Quick answer: A site audit is a health check for your website. It finds the indexing, technical, content and link problems that hold back your rankings. Start with Google Search Console, then work through the 10 steps below.
What Is a Site Audit?
A site audit reviews how well your website works for search engines and visitors. It covers indexing, speed, content, internal links and more, then gives you a clear list of what to fix first.
When Should You Do a Site Audit?
- You are starting an SEO campaign.
- Your traffic or rankings have dropped.
- You have moved or redesigned your website.
- You haven’t checked your site in the last 3–6 months.
Why a Site Audit Matters
- Fixes hidden problems: websites change over time, and errors build up without anyone noticing.
- Finds new SEO opportunities: you can spot pages that nearly rank well.
- Improves conversions: a faster, clearer site makes it easier for visitors to take action.
How to Do a Site Audit for SEO in 10 Easy Steps
1. Check what Google has indexed
Open the Pages report in Google Search Console. Look for important pages that aren’t indexed, and find out why.
2. Crawl your website
Use a crawler such as Screaming Frog (free for up to 500 URLs) to list broken pages, redirects and missing tags.
3. Fix titles and meta descriptions
Every important page needs a unique title and a clear meta description that matches what people search for.
4. Review headings and on-page content
Use one clear H1 and logical subheadings. Our heading tag counter makes this quick to check.
5. Remove or improve thin content
Update, merge or remove weak and duplicate pages so your best content stands out.
6. Test your speed
Run key pages through PageSpeed Insights. Compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript, and improve server response time.
7. Check mobile usability
Open your pages on a real phone. Text should be readable, buttons easy to tap, and nothing should run off the screen.
8. Check HTTPS and redirects
Make sure the whole site loads on HTTPS, with no redirect chains or broken 404 links.
9. Audit internal links and schema
Link related pages together, fix broken links, and add schema markup where it fits.
10. Review your backlinks
Check who links to you and look for useful new links. Our guide on how to get backlinks explains how.
Free Site Audit Tools
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Indexing, search performance and errors |
| PageSpeed Insights | Speed and Core Web Vitals |
| Screaming Frog (free version) | Crawling up to 500 URLs |
| Cyber Rafting SEO Analysis Tool | A quick page check |
How to Prioritise What You Find
- Fix first: pages that are blocked or not indexed.
- Fix next: broken pages, slow key pages and missing titles.
- Then improve: content, internal links and backlinks.
FAQs
How often should I audit my website?
Every 3–6 months is a good rhythm for most sites, and always after a redesign or migration.
How long does a site audit take?
A small website can take a few hours. A large one can take days, depending on how many pages it has.
Can I do a site audit for free?
Yes. Free tools cover most of the basics for a small website.
Want experts to handle it? See our SEO services.