If you’ve ever wondered whether your website is actually doing its job, you’re definitely not alone. Most of the business owners I speak to built their website (or had someone build it for them) a while ago, and haven’t really looked at it properly since. Which is completely understandable, you’ve got a business to run!
But your website is often the very first impression people get of you, so it’s worth giving it a proper once over every now and then. That’s exactly what a website audit is for, and right now I’m doing them for a very good cause.
Why I’m doing website audits for charity
In March I’m running the Cambridge Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK (yes, me, running 13.1 miles on purpose). I’m running in memory of my Grandad, Derek, who was my best friend and the head of our family. We lost him in 2021, but not before we watched dementia take more and more of him.
He’d have tutted at the whole thing and asked why I couldn’t just run it normally (because those places sold out, Grandad). But he’d have been proud of me all the same.
To help me reach my £1,000 target, I’m offering website audits for £55, and every single penny goes straight to my JustGiving page. You get an honest, useful look at your website, and a brilliant charity gets a boost at the same time.
What I actually look at
When I audit a website, I go through it twice: once the way your customers would, and once the way Google would (which is a little less forgiving).
How quickly does it load?
People are impatient online (me included). If your website takes too long to load on a phone, plenty of visitors will give up before they’ve seen a thing, and Google notices that too.
Is it clear what you do?
Within a few seconds of landing on your homepage, a visitor should know what you do, who it’s for and where you’re based. You’d be surprised how often this gets lost under a lovely photo and a vague headline.
Is it easy to get in touch or buy?
Can people find your phone number, contact form or “buy now” button without hunting for it? Every extra click is another chance for someone to wander off.
Does it work properly on a phone?
Most of your visitors will be on their phones, so I check that everything reads well, the buttons are easy to tap and nothing is squashed or cut off.
What can Google see?
This is where the SEO side comes in. I look at your page titles and descriptions, image alt text (the descriptions that help Google and screen readers understand your images), broken links, and how you’re showing up for the things people are actually searching for.
The most common problems I find
Honestly, it tends to be the same handful of things: slow loading images, missing page titles and descriptions, contact details that are hard to find, and out of date content (Christmas opening hours in June, anyone?).
The good news is that most of these are quick to fix once you know they’re there, and plenty of them you can sort yourself.
What you get for £55
- A one page website review, covering what’s working well and what’s not so great, in plain English with no jargon
- A one page SEO report, showing how Google sees your website and the quick wins worth tackling first
- A 20 minute Zoom call with me, to talk it all through so you know exactly what to do next
It doesn’t matter what your website is built on, whether that’s WordPress, Squarespace, Wix or Shopify, and there’s no obligation to do anything with it afterwards. If you would like a hand with any of the changes, 20% of that work will also go to Alzheimer’s Research UK, in your name.
How to book your audit
- Send me a message on Facebook or Instagram, or email becka@traxmediaco.com, with your website address
- Donate £55 on my JustGiving page (please don’t tick Gift Aid, as you’re getting an audit in return)
- Send me your donation confirmation, a screenshot is perfect
- I’ll send over your review and SEO report within [X working days], along with a link to book your call
You can find all the details on my charity website audit page.
Thank you so much for supporting me, and for helping Alzheimer’s Research UK do such important work. I’ll let you know how I get on in March!