Your website is the digital face of your business. Whether it’s a custom-built application or powered by a CMS like WordPress, its performance, accessibility, and security directly affect your customers’ trust and your bottom line. A website audit is the systematic way to ensure your site is meeting modern standards — and uncover where it’s falling short.

In this article, we’ll cover what website auditing is, why it matters for businesses of all sizes, the areas every audit should assess, and how custom websites and CMS-powered sites (like WordPress) differ in their audit needs.

What is a Website Audit?

A website audit is a structured review of your website’s key elements — covering technical performance, design and usability, SEO health, security, and content effectiveness. It goes beyond a surface check: it’s about identifying gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

Think of it like a health check-up for your online presence. You wouldn’t ignore routine checks for your business finances — your website deserves the same attention.

Why Website Auditing Matters

Performance drives revenue: Faster websites lead to higher conversion rates and lower bounce rates.

SEO visibility: Search engines reward sites that are fast, accessible, and secure.

User experience & accessibility: A clear, accessible site widens your reach and prevents legal and reputational risks.

Security & compliance: Regular audits help close vulnerabilities, safeguard data, and maintain compliance with GDPR and other regulations.

Strategic insights: Audits reveal whether your content strategy is connecting with your audience.

Key Areas of a Website Audit

1. Technical Performance

• Page load speed, Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS).
• Mobile responsiveness and cross-browser compatibility.
• Broken links and redirect chains.

2. SEO & Content Health

• On-page SEO (meta tags, headings, schema).
• Keyword alignment and content gaps.
• Duplicate content and thin pages.

3. Design & User Experience

• Navigation clarity and information architecture.
• Accessibility checks (WCAG compliance).
• Conversion path evaluation (forms, CTAs, checkout flows).

4. Security & Compliance

• HTTPS/SSL implementation.
• Outdated plugins, libraries, or dependencies.
• Data privacy and cookie management.

5. Analytics & Tracking

• Correct analytics setup and event tracking.
• Goal tracking for conversions.
• Compliance with privacy-first analytics.

Auditing Custom Websites vs. WordPress & CMS Platforms

Custom Websites: Audits often uncover architectural or performance issues related to bespoke code. Custom setups require checking for scalability, security vulnerabilities in unique codebases, and how well the build aligns with business goals.

WordPress & CMS Platforms: CMS sites often face issues with plugin bloat, outdated themes, and security holes from third-party extensions. Audits here focus heavily on plugin updates, theme quality, database health, and CMS best practices.

In both cases, the fundamentals are the same — but the areas of risk and opportunity differ.

How Often Should Businesses Audit Their Website?

Quarterly: For high-traffic sites, e-commerce platforms, or businesses that rely heavily on lead generation.

Bi-annually: For smaller businesses with stable content but wanting to stay ahead of SEO and security issues.

After major updates: Always run an audit when redesigns, migrations, or big content overhauls occur.

A Practical Checklist for Business Owners

✅ Test Core Web Vitals (speed, responsiveness, stability).

✅ Ensure mobile-first, responsive design.

✅ Review SEO metadata and structured data.

✅ Check accessibility compliance (WCAG).

✅ Review plugin/theme updates (for WordPress & CMS sites).

✅ Scan for vulnerabilities and enforce SSL.

✅ Audit analytics setup and privacy compliance.

✅ Benchmark site performance against competitors.

How Built By Damon Can Help

At Built By Damon, I run comprehensive website audits for businesses on both custom builds and CMS platforms like WordPress. My elite audits go beyond automated reports — I combine data-driven insights with practical recommendations that align with your goals.

What I can deliver:

• Clear reports with actionable fixes.
• Prioritised recommendations (what to fix now vs. later).
• A roadmap for ongoing optimisation and growth.

Want to know how your site performs? Reach out today for a tailored website audit and start turning your website into a true growth engine by getting in touch via email at hello@builtbydamon.uk – or if you prefer you can give me a call on  07762 433 845.