Full-Spectrum
Website Audit Service
for Craft CMS Websites

Delivered in 7 days. Prices from £15,000

Benchmarking your website before starting the audit provides a clear baseline of current performance, enabling us to measure improvements accurately and identify key areas for optimisation, which is crucial for informed decision-making and strategic planning.

What we benchmark:

Now we've done the benchmark and the competitor audits we can begin your Holistic Website Audit.

The audit is done in 6 parts – and in a specific order, each informing and flowing into the next.

Pillar 1: Accessibility Audit

A thorough accessibility audit involves a comprehensive evaluation of the website to ensure it is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

We use a combination of automated Testing Tools like Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse, and others to identify potential issues.

But we also combine human led manual testing techniques with automated tools for a thorough evaluation.

Working through and addressing the accessibility issues first often solve other related issues further in the audit.

Here are the key components we’ll cover for the accessibility audit:

Compliance Review for Accessibility Audit

Ensuring compliance with accessibility guidelines and legal requirements enhances user experience, broadens audience reach, and mitigates legal risks.

• WCAG Guidelines: Check against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 or 2.2 at levels A, AA, and AAA.
• Legal Requirements: Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 (for US federal agencies), and other regional standards.

Technical Evaluation for Accessibility Audit

Optimising technical elements ensures accessibility, improves user experience, and enhances SEO, making your website more inclusive and effective.

• HTML/CSS: Validate the use of semantic HTML and CSS, ensuring proper structure and use of elements.
• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications): Verify correct usage of ARIA roles, properties, and states.
• Keyboard Navigation: Test all functionalities to ensure they can be operated via keyboard alone.
• Assistive Technologies Compatibility: Test with screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), screen magnifiers, and other assistive technologies.

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Review for Accessibility Audit

Enhancing UI/UX accessibility ensures readability, usability, and inclusivity, improving user satisfaction, engagement, and conversion rates while reaching a broader audience.

• Colour Contrast: Check text and background colour contrast ratios to ensure readability.
• Typography: Ensure readable font sizes and line spacing.
• Visual Indicators: Verify that interactive elements (buttons, links) are easily identifiable.
• Forms and Controls: Ensure form fields are labelled correctly, with clear instructions and accessible error messages.

Content Accessibility Audit

Improving content accessibility enhances SEO, user engagement, and readability, ensuring your website is inclusive, easily navigable, and comprehensible to a broader audience, including those with disabilities.

• Headings and Structure: Ensure a logical and hierarchical use of headings (H1, H2, etc.).
• Links: Verify that link text is descriptive and meaningful without needing additional context.
• Readable Content: Ensure the text is clear, concise, and written in plain language.

Interaction and Feedback for Accessibility Audit

Optimising interaction and feedback ensures a seamless user experience, improves accessibility, and reduces user frustration, enhancing overall site usability and engagement.

• Focus Management: Check that the focus order is logical and that focus is visible.
• Error Identification and Recovery: Verify that errors are clearly identified, and users are provided with instructions to correct them.
• Notifications and Alerts: Ensure that dynamic content changes are announced to assistive technologies.

• signers, developers, and content creators.

Mobile-Friendly / Responsiveness for Accessibility Audit

Ensuring mobile accessibility enhances user experience, broadens audience reach, and improves SEO by maintaining usability across all devices and supporting assistive technologies.

• Responsive Design for Accessibility: Ensure the website maintains accessibility across various screen sizes and orientations, preserving usability on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.
• Accessible Touch Targets: Verify that touch targets, such as buttons and links, are adequately sized and spaced to prevent accidental activations and ensure easy touch interactions.
• Mobile Assistive Technology Support: Test the website with mobile screen readers and other assistive technologies to ensure all content is accessible and navigable.

Speech Recognition / Voice Navigation Accessibility Audit

Enhancing voice navigation ensures your site is accessible to users who rely on voice commands, improving usability, engagement, and inclusivity for a wider audience.

• Voice Command Compatibility: Ensure all interactive elements are operable via voice commands, enabling users to navigate and interact without relying on touch or keyboard input.
• Clear Labelling: Verify that buttons, links, and form fields have clear, descriptive labels to facilitate accurate voice recognition and command execution.
• Consistent Navigation: Test the consistency and reliability of voice navigation across different sections of the site to ensure a seamless user experience for those using speech recognition.

Third-party Services Accessibility Audit

Ensuring third-party services meet accessibility standards guarantees a consistent, inclusive user experience, enhances site reliability, and reduces accessibility-related issues across all integrated platforms.

• Accessibility Standards Compliance: Ensure third-party services adhere to WCAG and other relevant accessibility guidelines.
• Consistent Experience: Verify that third-party integrations offer an accessible experience comparable to the primary site.
• Keyboard Navigation: Check that all third-party elements are fully navigable using a keyboard.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: Test third-party services for compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
• Error Handling: Ensure third-party systems provide clear, accessible error messages and instructions.

Accessibility User Preferences Audit

Allowing users to customise accessibility settings on your site improves their experience and satisfaction. Verifying compatibility with browser features like zoom and text-to-speech supports diverse needs.

Respecting operating system accessibility settings, such as high contrast mode and screen readers, ensures a seamless and inclusive user experience.

• Site Preferences: Check if users can customise accessibility settings directly on the site, such as font size and contrast.
• Browser Accessibility: Verify compatibility with browser accessibility features like zoom and text-to-speech.
• OS Preferences: Ensure the site respects operating system accessibility settings, such as high contrast mode and screen readers.

User Feedback Systems for Accessibility Audit

Providing an accessible way for users to report accessibility issues helps identify and address problems quickly. Reviewing and addressing feedback promptly demonstrates commitment to accessibility. Assessing the simplicity and accessibility of the feedback submission process ensures users can easily communicate their concerns.

• Feedback Mechanism: Ensure there is an accessible way for users to report accessibility issues, such as through forms or contact options.
• Response Process: Verify that feedback on accessibility is reviewed and addressed promptly.
• Ease of Use: Assess the simplicity and accessibility of the feedback submission process.

Accessible Formats Audit

Providing accessible formats improves user experience, broadens audience reach, and ensures compliance with accessibility standards, ultimately enhancing overall site usability and inclusivity.

• Multimedia Accessibility: Ensure all videos have captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions.
• Images: Check for appropriate and meaningful alternative text (alt text) for images.
• Document Accessibility: Check that downloadable content, like PDFs, is accessible, including proper tagging and text recognition.
• Animations: Evaluate the necessity of animations and provide options to disable them if needed.

Socioeconomic Factors in Accessibility Audit

Optimising for diverse devices, internet speeds, and literacy levels ensures your site is accessible to all users, regardless of their socioeconomic status, expanding your audience and improving user satisfaction.

• Device Accessibility: Ensure the site is optimised for a range of devices, including older and lower-cost models, to accommodate users with limited resources.
• Internet Speed: Verify that the site performs well on low bandwidth connections, ensuring accessibility for users with slower internet speeds.
• Content Accessibility: Provide content in multiple formats (text, video, audio) to cater to varying levels of digital literacy and access.
• Cost-Free Access: Ensure that essential information and services are available without cost barriers, avoiding paywalls or expensive software requirements.
• Language and Literacy: Offer content in multiple languages and ensure readability for various literacy levels to support diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Pillar 2: SEO Audit

Once we’ve done the Accessibility Audit – we’ll then move onto the SEO Audit.

We split the SEO audit into two parts:

1. Technical SEO Audit – Where we address the technical issues associated with SEO.
2. On-Page SEO Audit – Where we assess the content.

SEO Audit Part 1 – Technical SEO Audit

XML Sitemap Audit

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages of a website, helping search engines index content. It's crucial for ensuring all accessible pages are discoverable.

• Accessible Content: Ensure all accessible pages are included in the XML sitemap for better indexing.
• Error-Free: Ensure there are no errors in the sitemap to aid smooth indexing.
• Readable Format: Ensure the XML sitemap is in a readable format for both users and search engines.

Robots.txt Audit

The robots.txt file instructs search engine crawlers on which pages to index or ignore. Proper configuration helps in managing site discoverability.

• Inclusive Directives: Ensure essential and accessible pages are not blocked by robots.txt.
• Logical Structure: Verify the file structure is logical and clear to prevent accidental blocking.
• Allow Critical Resources: Ensure essential CSS and JavaScript files are not blocked to maintain accessibility.

404 Error Handling and Redirect Audit

Proper handling of 404 errors and redirects ensures users find the right content even if they hit a dead end, improving user experience and SEO.

• User-Friendly Pages: Ensure 404 pages provide clear, accessible navigation options.
• Search Functionality: Include a search bar on the 404 page to help users find content.
• Proper Redirects: Implement accessible redirects to relevant content, minimising user frustration.

Canonical Audit

Canonical tags help manage duplicate content by pointing to the preferred version of a page. Proper use improves SEO and ensures users access the best version.

• Consistent Canonicals: Ensure canonical tags are correctly implemented to avoid duplicate content issues.
• Clear Links: Verify canonical links are accessible and easy to understand.

Schema Markup Audit

Schema markup is code that helps search engines understand your content, enhancing how it appears in search results. It's essential for rich snippets and better SEO.

• Schema Types: Verify the use of appropriate schema types.
• Validation: Check schema markup for errors using validation tools.
• Coverage: Ensure key pages and elements have schema markup.
• Accurate Data: Ensure schema data is accurate and up-to-date.

HTTPS Implementation Audit

HTTPS secures the connection between users and your website, protecting data and enhancing trust. It's also a ranking factor for search engines.

• Secure Access: Ensure the site is fully accessible via HTTPS for secure browsing.
• Mixed Content: Check for and resolve any mixed content issues to maintain secure HTTPS browsing.

Multilingual / Multi-Location Architecture for SEO Audit

For global reach, sites often support multiple languages and locations. Proper architecture ensures these sites are accessible and optimised for localised and global SEO.

• Language: Ensure language selections are accessible and easy to navigate.
• Localisation: Verify that localised content is optimised for SEO.
• Hreflang Tags: Ensure correct implementation of hreflang tags to aid search engines and improve accessibility.

URL Structure for SEO

URL structure affects how easily users and search engines understand and navigate your site. Well-structured URLs improve SEO and user accessibility.

• Readable URLs: Ensure URLs are descriptive, readable, and accessible.
• Consistent Format: Maintain a consistent and logical URL format for easier navigation.
• Keyword Usage: Include relevant keywords in URLs to aid both UX and SEO.
• Short URLs: Keep URLs short and meaningful.

Scalability and Future-Proofing for SEO

Preparing your site for future growth and changes ensures long-term SEO success. Scalable, future-proof sites remain relevant and perform well over time.

• Flexible Design: Ensure the site design is flexible to accommodate future growth.
• Performance Optimisation: Ensure scalability efforts do not compromise site performance.
• Growth: Plan for expansion of content and features.

Voice Search Readiness

Voice search is becoming more common, and optimising for it ensures users can find your site through spoken queries. This enhances accessibility and SEO.

• Natural Language: Ensure content is optimised for natural language queries to improve voice search accessibility.
• Clear Structure: Maintain a clear and accessible content structure for voice search engines.
• FAQ Pages: Use accessible FAQ pages to address common voice search queries.

SEO Audit Part 2 – On-Page SEO Audit

Next, we look at the on-page SEO – to make sure Google (and other search engines) can understand, get to and evaluate content on the website.

Keyword Opportunities Audit

Identifying and leveraging keyword opportunities ensures your content meets user search intent, driving more targeted traffic and improving SEO performance.

• Competitor Analysis: Analyse competitors to identify keyword gaps and opportunities.
• Long-Tail Keywords: Focus on long-tail keywords to capture specific search intents and reduce competition.
• Trending Keywords: Research trending keywords to stay ahead of market demands and improve relevancy.

Backlink Analysis

Assessing your backlink profile helps you understand its impact on your SEO, identifying opportunities for improvement and potential risks.

• Relevancy: Verify that backlinks come from relevant, authoritative sites.
• Quantity: Assess the number of backlinks and focus on quality over quantity.
• Link Placement: Check that backlinks are placed in relevant contexts.
• Anchor Text: Ensure anchor text is relevant and varied.
• Toxic Links: Identify toxic links that could harm your site's SEO.
• Link Opportunities: Identify new backlink opportunities to boost your site's authority and rankings.

Semantic HTML Audit

Semantic HTML uses meaningful tags to structure content, improving SEO by helping search engines better understand your site's content.

• Improved Crawling: Use semantic HTML tags to improve search engine crawling and indexing.
• Clear Structure: Ensure content has a clear, logical structure for better search engine interpretation.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Semantic HTML enhances accessibility, indirectly boosting SEO by improving user experience.

Content Audit & Gap Analysis

Evaluating existing content and identifying gaps helps refine your content strategy, ensuring you meet user needs and improve SEO effectiveness.

• Content Performance: Analyse content performance to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Gap Identification: Identify content gaps to address unmet user needs and improve SEO.
• Quality Improvement: Recommend improvements for underperforming content to enhance engagement and rankings.
• Keyword Coverage: Ensure comprehensive keyword coverage across your content portfolio.

Link Attributes Audit

Ensuring your website’s link attributes are correctly implemented is vital for both SEO and user experience. Proper use of attributes like rel="nofollow" and rel="noopener" can manage link equity, enhance security, and improve site performance.

• Boost SEO: Proper use of rel="nofollow" helps manage link equity, ensuring valuable link juice flows to the right pages.
• Enhance Security: Using rel="noopener" and rel="noreferrer" on external links prevents performance issues and security vulnerabilities.
• Improve Accessibility: Correctly implemented alt attributes on image links enhance accessibility, making your site more user-friendly.
• Optimise User Experience: Using title attributes provides additional context, improving navigation and user satisfaction.
• Reduce Duplicate Content: Proper use of rel="canonical" helps manage duplicate content, ensuring search engines focus on your preferred pages.

Link Audit (Internal + External)

A thorough link audit improves site navigation and SEO by ensuring all links are functioning and optimised. This audit helps enhance user experience and search engine crawlability.

• Logical Structure: Verify that internal links follow a logical structure and hierarchy.
• Canonical Links: Verify correct use of canonical links to prevent duplicate content.
• Orphan Pages: Identify and link orphan pages to improve crawlability.
• Link Quality: Ensure links point to relevant, high-quality content.
• Link Equity: Distribute link equity effectively to boost important pages' SEO.

Broken Links Audit

Identifying and fixing broken links improves user experience and SEO. This audit helps maintain site integrity and navigability.

• User Experience: Ensure all links lead to relevant, functioning pages.
• Internal Links: Check for broken internal links.
• External Links: Identify broken external links.

Local SEO Audit

A Local SEO audit focuses on optimising your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches, critical for location-based services.

• Google My Business: Ensure your Google My Business listing is fully optimised and accurate – factoring in multiple locations for business operating from multiple places.
• Local Citations: Verify the consistency and accuracy of local citations across directories.
• Local Keywords: Optimise for local keywords to improve visibility in local search results.

Content Siloing and Theming Audit for SEO

Content siloing and theming help organise your website's content to improve relevance and SEO by establishing clear topical authority.

• Thematic Consistency: Ensure content themes are consistent and well-organised for better SEO.
• Logical Grouping: Verify that content is logically grouped into silos for easier navigation.
• Internal Linking: Implement strategic internal linking to reinforce content silos and improve crawlability.
• Topical Authority: Build topical authority by grouping related content under clear themes.

Social Media Integration Audit for SEO

Social media integration can amplify your content's reach and indirectly boost SEO by driving traffic and engagement.

• Shareable Content: Ensure content is easily shareable across social media platforms.
• Social Sharing: Ensure social sharing buttons are accessible and encourage content sharing.
• Profile Consistency: Verify that social media profiles are consistent and link back to your website.

Server Responses Audit

Evaluating server responses ensures your website handles errors gracefully and maintains good SEO health. This audit helps prevent issues that can harm user experience and search engine rankings.

• 404 Errors: Identify and fix broken links to improve user experience.
• 500 Errors: Address server issues to maintain site availability.
• Custom Error Pages: Implement user-friendly error pages with helpful navigation.

Indexability Audit

Ensuring your pages are correctly indexed by search engines is crucial for SEO. This audit identifies and fixes issues that might prevent pages from being indexed properly.

• Canonical Tags: Verify correct implementation to avoid duplicate content.
• Noindex Tags: Ensure pages not meant for indexing are correctly tagged.
• Robots.txt: Check the file for any blocking directives.
• XML Sitemaps: Ensure sitemaps are up-to-date and correctly formatted.

Redirect Audit

Evaluating redirects ensures efficient navigation and preserves link equity. This audit helps avoid issues that can negatively impact SEO and user experience.

• Redirect Chains: Identify unnecessary redirect chains.
• Redirect Loops: Detect any redirect loops.
• 301 vs. 302: Ensure correct use of permanent (301) and temporary (302) redirects.
• Redirect Mapping: Verify that all redirects point to relevant content.

Thin Content / Low Word Count Audit

Identifying and improving thin content ensures your site provides value to users and meets search engine guidelines.

• Identify Thin Pages: Locate pages with low word counts.
• Content Enrichment: Add valuable information to thin pages.
• Relevance: Ensure all content is relevant to the page’s topic.
• User Engagement: Monitor engagement metrics to measure content effectiveness.

Content Freshness Audit

Keeping your website content up-to-date is crucial for maintaining relevance, engaging users, and improving search engine rankings. This part of the audit identifies outdated content and provides actionable recommendations to ensure your website remains current and appealing.

• Engage Visitors: Fresh content keeps visitors interested and coming back for more, enhancing user engagement.
• Boost SEO Rankings: Regularly updated content signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant, improving your rankings.
• Enhance Credibility: Up-to-date information builds trust with your audience, showing that your business is reliable and current.
• Improve Navigation: Refreshing content can streamline user journeys, making it easier for visitors to find what they need.

Meta Title Audit

Evaluating meta titles ensures they are optimised for SEO and user engagement. Properly crafted titles can improve click-through rates and search rankings.

• Unique Titles: Ensure each page has a unique meta title.
• Optimal Length: Check that titles are neither too long nor too short.
• Keyword Usage: Include relevant keywords without overstuffing.
• Compelling Titles: Craft titles that encourage clicks and accurately describe the content.

Meta Description Audit

A Meta Description Audit ensures that your website’s meta descriptions are compelling, accurate, and optimised for search engines. Well-crafted meta descriptions improve click-through rates, provide better user experience, and enhance your site’s visibility in search results.

• Increase Click-Through Rates: Engaging meta descriptions attract users' attention, encouraging them to click on your links.
• Improve User Experience: Clear and concise meta descriptions help users understand the content of your pages before they click.
• Boost SEO Performance: Optimised meta descriptions can improve your site’s ranking in search engine results, driving more traffic.
• Enhance Relevance: Tailored meta descriptions ensure that your content is accurately represented, matching user intent and improving satisfaction.

H1 & H2 Audit

Evaluating the primary H1 and H2 tags ensures they are properly used for SEO and readability. Correct usage improves content structure and search engine understanding.

• Missing Tags: Identify and add missing H1 and H2 tags.
• Duplicate Tags: Remove or differentiate duplicate headings.
• Optimal Length: Ensure headings are concise and descriptive.
• Keyword Optimisation: Include relevant keywords in headings.

Duplicate Content Audit

A duplicate content audit identifies and resolves instances of duplicate content that can harm SEO. This audit helps maintain a clean and effective content strategy.

• Internal Duplicates: Identify duplicate content within the site.
• Canonical Tags: Recommended canonical tags to resolve duplicate issues.
• Content Differentiation: Identify that all content is unique and valuable.

Localisation Audit

A localisation audit ensures your website effectively serves different regions and languages. This audit helps improve user experience and SEO in target markets.

• Language Tags: Verify correct use of language tags for different regions.
• Localised Content: Ensure content is appropriately localised.
• URL Structure: Check that URLs reflect the appropriate language or region.
• Hreflang Implementation: Validate hreflang tags to avoid duplicate content issues.

SEO Audit: Part 3: Content Audit

Next up is the Content Audit. We place it under the SEO Pilliar – but in reality Content impacts UI, UX – as well as brand.

Tone of Voice for SEO Audit

This part of the audit ensures your content consistently reflects your brand’s personality and values and enhancing brand identity whilst still aligning with keywords and search terms your customers would use.

• Consistency: Ensure UI copy consistently reflects the brand’s tone of voice.
• Audience Engagement: Verify that the tone resonates with your target audience, enhancing engagement.
• Clarity and Cohesion: Ensure a clear, cohesive tone across all content for improved readability and impact.
• Message Alignment: Align tone with business goals to reinforce key messages effectively.

• Goal Alignment: Check that UI copy supports business objectives and user tasks.
• Error Messages: Ensure error messages are helpful and align with the brand voice.
• SEO Alignment: Making sure all content is also inline with SEO strategies

Readability Audit

An evaluation of how easily your audience can understand your content, ensuring it is clear and engaging, which is crucial for retaining users and conveying your message effectively.

• Simple Language: Ensure content uses simple, accessible language suitable for the target audience.
• Clear Structure: Verify that content structure supports readability with headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs.
• Reading Level: Assess the reading level to ensure it matches the audience’s comprehension.
• Visual Aids: Use images and infographics to enhance understanding and break up text.

Microcopy Audit

A Microcopy Audit reviews the small pieces of text on your website, such as button labels, error messages, and tooltips. This audit ensures your microcopy is clear, concise, and user-friendly, enhancing overall user experience and engagement.

• Clarity: Ensure all microcopy is easy to understand and free of jargon.
• Tone: Check that the tone is consistent with your brand voice and friendly.
• Action-Oriented: Verify that button labels and calls to action are clear and compelling.
• Error Messages: Ensure error messages are informative and guide users on how to resolve issues.
• Tooltips and Help Text: Review tooltips and help text for clarity and usefulness.

Multilingual / Multi-Location Content Audit

Ensuring your site’s multilingual content is correctly implemented and fallback strategies are in place is crucial for reaching a global audience and maintaining a seamless user experience.

• Consistent Translations: Ensure all pages have accurate and consistent translations.
• Fallback Content: Verify fallback content is provided when translations are unavailable.
• Cultural Relevance: Ensure content is culturally relevant and appropriate for different regions.
• SEO Optimisation: Optimise multilingual content for search engines to enhance visibility.

Content Review and Retirement Strategy Audit

This audit helps identify flaws in your content lifecycle, to ensure it remains relevant, up-to-date, and effective in meeting business goals.

• Content Relevance: Assess content for relevance and update outdated information.
• Performance Metrics: Use performance metrics to decide which content to retain or retire.
• User Needs: Ensure content continues to meet user needs and business objectives.
• Archival Strategy: Develop a strategy for archiving or removing obsolete content.

Pillar 3: UI Audit

The 3rd pillar of website excellence is the user interface (UI) — this is where we delved into what the site visually looks like – by breaking down and analysing all the individual components across every single page.

We start off with some help from Jakob Nielsen. His usability Heuristics form the backbone of our UI review.

Usability Heuristics Audit

Understanding and applying Jakob Nielsen's 10 general principles for interaction design can significantly improve the user experience on your website or app. These heuristics are essential for identifying and solving common usability issues.

• Simple and intuitive design helps users navigate effortlessly.
• Consistency in design elements boosts user confidence.
• Providing feedback ensures users feel in control.
• Error prevention reduces frustration and enhances trust.

Visibility of System Status

Ensuring that users are always informed about what is going on through appropriate feedback within a reasonable time.

• Status indicators keep users informed about ongoing processes.
• Clear progress bars reduce anxiety during waiting times.
• Real-time updates enhance user confidence.
• Notifications provide instant feedback on actions.

Match Between System and the Real World

Design should speak the users' language, with words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user, rather than system-oriented terms.

• Familiar icons make navigation intuitive.
• Using everyday terminology simplifies interactions.
• Real-world metaphors help users understand functions quickly.
• Consistent language avoids confusion.

User Control and Freedom

Users often choose system functions by mistake and will need a clearly marked "emergency exit" to leave the unwanted state without having to go through an extended dialogue.

• Undo options allow users to correct mistakes easily.
• Clear exit routes from unwanted actions reduce frustration.
• Freedom to navigate enhances user comfort.
• Simple backtracking mechanisms increase confidence.

Consistency and Standards

Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing. Follow platform conventions.

• Standardised buttons enhance recognition and trust.
• Uniform navigation menus simplify the user journey.
• Consistent layout across pages improves usability.
• Familiar icons reduce the learning curve.

Error Prevention

Designing systems that prevent a problem from occurring in the first place is better than providing good error messages.

• Confirmation prompts reduce accidental actions.
• Clear instructions prevent user mistakes.
• Input constraints minimise entry errors.
• Predictive text assists in correct inputs.

Recognition Rather Than Recall

Minimise the user's memory load by making objects, actions, and options visible. The user should not have to remember information from one part of the dialogue to another.

• Visible options guide user actions.
• Icons with text labels enhance recognition.
• Drop-down menus simplify choices.
• Clear navigation aids reduce memory burden.

Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

Accelerators – unseen by the novice user – may often speed up the interaction for the expert user such that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users.

• Keyboard shortcuts enhance efficiency for power users.
• Customisable interfaces cater to individual preferences.
• Search functionality speeds up navigation.
• Personalised settings improve user experience.

Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

Interfaces should not contain information that is irrelevant or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information competes with the relevant units of information and diminishes their relative visibility.

• Clean design focuses attention on important elements.
• Minimalist layouts reduce cognitive load.
• Essential information only avoids clutter.
• Visual hierarchy guides user focus.

Help Users Recognise, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no codes), precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.

• Clear error messages guide users to solutions.
• Simple language helps in understanding issues.
• Suggested fixes improve user satisfaction.
• Error highlights focus attention on problem areas.

Help and Documentation

Even though it is better if the system can be used without documentation, it may be necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such information should be easy to search, focused on the user's task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.

• Searchable help guides assist users promptly.
• Step-by-step instructions simplify complex tasks.
• Contextual help reduces user confusion.
• Brief, clear documentation aids quick understanding.

UI Audit: UI Design and Consistency

Brand Guideline and UI Alignment Audit

Ensuring that your UI aligns with your brand guidelines is crucial for maintaining brand consistency and recognition. This audit will help you identify discrepancies and areas for improvement to enhance brand cohesion across your digital interfaces.

• Colour Consistency: Consistent colour palettes reinforce brand identity.
• Typography Uniformity: Uniform typography enhances visual coherence.
• Iconography Recognition: Brand-specific icons boost recognition.
• Logo Integrity: Consistent logo usage maintains brand integrity.

UI Consistency Audit

This check ensures that your website’s UI design is uniform across all pages. Consistent visual elements enhance user experience, build brand recognition, and create a professional, cohesive look.

• Enhance Brand Recognition: Consistent visuals reinforce your brand identity, making it easily recognisable to users.
• Improve User Navigation: Uniform design elements help users navigate your site effortlessly, reducing confusion.
• Build Trust: A cohesive and professional design instils confidence in users, making them more likely to trust your site.
• Boost User Engagement: Consistent visuals create a pleasant browsing experience, encouraging users to stay longer and explore more pages.

Typography Audit

Reviewing the use of fonts and text styles in the UI to ensure they align with the brand's typographic standards.

• Font Usage: Primary and secondary fonts used correctly.
• Text Standards: Font sizes and weights align with brand standards.
• Readability: Text spacing ensures readability and consistency.
• Stylistic Match: Headings and body text styles match brand guidelines.

Logo and Iconography Audit

Checking the use of logos and icons to ensure they are used appropriately and consistently according to brand guidelines.

• Logo: Logo placement follows brand guidelines – and adheres to colour and spacing rules.
• Icon Consistency: Icons maintain consistent style and size.
• Brand Personality: Iconography reflects brand personality.

Content and Messaging Alignment

Ensuring that the tone, voice, and style of the content align with the brand's messaging guidelines.

• Tone Matching: Tone of content matches brand voice.
• Brand Values: Messaging reflects brand values and identity.
• Content Structure: Content structure aligns with brand guidelines.
• Call-to-Action: Call-to-action buttons use brand-specific language.

Imagery and Graphic Elements Audit

Reviewing the use of images and other graphic elements to ensure they align with the brand’s visual standards.

• Visual Style: Images reflect brand's visual style and tone.
• Graphic Design: Graphics maintain brand colour and design rules.
• Illustration Alignment: Illustrations align with brand aesthetics.
• Photography Consistency: Photography style is consistent with brand guidelines.

Interactive UI Elements Consistency Audit

Ensuring buttons, forms, and other interactive elements adhere to brand standards for a cohesive user experience.

• Button Styles: Button styles match brand design specifications.
• Form Elements: Form elements follow brand colour and typography rules.
• Interactive Animations: Interactive animations reflect brand personality.
• Shadows and Highlights: Consistent use of shadows and highlights.

Colour Scheme Effectiveness Audit

Evaluating the effectiveness of your colour scheme ensures that it enhances user experience, supports your brand, and adheres to accessibility standards. This audit identifies areas where colour usage can be improved for better visual impact and usability.

• Brand Alignment: Colours reinforce brand identity and values.
• User Engagement: Effective colours enhance user interaction.
• Visual Appeal: Balanced colour usage creates an appealing interface.
• Complementary Colours: Colours complement each other well.
• Balanced Palette: No single colour overwhelms the interface.
• Background Colours: Background colours support content visibility.
• Consistent Application: Colours are used consistently across the UI.
• CTA Buttons: Call-to-action buttons use standout colours.
• Highlighted Text: Important text is highlighted effectively.
• Alert Visibility: Alerts and notifications are easily noticeable.
• Navigation Clarity: Navigation elements are clearly differentiated.
• Visual Comfort: Colours provide a comfortable viewing experience.

Contrast and Readability Audit

Reviewing the colour contrast to ensure text and interactive elements are easily readable for all users.

• Text Contrast: High contrast between text and background ensures readability.
• Button Visibility: Buttons stand out against their backgrounds.
• Link Differentiation: Links are clearly distinguishable from regular text.
• Error Messages: Error messages are noticeable and easy to read.

Emotional Impact Audit

Evaluating how the chosen colours influence user emotions and behaviours.

• Positive Associations: Colours evoke the intended emotional response.
• User Comfort: Soft tones create a comfortable browsing experience.
• Action Encouragement: Bright colours encourage user actions.
• Trust Building: Consistent colours build user trust and confidence.

Accessibility Compliance Audit

Ensuring the colour scheme adheres to accessibility standards, making the UI usable for everyone.

• Colour Contrast Ratio: Meets WCAG guidelines for contrast ratios.
• Colour Blindness: Colour choices are distinguishable by colour-blind users.
• Accessibility Tools: Utilise tools to verify colour accessibility.
• Alternative Indicators: Use shapes or text to supplement colour cues.

UI Audit: Navigation

Primary Navigation Audit

A comprehensive audit of your primary navigation ensures that users can easily find what they need, enhancing the overall usability of your site. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of your mega menu for organising complex information.

• Ease of Use: Navigation is intuitive and straightforward.
• Content Organisation: Information is logically structured.
• User Efficiency: Users can quickly locate desired content.
• Logical Categories: Navigation items are grouped logically.
• Clear Labels: Menu labels are descriptive and easy to understand.
• Hierarchy: Clear hierarchy simplifies navigation.
• Consistency: Menu structure remains consistent across pages.
• Ease of Access: Users can access all main sections easily.
• User Satisfaction: Navigation enhances overall user satisfaction.
• Navigation Speed: Users can navigate quickly without delays.
• Information Retrieval: Users can retrieve information effortlessly.

Secondary Navigation Audit

Evaluating your secondary navigation ensures that users can efficiently access supplementary content and features. This audit identifies areas for improvement to enhance the overall user experience and support primary navigation.

• Prominent Position: Positioned where users expect to find it.
• Logical Grouping: Items are grouped logically and intuitively.
• Active State: Active items are clearly highlighted.
• Keyboard Accessibility: Fully navigable using a keyboard.

Utility Navigation Audit

Utility navigation links to secondary functions like login, register, cart, and account settings. Found at the top of the page, it ensures users can easily access essential functions. This audit identifies areas to improve visibility and usability, including:

• Clear Labels: Labels are concise and self-explanatory.
• Easy Access: Utility links are easily accessible from any page.
• Consistent Icons: Icons used are familiar and consistent.
• Responsive Design: Utility navigation adapts well to different devices.

Mega Menu Audit

Evaluating the design and functionality of the mega menu to ensure it effectively organises and presents large amounts of information.

• Layout Clarity: Mega menu layout is clear and easy to navigate.
• Section Headers: Headers within the mega menu are descriptive.
• Visual Cues: Icons and images enhance menu items.
• Hover/Click Response: Menu responds quickly to hover or click actions.

Breadcrumb Navigation Audit

Ensuring breadcrumb navigation is present and effective for enhancing user orientation and navigation. This audit helps identify improvements for better user flow and ease of navigation.

• Presence: Breadcrumbs are present on all relevant pages.
• Hierarchy: Clear and logical hierarchy in breadcrumb links.
• Clickable Links: Breadcrumb links are clickable and functional.
• Consistent Style: Breadcrumbs maintain a consistent style across the site.

Pagination Navigation Audit

Evaluating the effectiveness of pagination to ensure users can easily navigate through pages of content. This audit identifies areas to improve usability and user experience.

• Visible Controls: Pagination controls are clearly visible.
• Consistent Style: Pagination design is consistent across the site.
• Current Page Highlight: Current page is clearly highlighted.
• Clickable Areas: Pagination links are large enough to click easily.

Anchor Links / Scrollspy Audit

Assessing the use of anchor links and scrollspy to ensure smooth navigation within long pages. This audit focuses on improving in-page navigation and user experience.

• Smooth Scrolling: Anchor links provide smooth scrolling.
• Active State Indication: Scrollspy highlights the active section.
• Easy Identification: Anchor links are clearly identified.
• Responsive Design: Anchor links and scrollspy work well on all devices.

Contextual Navigation Audit

Reviewing contextual navigation to ensure related pages are easily accessible, enhancing user engagement and content discoverability.

• Relevant Links: Related pages are highly relevant to the current content.
• Logical Grouping: Links are grouped logically and intuitively.
• Consistent Placement: Contextual navigation is consistently placed across pages.
• Visual Cues: Visual cues make related links stand out.

Tag Navigation Audit

Evaluating the use of tags for content navigation to ensure users can easily find related content through tag links. This audit identifies improvements for better content discoverability.

• Clear Tags: Tags are clearly labelled and understandable.
• Consistent Usage: Tags are used consistently across the site.
• Clickable Tags: Tags are clickable and lead to relevant content.
• Tag Clouds: If used, tag clouds are visually clear and organised.

Interactive Navigation Audit

Evaluating interactive navigation elements like tabs, accordions, carousels, lightboxes, off-canvas menus, and interactive maps ensures they enhance user engagement and usability. This audit identifies improvements for a smoother interactive experience.

• Responsive Design: Interactive elements adapt seamlessly to all devices.
• Clear Labels: Tabs and accordion headings have clear, descriptive labels.
• Smooth Transitions: Carousels and lightboxes offer smooth transitions.
• Easy Interaction: Off-canvas menus and interactive maps are intuitive to use.
• Consistent Style: Interactive elements maintain a consistent style throughout the site.

Mobile Navigation

Ensuring the primary navigation and mega menu are optimised for mobile devices.

• Responsive Design: Navigation adapts to different screen sizes.
• Hamburger Menu: Hamburger menu is intuitive and easy to use.
• Touch-Friendly: Menu items are touch-friendly with adequate spacing.
• Mobile Features: Key features are easily accessible on mobile.

UI Audit: Site Search

Search Navigation UI Audit

Evaluating the search functionality ensures users can easily find the information they need. This audit identifies areas to improve search efficiency and user satisfaction.

• Prominent Placement: Search bar is prominently placed and easily accessible.
• Auto-suggestions: Provides relevant auto-suggestions as users type.
• Search Speed: Returns results quickly without delay.
• Clear Results: Search results are clearly displayed and easy to understand.
• Consistent Style: Search bar and results maintain a consistent design.

Search Filters UI Audit

Assessing the effectiveness of search filters to ensure users can refine their searches easily and accurately. This audit focuses on improving the usability and effectiveness of search filters.

• Visible Filters: Filters are prominently displayed and easy to access.
• Relevant Options: Filter options are relevant to the search context.
• Clear Labelling: Filters have clear and descriptive labels.
• Interactive Feedback: Filters provide immediate feedback when applied.
• Consistent Application: Filter design and functionality are consistent across the site.

UI Audit: Forms

Form Design, Layout & Usability Audit

Evaluating forms for ease of use, including field alignment and labels, as well as dynamic form elements. This audit helps identify improvements for better user experience and completion rates.

• Field Alignment: Fields are aligned for easy scanning and input.
• Clear Labels: Labels are descriptive and placed consistently.
• Dynamic Elements: Dynamic fields (e.g., date pickers) are intuitive.
• Error Messages: Clear and helpful error messages improve usability.
• Submit Button: Submit button is prominently placed and labelled clearly.

Security UI Elements Audit

Ensuring that UI elements related to security, such as password fields and CAPTCHAs, are clear and effective. This audit identifies improvements to enhance user trust and security.

• Password Fields: Password fields include visibility toggles.
• CAPTCHAs: CAPTCHAs are easy to understand and complete.
• Security Indicators: Indicators (e.g., padlocks) clearly signify security.
• Error Feedback: Security-related errors provide clear, actionable feedback.
• Consistent Design: Security elements are consistently designed across the site.

UI Audit: Usability

Mobile Friendly / Responsiveness Audit

Evaluating the responsiveness of your site ensures it provides an optimal user experience across various devices. This audit identifies areas where mobile usability can be improved.

• Adaptive Layout: Layout adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes.
• Touch-Friendly: Touch targets are large enough for easy interaction.
• Mobile Navigation: Navigation is intuitive and accessible on mobile devices.
• Loading Speed: Pages load quickly on mobile connections.
• Consistent Styling: Styling remains consistent across devices.

Cross-Browser Compatibility Audit

Ensuring your site functions correctly across all major browsers. This audit identifies discrepancies and areas for improvement in browser compatibility.

• Consistent Rendering: Pages render consistently across browsers.
• Functionality: Interactive elements work properly in all browsers.
• Media Support: Media elements (images, videos) display correctly.
• Performance: Site performs well in various browsers.
• Fallbacks: Fallbacks are provided for unsupported features.

Visual Hierarchy and Attention Guiding Audit

Evaluating how visual hierarchy guides user attention to key elements. This audit identifies improvements for enhancing user focus and engagement.

• Clear Hierarchy: Visual hierarchy directs users' focus effectively.
• Emphasis: Important elements are emphasised appropriately.
• Whitespace: Adequate whitespace improves readability.
• Consistent Styling: Consistent styles reinforce hierarchy.
• Guiding Cues: Visual cues guide users through tasks.

Heatmap Analysis

Using heatmaps to analyse user interactions and identify areas for improvement in the UI. This audit helps understand user behaviour and optimise the interface.

• High-Interaction Areas: Identify and enhance high-interaction areas.
• Low-Engagement Zones: Improve or remove low-engagement zones.
• Scroll Depth: Analyse how far users scroll on pages.
• Click Patterns: Understand where users click most frequently.
• Navigation Paths: Optimise primary navigation paths.

Dark Mode Compatibility Audit

Ensuring your site provides a user-friendly experience in dark mode. This audit identifies areas for improving dark mode compatibility.

• Readable Text: Text remains readable with adequate contrast.
• Consistent Styling: Styles remain consistent between light and dark modes.
• Visual Comfort: Dark mode offers a comfortable viewing experience.
• Image Display: Images display correctly without colour distortion.
• Interactive Elements: Buttons and links are easily visible and usable.

Cognitive Load Assessment

Evaluating the cognitive load of your site to ensure it is easy to use and understand. This audit identifies areas where complexity can be reduced.

• Simple Navigation: Navigation is straightforward and easy to follow.
• Clear Instructions: Instructions are concise and easy to understand.
• Minimal Distractions: Unnecessary elements are minimised.
• Consistent Design: Consistent design reduces cognitive load.
• Efficient Workflows: Tasks can be completed with minimal steps.
• Incremental Information: Information is revealed in manageable chunks.
• Contextual Relevance: Only relevant information is displayed initially.
• User Control: Users can choose to reveal more information as needed.
• Clear Indicators: UI clearly indicates where more information is available.
• Reduced Clutter: Progressive disclosure helps reduce on-screen clutter.

Cultural Adaptability Audit

Ensuring your site is adaptable to different cultural contexts. This audit identifies areas for improving cultural sensitivity and relevance.

• Language Support: Provides accurate translations and localised content.
• Cultural Symbols: Avoids culturally inappropriate symbols and imagery.
• Localisation: Adapts to local formats (dates, currencies).
• Inclusive Imagery: Uses diverse and inclusive images.
• Content Relevance: Content is relevant and respectful to various cultures.

UI Audit: Interactivity and Feedback

UI Interactivity and Feedback Audit

Evaluating hover, click, and other state changes ensures that users receive clear feedback during interactions. This audit identifies areas for improving responsiveness and user satisfaction.

• Hover Feedback: Clear and immediate feedback on hover.
• Click Response: Visible and responsive click states.
• Focus Indication: Focus states are clear and consistent.
• Loading Indicators: Provide feedback during longer actions.
• Interactive Elements: All interactive elements provide appropriate feedback.

Interaction Design Audit

Reviewing the effectiveness of user interactions, such as gestures, swipes, and other input methods, to ensure a smooth and intuitive experience.

• Gesture Recognition: Gestures are recognised accurately.
• Swipe Functionality: Swipe actions are intuitive and responsive.
• Multi-Touch Support: Supports multi-touch interactions where applicable.
• Intuitive Inputs: Inputs feel natural and are easy to use.
• Consistent Behaviours: Interaction behaviours are consistent throughout the site.
• Hover States: Hover states are clear and provide feedback.
• Clickable Areas: Clickable areas are appropriately sized and responsive.
• Pointer Cues: Pointers change to indicate interactive elements.
• Drag-and-Drop: Drag-and-drop functionality works smoothly.
• Right-Click Support: Right-click actions are functional if implemented.
• Scrolljacking: Assess functionality don’t cause user frustration.

Animation and Motion Design Audit

Reviewing the use of animations and transitions to ensure they enhance, rather than hinder, the user experience.

• Purposeful Animations: Animations serve a clear purpose.
• Smooth Transitions: Transitions are smooth and not distracting.
• Performance Impact: Animations do not negatively impact performance.
• User Control: Users can control or disable animations if needed.
• Consistency: Animation styles are consistent across the site.

Touch Target Size Audit

Ensuring that interactive elements have appropriate touch target sizes for usability on touch devices.

• Adequate Size: Touch targets are large enough for easy interaction.
• Spacing: Sufficient spacing between touch targets to prevent mis-taps.
• Responsive Design: Touch targets adapt to different screen sizes.
• Visual Feedback: Clear feedback on touch interaction.
• Consistent Targets: Consistent touch target sizes throughout the site.

Pop-ups and Modals Audit

Ensuring pop-ups and modals are accessible, with appropriate focus management and keyboard navigation.

• Focus Management: Focus moves correctly to and within modals.
• Keyboard Navigation: Modals are fully navigable using the keyboard.
• Close Options: Clear and easy ways to close pop-ups and modals.
• Accessibility: Modals meet accessibility standards.
• Non-Intrusive: Pop-ups do not overly disrupt the user experience.

System Messaging and Notification UI Audit

Evaluating notifications, alerts, system messages, success messages, error messages, and pop-up notifications.

• Clear Messaging: Messages are clear and concise.
• Consistent Style: System messages follow a consistent design.
• Timely Delivery: Notifications appear at appropriate times.
• User Control: Users can manage notification preferences.
• Accessibility: Messages are accessible to all users.

Error Recovery Mechanisms

Ensuring that there are effective mechanisms in place to help users recover from errors.

• Undo Options: Users can easily undo actions.
• Helpful Messages: Error messages provide clear guidance for recovery.
• Form Validation: Real-time validation helps prevent errors.
• Backup Options: Users have options to revert to previous states.
• Support Access: Easy access to support for error resolution.

Loading State Audit

Evaluating how the UI communicates loading states to users, ensuring transparency and reducing frustration.

• Visible Indicators: Clear loading indicators are displayed.
• Progress Feedback: Provide progress updates during loading.
• Interactive Feedback: Loading states are interactive and informative.
• Consistent Indicators: Loading indicators are consistent across the site.
• Minimal Disruption: Loading states are minimally disruptive.

Progress Indicators Audit

Assessing the use of progress indicators to help users understand the status of ongoing processes.

• Clear Progress Bars: Progress bars are clear and easy to understand.
• Step Indicators: Steps in a process are clearly indicated.
• Feedback on Completion: Clear feedback when a process is complete.
• Consistent Design: Progress indicators follow a consistent design.
• User Reassurance: Indicators reassure users during long processes.

Gamification Elements Audit

Evaluating the presence and effectiveness of gamification elements, such as badges and leaderboards, in enhancing user engagement.

• Engaging Elements: Gamification elements are engaging and motivating.
• Clear Objectives: Goals and rewards are clear to users.
• Progress Tracking: Users can easily track their progress.
• Fair Competition: Leaderboards and competitions are fair.
• Reward Variety: A variety of rewards keep users interested.

User Rewards and Recognition Audit

Evaluating how the UI recognises and rewards user achievements and milestones.

• Visible Rewards: Rewards and recognition are clearly visible.
• Timely Acknowledgement: Achievements are acknowledged promptly.
• Meaningful Rewards: Rewards are meaningful and valuable to users.
• Consistent Recognition: Consistent approach to recognising achievements.
• User Motivation: Rewards motivate continued user engagement.

UI Audit: Content and Communication

Content Strategy UI Alignment Audit

Ensuring the site’s UI effectively supports the businesses content strategy. This audit identifies areas where UI improvements can better align with content goals and enhance user engagement.

• Content Display: UI effectively showcases and prioritises key content.
• Readability: Content is presented in an easily readable format.
• Engagement: UI elements encourage user interaction with content.
• Consistency: Visual elements consistently support content themes.
• Flexibility: UI allows for easy updates and additions to content.

Contextual Help and Documentation UI Audit

Evaluating tooltips, help buttons, inline help text, FAQ sections, and context-sensitive help menus to ensure users can access relevant information easily.

• Visible Tooltips: Tooltips are easily visible and informative.
• Help Buttons: Help buttons are accessible and lead to relevant information.
• Inline Help: Inline help text is clear and contextual.
• FAQ Sections: FAQs are comprehensive and easy to navigate.
• Context-Sensitive Menus: Menus provide relevant help based on user context.

Multilingual / Multi-Location UI Audit

Ensuring the UI supports multilingual and multi-location users effectively. This audit identifies areas for improving language and location adaptability.

• Language Switch: Language switch options are easily accessible.
• Accurate Translations: Translations are accurate and contextually appropriate.
• Locale Adaptation: UI adapts to local formats (dates, currencies).
• Content Relevance: Content is relevant to different locales.
• Consistency: UI maintains consistency across languages and locations.

Privacy and Data Handling UI Transparency Audit

Assessing how well the UI communicates data privacy practices to users.

• Clear Policies: Privacy policies are clearly displayed and easy to understand.
• Consent Prompts: Users are prompted for consent appropriately.
• Data Usage Explanation: UI explains how user data is used.
• Accessible Settings: Privacy settings are easy to find and use.
• Transparency: UI provides transparent information about data handling.

Personalisation and Customisation Audit

Evaluating the UI’s ability to offer personalised and customisable experiences to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

• User Preferences: UI allows users to set and manage preferences.
• Personalised Content: Content is tailored to individual user interests.
• Customisable Layouts: Users can customise the layout and appearance.
• Dynamic Recommendations: Offers personalised recommendations.
• Consistent Experience: Personalisation is consistent across the site.

Empty State Design Audit

Assessing how the UI handles empty states to provide useful guidance or actions, ensuring users are not left confused or frustrated.

• Helpful Messages: Empty states provide clear and helpful messages.
• Guidance: Offers suggestions or actions to rectify the empty state.
• Visual Appeal: Empty state designs are visually appealing.
• Consistency: Empty states are handled consistently across the site.
• Encouragement: Encourages users to take steps to populate empty states.

UI Audit: Scalability and Flexibility

UI Future-Proofing and Flexibility Audit

Evaluating the UI’s ability to adapt to future changes and new features without significant redesigns. This audit ensures the interface can evolve smoothly with minimal disruption.

• Scalable Design: UI design is scalable to accommodate future content and features.
• Modular Components: Components are modular and can be easily updated or replaced.
• Flexible Layouts: Layouts can adapt to new screen sizes and devices.
• Forward-Compatible Code: Code is written with forward compatibility in mind.
• Consistent Standards: Adheres to design and development standards that support future updates.

Third-Party Integration Usability Audit

Evaluating the usability and consistency of third-party integrations within the UI. This audit ensures that integrated tools and services enhance the user experience rather than hinder it.

• Seamless Integration: Third-party tools are seamlessly integrated into the UI.
• Consistent Design: Integrations follow the same design principles as the rest of the site.
• User-Friendly Interfaces: Third-party interfaces are intuitive and easy to use.
• Performance Impact: Integrations do not negatively impact site performance.
• Reliability: Third-party services are reliable and function consistently.

Pillar 4: UX Audit

UX Audit: Usability

Usability Audit

A Usability Audit assesses your website's ease of use and overall user experience based on established industry principles. This audit identifies areas for improvement, enhancing user satisfaction and engagement, which ultimately supports business goals.

• Ease of Navigation: Users can find what they need quickly and effortlessly.
• Intuitive Design: The design is user-friendly, making interactions straightforward.
• Consistent Layouts: Consistent layouts across pages reduce user confusion.
• Effective Feedback: Clear feedback guides users, ensuring they know their actions were successful.
• Error Prevention: Thoughtful design minimises user errors, reducing frustration.

User Journeys Audit

A User Journeys Audit evaluates the paths users take to achieve their goals on your website. Understanding these journeys helps identify pain points and streamline the experience, leading to increased satisfaction and conversions.

• Path Clarity: Clear, logical paths guide users to their goals efficiently.
• Journey Mapping: Detailed maps highlight key interactions and potential drop-offs.
• User Flow Optimisation: Streamlined flows minimise unnecessary steps.
• Touchpoint Consistency: Consistent touchpoints ensure a cohesive experience.
• Goal Achievement: Users can easily achieve their goals, enhancing satisfaction.

Clickstream Analysis

Reviewing clickstream data to understand user behaviour and improve navigation and content placement. This audit helps identify patterns and areas for optimisation.

• Behaviour Insights: Gain insights into user navigation patterns.
• Popular Paths: Identify the most common paths users take.
• Drop-off Points: Detect where users frequently leave the site.
• Content Placement: Optimise content placement based on user behaviour.

Call-to-Action (CTA) Audit

A CTA Audit evaluates whether your calls-to-action are effectively driving user engagement and supporting business goals, ensuring they are strategically placed and compelling.

• Actionable Language: Ensure CTAs use clear, actionable language that prompts user engagement.
• Strategic Placement: Verify that CTAs are placed where they align with user journeys.
• Visual Design: Ensure CTAs stand out visually to attract user attention.
• Goal Alignment: Align CTAs with business goals to drive desired actions.

Form Submission, Validation and Feedback Audit

Evaluating the usability of forms, including submission processes, validation, and feedback. This audit ensures forms are user-friendly and effective.

• Clear Instructions: Forms provide clear instructions to guide users.
• Real-Time Validation: Real-time feedback helps users correct errors immediately.
• Submission Confirmation: Users receive clear confirmation upon form submission.
• Error Messages: Helpful error messages improve the user experience.

Security UX Audit

Ensuring security elements are user-friendly and instill trust. This audit helps enhance security while maintaining a positive user experience.

• Password Guidance: Clear instructions for creating strong passwords.
• Secure Indicators: Visible indicators of security features, like HTTPS and padlocks.
• CAPTCHA Usability: CAPTCHAs are easy to complete without frustration.
• Privacy Communication: Clear communication about data privacy practices.

Trust Signals and Security Features Audit

Auditing trust signals and security features ensures your site conveys credibility and safety to users, which is critical for building trust and encouraging conversions.

• SSL Certificates: Ensure SSL certificates are in place and visible to users.
• Privacy Policies: Verify that privacy policies are clear, accessible, and up-to-date.
• Security Badges: Check for prominent display of security badges on key pages.
• Testimonials: Use testimonials to build trust and validate your credibility.

Social Media / Open Graph Integration Audit

Evaluating the integration of social media features within the website. This audit ensures seamless and engaging social media experiences.

• Easy Sharing: Social media sharing options are easily accessible.
• Consistent Branding: Integrated social media elements match site branding.
• Interactive Widgets: Social media widgets are engaging and functional.
• User Engagement: Encourages user engagement through social media interactions.

User Feedback Collection Audit

Assessing methods for collecting user feedback, such as Voice of Customer (VoC) programs. This audit ensures effective feedback mechanisms are in place.

• Accessible Surveys: Surveys are easy for users to access and complete.
• NPS Implementation: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is effectively utilised.
• Feedback Variety: Multiple feedback methods cater to diverse user preferences.
• Actionable Insights: Feedback provides actionable insights for improvement.

Ethical Design and Dark Pattern Audit

Evaluating the website for ethical design practices and ensuring no dark patterns are present. This audit promotes trust and transparency.

• Transparency: Clear communication about terms and conditions.
• No Manipulation: Avoidance of manipulative design elements.
• User Consent: Ensuring users provide informed consent for actions.
• Trust Building: Design practices build and maintain user trust.

Multi-Sensory Experiences Audit

Assessing the integration of multi-sensory elements to enhance user engagement. This audit ensures a rich, immersive user experience.

• Audio Feedback: Use of sound effects to provide feedback.
• Visual Stimuli: Engaging visual elements like animations and videos.
• Haptic Feedback: Tactile responses on touch devices enhance interaction.
• Accessible Media: Ensures sensory elements are accessible to all users.

404 Page Audit

Ensuring that 404 error pages are user-friendly and provide helpful navigation options. This audit helps retain users even when they encounter errors.

• Helpful Navigation: Provides links to popular or relevant pages.
• Friendly Messaging: Uses a friendly tone to explain the error.
• Search Functionality: Includes a search bar to help users find content.
• Consistent Branding: Maintains site branding for a cohesive experience.

UX Audit: Structure

URL Structure Audit for UX

Evaluating the URL structure to ensure it supports a positive user experience. This audit helps improve navigation, SEO, and overall site clarity.

• Readability: URLs are easy to read and understand.
• Consistency: URL patterns are consistent across the site.
• Descriptive: URLs accurately describe the page content.
• SEO-Friendly: URLs include relevant keywords for better SEO.

Page Hierarchy and Depth Audit for UX

Assessing the organisation of pages to ensure a logical and intuitive hierarchy. This audit helps users easily navigate and understand the site's structure.

• Logical Flow: Pages follow a logical progression and structure.
• Clear Hierarchy: Clear distinction between main pages and subpages.
• Depth Management: Avoids excessive depth that complicates navigation.
• Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are used to help users understand their location. ul>

Content Architecture Audit for UX

Evaluating the organisation of content through siloing, theming, categories, and other methods. This audit ensures content is structured in a user-friendly manner.

• Thematic Grouping: Content is grouped by relevant themes or topics.
• Siloing: Related content is siloed to improve navigation and SEO.
• Clear Categories: Categories are clearly defined and easy to navigate.
• User-Centric Design: Content architecture is designed with user needs in mind.

Internal Linking Structure Audit for UX

Assessing the internal linking strategy to enhance user navigation and content discoverability. This audit ensures links are strategically placed and useful.

• Relevant Links: Internal links are relevant and add value.
• Logical Placement: Links are placed where users naturally expect them.
• Navigation Support: Links support and enhance site navigation.
• SEO Benefits: Internal linking structure supports SEO efforts.

UX: Site Search

Search Functionality Audit

Evaluating the search functionality of the site search, including autocomplete/typeahead features. This audit ensures users can efficiently search for the information they need.

• Autocomplete Efficiency: Autocomplete suggestions appear quickly and are relevant.
• Typeahead Accuracy: Typeahead feature accurately predicts user queries.
• Error Handling: Provides helpful suggestions or alternatives when no results are found.
• Filter Options: Users can easily refine search results with filters.
• Highlighting: Search terms are highlighted within the results to improve visibility.
• Mobile Search: Search functionality is optimised for mobile devices.
• Speed: Search results are returned quickly, ensuring a smooth user experience.
• User Feedback: Allows users to provide feedback on the search results to improve future queries.

Search Results Audit

Evaluating the effectiveness of your search results ensures users can easily find relevant information. This audit identifies areas for improvement to enhance search functionality and user satisfaction.

• Relevance of Results: Search results are highly relevant to the user's query.
• Ranking Accuracy: Top results accurately reflect the most relevant content.
• Snippet Clarity: Result snippets are clear and informative.
• Filter Options: Users can easily refine search results with filters.
• Highlighting: Search terms are highlighted within the results.
• Speed: Search results are returned quickly, ensuring a smooth user experience.
• Pagination and Load More: Results are easy to navigate through pagination or load more options.
• Error Handling: Clear messages and suggestions for no results or errors.
• Visual Consistency: Search results are presented in a visually consistent manner.

Pillar 5: Technical: Performance & Optimisation Audit

Loading Speed Audit

This part of the audit evaluates how quickly your website loads, identifying areas to improve speed and enhance user experience. Faster loading times reduce bounce rates, improve SEO, and increase user satisfaction.

• Image Optimisation: Compress and resize images to load faster without losing quality.
• Minify Resources: Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML to reduce file sizes and speed up load times.
• Browser Caching: Implement browser caching to store resource files locally for faster repeat visits.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Use a CDN to deliver content from servers closer to your users.
• Asynchronous Loading: Load scripts asynchronously to prevent them from blocking page rendering.
• Critical CSS: Check it’s present and triggering correctly.

Resource Management Audit

A Resource Management Audit evaluates how effectively your website manages its assets, like images, scripts, and stylesheets. Efficient resource management improves loading times, user experience, and overall site performance.

• Image Compression: Compress images to reduce their size without compromising quality.
• Script Minification: Minify JavaScript files to decrease load times and improve efficiency.
• CSS Optimisation: Combine and minify CSS files to streamline loading processes.
• Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading for images and videos to defer loading until needed.
• Cache Management: Use browser caching to store resources locally for faster repeat visits.

Network Efficiency Audit

A Network Efficiency Audit assesses how efficiently your website uses network resources, focusing on data transmission and server communication. Optimising network efficiency reduces latency and improves page speed.

• CDN Utilisation: Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to deliver content from servers closer to users.
• Server Response Time: Optimise server configurations to reduce response times and speed up data delivery.
• HTTP/2 Implementation: Implement HTTP/2 to take advantage of faster data transfer and multiplexing.
• DNS Optimisation: Reduce the number of DNS lookups to speed up initial connections.
• TLS/SSL Optimisation: Ensure efficient encryption processes for secure and quick data transmission.

Interaction Usage and Performance

Evaluating interaction usage and performance ensures that your website’s interactive elements are responsive and enhance user experience. This audit identifies lagging interactions and areas for optimisation.

• Responsive Animations: Ensure animations run smoothly without causing delays.
• Interactive Elements: Evaluate the performance of buttons, forms, and other interactive elements.
• Loading Times: Assess how quickly interactive components load and respond.
• Event Handling: Optimise event handling to ensure quick and efficient user interactions.

Server and Hosting Environment Evaluation

Evaluating your server and hosting environment ensures that your website runs smoothly and efficiently. This audit identifies areas for improvement to enhance reliability, speed, and scalability.

• Server Uptime: Ensure high server uptime for consistent availability.
• Hosting Configuration: Optimise hosting configurations for better performance.
• Scalability: Assess the ability to scale resources during traffic spikes.
• Load Balancing: Implement load balancing to distribute traffic evenly across servers.
• Backup and Recovery: Ensure robust backup and recovery solutions are in place.

Scenario Testing

Scenario Testing evaluates how your website performs under various user scenarios to identify potential issues and ensure a smooth user experience. This audit helps predict and mitigate problems before they affect real users.

• Edge Cases: Evaluate the site’s performance under unusual or extreme conditions.
• Load Testing: Simulate high traffic scenarios to assess performance and stability.
• Error Handling: Ensure the website handles errors gracefully across different scenarios.

Mobile Performance Audit

Specifically evaluating performance on mobile devices, considering factors like mobile data speeds and battery usage. This audit ensures that your website delivers an excellent mobile experience.

• Mobile Data Optimisation: Optimise content for faster loading on mobile data connections.
• Resource Loading: Optimise resource loading to improve speed on mobile devices.
• Battery Efficiency: Ensure the site is not draining device batteries excessively.

HTML & CSS Markup Validation Audit

Ensuring your website’s HTML and CSS adhere to web standards is crucial for compatibility, accessibility, and SEO. This audit identifies and corrects issues to enhance performance and user experience.

• W3C Validation: Check and fix HTML and CSS against W3C standards.
• Semantic Markup: Ensure proper use of semantic HTML tags.
• Error-Free Code: Identify and resolve any code errors or warnings.
• Cross-Browser Compatibility: Verify consistent behaviour across different browsers.

Console Error Audit

Identifying and resolving JavaScript errors and warnings in the browser console is essential for a smooth user experience. This audit helps eliminate issues that can disrupt functionality and performance.

• Error Logging: Capture and categorise console errors and warnings.
• Debugging: Use debugging tools to trace the source of errors.
• Code Quality: Ensure JavaScript adheres to best practices.
• Performance Impact: Assess and mitigate the impact of errors on performance.

Tag Management and Tracking Script Audit

Evaluating how tracking scripts and tags are implemented ensures accurate data collection and minimal impact on performance. This audit helps optimise tag usage and placement.

• Script Placement: Verify correct placement of tracking scripts.
• Asynchronous Loading: Implement asynchronous loading to avoid blocking.
• Data Accuracy: Ensure tracking scripts accurately capture user data.
• Performance Optimisation: Assess and reduce the performance impact of tags.

Multilingual / Multi-Location Audit (Technical Setup)

Ensuring the technical setup supports multilingual and multi location functionality enhances user experience and SEO. This audit identifies improvements for better content delivery and user engagement.

• Hreflang Tags: Validate the correct implementation of hreflang tags.
• Language Switching: Ensure seamless and intuitive language switching.
• Locale-Specific Content: Verify accurate display of locale-specific content.
• URL Structure: Check that URLs support different languages and locations.

Environmental Impact Audit

Evaluating the environmental impact of your website’s hosting and operations can help reduce your carbon footprint. This audit identifies opportunities to make your web presence more sustainable.

• Green Hosting: Assess if the hosting provider uses renewable energy.
• Energy Efficiency: Evaluate the energy efficiency of data centres.
• Resource Optimisation: Minimise unnecessary resource usage.
• Sustainable Practices: Implement sustainable practices in web development and hosting.

Pillar 6: Compliance Audit

Comprehensive Compliance Audit

This ensures your website meets all legal, regulatory, and industry standards. This audit helps protect your business from legal issues, enhances user trust, and ensures smooth operations.

• GDPR Compliance: Ensure the site adheres to GDPR for data protection and privacy.
• Accessibility Standards: Verify compliance with WCAG 2.1 to support users with disabilities.
• Cookie Consent: Check that cookie consent mechanisms meet regulatory requirements.
• Security Protocols: Ensure SSL/TLS and other security protocols are properly implemented.

Industry-Specific Regulations: Ensure adherence to industry-specific regulations and standards.