with the business owner’s concerns.

Winning new business becomes more achievable when you address these pivotal pain points in a way that clients comprehend and trust. Elevate your approach to website audits with a strategy that sets you apart from the competition.

For a thorough website audit, access to analytics tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console is crucial. If you’re conducting the audit on behalf of a client, they will need to grant you access to these accounts.

We recommend requesting permissions at the “Owner” or “Full User” level for the most comprehensive access. This ensures that you can delve into the data and insights needed to perform a detailed analysis and provide valuable recommendations based on the findings. Always seek the necessary permissions to ensure a seamless and effective auditing process.

To initiate a comprehensive website audit, follow these steps to set up a free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) account and crawl your website using Site Audit. Ensure you tick the “Backlinks” option under “Crawl settings,” as this is crucial for one of the checks in the checklist.

1. Create Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) Account:
   • Visit the Ahrefs website and sign up for a free AWT account.
   • Complete the registration process by providing the necessary information.
2. Access Site Audit:
   • Once logged into your Ahrefs account, navigate to the “Site Audit” tool.
3. Set Up Your Website:
   • Add your website URL to initiate the auditing process.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to verify ownership of the website.
4. Configure Crawl Settings:
   • Under “Crawl settings,” make sure to check the “Backlinks” option. This is vital for one of the checks in the checklist.
5. Initiate Site Audit:
   • Start the site audit process. Ahrefs will begin crawling your website to identify various issues and provide a detailed report.
6. Review Results:
   • Once the audit is complete, review the results provided by Ahrefs. Pay special attention to the backlinks section, as this is essential for the specific check mentioned in the checklist.

By following these steps, you’ll leverage Ahrefs’ powerful Site Audit tool to thoroughly examine your website, with a focus on backlinks. This information will prove valuable in addressing critical issues highlighted in the audit checklist.