5 Signs Your Website Needs an Audit
When a website is first created, businesses put in a lot of effort to ensure it works well and is aesthetically pleasing. Business owners then find themselves spinning more and more plates and their websites can easily get ignored. In the meantime, the internet has continued to evolve (as it always does). A website audit can help to review the current state of your website and advise what changes to make to give it a new lease of life. Here we look at 5 signs indicating your website could value from website optimisation.
1. High Bounce Rate: Less Website Engagement
Is your website still engaging users? The bounce rate of a website measures the number of users who only visit one page and leave again without visiting any other page. A small percentage of these users will have found the information they were looking for and not need any further interaction. However there could be a number of different reasons for the others. The website could be difficult to use or navigate. Clear organisation helps to give a good user experience. Issues with the functionality or design could also lead to people quickly leaving. Bugs, such as broken links, will put a user off and reduce the confidence they have in your company.
2. Slow Performance/Load Times: Websites for a Fast Paced World
Another factor that hinders not only user experience, but also sustainability and SEO, is slow performance of the website. It is believed that 40% of users will leave a website if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. So it is crucial that websites code is efficient and can run fast. The performance also affects energy consumption; the longer it takes the more carbon that is produced. So a website that performs well is better for the planet. Search engines use the performance of the website as part of their algorithms to determine their ranking in search results.
3. Not Environmentally Friendly: The Carbon Footprint of the Web
Digital technology is a large contributor to greenhouse gases with the average webpage produces 1.76g of CO2 per view. The environmental impact of your website can be tested on an online website carbon calculator. Examples include Beacon and Website Carbon Calculator. These quick reports give a clear indicator to the impact that a webpage is having on the environment.
4. Accessibility Issues: Limiting Your Audience
Websites should follow a number of rules to ensure that they are not restricting users with additional needs. These rules are defined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Some features that help include: Being able to navigate the site with the keyboard Alt text for images High enough colour contrast to identify text against background Using correct HTML structure
5. Device Compatibility Issues: Modern Website Viewing
Your website could be viewed from several different devices and browsers. It is therefore important that your webpages can adapt accordingly. The design and content should look appropriate for the size of the screen. A desktop view that displays multiple columns should be split to individual rows on a mobile view. Any functionality that would work on hover on a desktop should be on tap on a mobile. Different browsers can also have different support of HTML elements and styles. A good website will be supported in all major browsers.
Audit, Improve and Evolve: Future of Web Management
The review of a website can help to improve user engagement and confidence. It can also keep your website current and help to follow the trends. Websites are living digital spaces. A well maintained website can help your audience, sales and even the planet. If you are concerned about any of these areas or want some expert advice about how to improve your website, contact us to book a website audit today. Book an audit