Hey everyone! I need to create a comprehensive website audit report for one of my clients, but I’m unsure about the key metrics and parameters to include. I’m considering using Google Sheets or Excel to organize the information, but I need help with the structure.
What elements do you usually cover in your website audits? I’m thinking of technical SEO factors, performance metrics, content analysis, and user experience aspects. It would be fantastic if someone could share a template or at least provide a breakdown of the main categories to focus on.
I aim to deliver a thorough and professional report that addresses all critical areas. Any advice or examples would be incredibly helpful to get me started on the right path.
start with the basics - crawl errors, page speed, meta descriptions. i use red for urgent issues, yellow for medium priority, green for good stuff. keep it simple at first, you can add more later. focus on things that actually move your rankings, not vanity metrics.
In my experience with website audits, I’ve found that organizing your work into separate sections greatly enhances clarity. Rather than packing everything into one large sheet, I recommend creating distinct tabs for each aspect of the audit. For instance, your first tab could track technical issues, such as server response times and crawl errors, while subsequent tabs focus on on-page elements like meta tags and link structures. It’s helpful to prioritize each item with a score from 1 to 5 based on its significance and the effort required to resolve it. Also, don’t forget to include baseline dates for your metrics, as they can fluctuate frequently. In competitive markets, having a comparison with competitors can provide valuable context, making your recommendations more persuasive.
I’ve been doing website audits for three years now, and here’s what I’ve learned: actionable recommendations are everything. Don’t just list problems - tell people how to fix them. My template has columns for current status, impact level, and suggested fixes with timeframes. For technical stuff, I track page load speeds, mobile scores, and broken links. Content-wise, I flag duplicate content, missing alt tags, and keyword gaps. Game changer? Adding a summary dashboard upfront with KPIs and an overall health score. Clients get the big picture immediately before diving into details. Also, build in before/after comparison features. You’ll want to track improvements over time, and clients love seeing progress.