7 Common Mistakes To Avoid During a Website Audit


Your website is the face of your business. It is more than just a framework of codes put together; it is an active element advocating for your business throughout the year. However, not every website is made the same, and this aspect impacts how the website ranks in search engines. Search engine optimization is becoming an incredibly easy and efficient way to get a business website ranked on search engines. 


However, a lot goes into making sure that you are scaling on search engines like Google, Bing, etc., and these factors are often challenging to find. That’s where a website audit can help. Usually a part of many SEO service packages, this report highlights problems with your website and more. That said, given the extensive nature of these reports, it is common to make mistakes that often go unnoticed. 


These mistakes can later show up in the form of your website not being user-friendly enough or having inbound links that no longer serve any purpose. 


Here’s everything you need to know about website audit mistakes:

What Is a Website Audit?

A website audit is a detailed analysis of a website’s performance. During the audit, factors like online visibility in search engines, website design, and user experience are analyzed. Website audits help identify areas where a website can improve to become more effective in attracting visitors from search engines and converting them into loyal customers.


The benefits of website audit include:


  • The audit helps you understand the issues with your website that are causing speed-loading issues, making it possible to go over the details again and refine the website experience. 

  • A website audit helps identify areas where your website cannot convert traffic into leads, giving opportunities to make improvements and increase ROI. 

  • Content plays a critical role in attracting, nurturing, and retaining customers, and a website audit helps determine gaps in content. 

  • Google algorithms are always changing, and keeping up with them is crucial. A website audit helps identify areas for improvement and eventually makes your website compliant with algorithm changes. 

  • Website audits help determine SEO parameters that are lacking on your website, allowing you to take action and increase your website's ranking potential. 

Avoid These 7 Mistakes at All Times During a Website Audit


To make sure your website audit is conclusive and gives insights into what needs to change, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

  1. Not Taking Accessibility Into Account

Accessibility is an essential factor for every website. It ensures anyone on the internet can access information on your website without any struggles. It can include adding alt text to images on your website, including meta tags on every web page, and even equipping the website with assistive technologies to ensure everyone (even people with disabilities) can access the website. In the audit report, make sure to pay attention to parameters defining the accessibility of your website. 

  1. Not Paying Attention to Text/Metafiles

The website audit should include checking text/meta files on each web page. This parameter highlights the title, description, keywords, etc., present on a page. When these aspects are not in order, they can make it challenging for crawlers to understand information about a specific page, impacting your website’s ranking potential. 

  1. Neglecting SSL Certificates

Incorrect implementation of the Secure Sockets Layer Certificate will make Google deem your website unsafe (even if you have taken every precautionary step to make your website secure), making your customers hesitant to explore what your brand has to offer. To prevent this from happening, seek professional assistance to install your SSL Certificates. Aside from providing your customers peace of mind, the certificate also protects your e-commerce business from the theft of crucial data. 

  1. Lack of On-Page SEO

Meta titles, meta descriptions, header tags, page URLs, etc, are small yet powerful elements you can update on every web page of your website to make it more user-friendly. Once these elements have been implemented on every website page, consider moving on to more intense tasks like equipping every page with keywords your target audience uses to search for products or services your business offers. Implementing schema markup is highly recommended as it helps search engines understand more about the web page, increasing ranking potential. 

  1. Improper Inbound Links

A common problem that’s often highlighted in many website audit reports is the lack of appropriate inbound links. These links are from another website to your website, and a low influx can hamper how search engines view your website. Getting inbound links from top websites is a crucial component of an SEO strategy, as it establishes your business as a reliable source of information. Opting to be a source for HARO and publishing your own surveys and research is an incredible way to get started. 

  1. Neglecting the Content Side of Things

Content is the component of your business that communicates your vision and mission to your target customers in every interaction. In most audit reports, factors like the quality of existing content, performance, and the presence of outdated or duplicate content are highlighted, allowing your business to focus on refining the quality of the content on the website. 

  1. An Incomplete Home Page

Your home page is the most crucial component of your business. It’s where your potential customers learn about your business, see the exclusive range of products or services offered and even check reviews from loyal customers. An audit report can highlight missing elements on your website, reasons for higher bounce rates and areas that can be improved to increase conversion rates. 

The Bottom Line

Website audits are an important part of having a functional website that tells customers what your business is about, the products or services you offer, and what makes your business trustworthy. Once your website audit is complete, make sure you are spending time correcting the errors and are continuously coming up with innovative ways to give your website visitors an unforgettable experience.