Diagnose & fix your website like a pro: A 10-minute UX, CRO & SEO triage

Diagnose & fix your website like a pro: A 10-minute UX, CRO & SEO triage

Your website is often the first impression a customer has of your business. That's why it's important to make sure your website is up to par with a website audit. A website audit checks all aspects of your website, from speed and performance to security and basic SEO to ensure that it is functioning correctly. It also assesses your user experience and content to make sure that it is engaging and persuasive.

Yet, many businesses treat their website as a one-time project rather than an evolving, strategic asset. Over time, small issues—slower loading speeds, outdated content, security vulnerabilities—snowball into major problems that impact conversions, credibility, and revenue.

So, how do you know if your website is healthy and performing at its best?

A website audit can help change all that. A website audit is a comprehensive review of your website with the goal of identifying opportunities for improvement. It's not just a technical analysis, but a strategic one as well. A website audit isn't just about finding and fixing errors. It's also about understanding how your website fits into your marketing strategy and making sure it aligns with your business goals.

The cost of neglecting your website

Think of your website like a luxury car: routine maintenance keeps it running smoothly, but neglect leads to breakdowns and costly repairs. Here’s what’s at stake if your website is left unchecked:

1. Lost revenue from unexpected downtime

When your site crashes or has broken pages, visitors don’t wait around—they bounce to competitors. This costs real money, especially during peak sales periods.

Pro tip: Use uptime monitoring tools like UptimeRobot to keep tabs on your site’s availability.

2. Fading search engine visibility

Google and other search engines reward sites that are fast, secure, and user-friendly. If your website is slow, outdated, or riddled with errors, your rankings drop—meaning fewer visitors, fewer leads, and fewer sales.

DIY check: Run your website through Google PageSpeed Insights and implement recommended fixes.

3. Security risks & data vulnerabilities

Small businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks because many don’t invest in ongoing security updates. Outdated plugins, themes, or CMS versions open doors to hackers, risking costly data breaches and lost customer trust.

Security quick-win: Ensure your site uses HTTPS and keep all software updated. Free tools like Sucuri can scan your site for vulnerabilities.

4. Poor user experience that drives visitors away

Visitors expect fast, intuitive websites that work flawlessly on all devices. Slow load times, broken links, confusing navigation, and mobile-unfriendly design frustrate users and tank your conversion rates.

Quick test: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and browse your site on multiple devices.

 
DIY website audit

What exactly is a Website Audit?

A website audit is a comprehensive health check for your digital presence. It’s not just about fixing bugs but understanding how your website supports your business goals. A good audit covers:

  • Performance and speed

  • SEO effectiveness

  • Security posture

  • User experience (UX) and conversion optimisation (CRO)

  • Content relevancy and clarity

By identifying what’s working and what’s broken, you can prioritise fixes that drive real business impact.

 
How to perform a DIY website audit

DIY Website Audit: A Quick 5-Step Process

Want to get started right now? Here’s a simple, actionable checklist you can use to assess your website’s health:

1. Speed & Performance

  • Test with GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights

  • Compress large images with TinyPNG to reduce loading speed.

  • Minimise excessive plugins, custom CSS or scripts that slow down your site.

2. Broken Links & Errors

3. SEO Health

4. Mobile Friendliness

  • Check responsiveness and usability on smartphones and tablets

5. Security Checks

  • Confirm SSL certificate is active (your URL should start with https://).

  • Scan for malware or vulnerabilities with tools like Sucuri or Wordfence (for WordPress)

 

When to call in the experts

If it’s been over six months since your last audit—or if you’ve never had one—now’s the time. At Gem Media, we combine technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver audits that not only identify issues but give you a clear roadmap for growth.

Ready to turn your website from a liability into your strongest sales asset? Book a Gem Media Website Audit today and take the first step toward a high-performing, future-proof online presence.


Previous
Previous

Client Welcome Guides: What to include in yours

Next
Next

Business operations manual: Which type is right for you?