Website Audit Checklist

November 2021

Table of Contents

Is your website badly designed, outdated or not usable on a mobile device?

Then our DIY website audit will help you work out where you need help, either with some small fixes or with a complete website redesign.

It is time to ask yourself some questions.

Is your website bringing you enough customers?

Is the phone ringing ‘off the hook’?

Is your order book bulging?

If you answer ‘yes’ to all three questions, then the rest of this blog won’t be relevant to you … at least, for now.

Or, if you answered ‘no’ to one or more of the above questions, you need an honest audit and website evaluation before it gets any worse.

You can’t afford to miss this article which will take you through an important website audit process, showing you WHERE you are on Google and HOW you can move your way up the Google rankings.

Bloom Digital Marketing in Cheshire can help with website redesign for businesses, taking the worry and hassle off your shoulders so you can focus on what you do best … your business.

Websites that work for you …

Business owners need a website, yet they need a website that will attract leads and grab leads that will in turn convert.

Perhaps your current website is a few years old.

Maybe it’s just not mobile friendly (don’t be fooled … if you need to pinch your website to see it on a small screen, then it’s not mobile friendly).

Chances are it will look dated and look shabby on a mobile device.

However, it’s not all bad news!

Even if your website has seen better days, if you are still getting leads then it is doing something right.

Yet … you can always have MORE leads and get MORE conversions!

Or, if you’re not getting ANY leads then chances are your competitors are getting them all, and that can really knock your self-confidence.

It might be a task that you avoid, but ensure you check out your competitors’ websites, even if it is with gritted teeth.

If they look better than yours, then they will have carried out a website audit already and may have even had a website redesign on the back of their audit findings.

Where do I start?

So as with all projects, you need to start with the basics.

Let’s tackle a few of them in terms of websites.

It could be the current design of your website isn’t up to scratch, of course.

Or maybe your website’s content is truly ancient.

Your website might be considered insecure, and it is slloooww to load.

These are some of the most common and yet sortable problems which can help enormously with your website project. Getting all this correct from the beginning helps pave the way to your future success.

Tackle our DIY website audit now … it will take just a few minutes … and get some handy tips to see how your website can be improved.

Customer journey

As business owners, we’re all guilty of being too close to our products and services and this includes our website.

So put yourself in the place of a new customer.

Of course, we’ve touched upon some problems in the previous section, yet there’s other important elements to consider.

Does your website work and look good on a mobile device?

Have you invested time and effort into Search Engine Optimisation? Or does the very mention of SEO make you want to run for the hills?

Perhaps one of your plucky customers has offered you feedback about your website … and it maybe wasn’t that complimentary …

If your competitors’ websites rank more highly than yours, then an SEO campaign could reap the rewards for you. If you don’t know where to start, Bloom Digital Marketing can help.

Website Audit Checklist

1. Website Security

Check your website’s security. In short, you need to check if your current website has security issues. You can do this via Google Search Console, which we can help you set up and access. Related to this is whether you also have an SSL certificate installed … our DIY Website Audit Checklist will show you what to do …

2. Software

Many websites, though not all, are now created in WordPress, one of the world’s most popular website software platforms.

The problem with all software is that it needs regular updates to remain secure, safe, and working properly.

These updates are in the form of plugins, and you also need to check the version of PHP is up to date.

If you have access to your WordPress dashboard, then you will be able to see if updates are needed.

However, take care with them. You’ll need a full website back up first, particularly if your site isn’t maintained regularly. If you don’t feel confident to do this, contact Bloom Digital Marketing for help.

3. Google My Business

This free tool is ESSENTIAL for your local SEO and let’s face it, many small businesses have a local or regional customer base.

Appearing on local searches will help that phone to ring.

The key is to know how to use it effectively. Ensure your GMB profile is up to date and that you appear on local searches.

4. Leads and where they come from:

An essential part of your local marketing is to check with customers how they found you. Was it from a Google search, social media, or a customer referral? If you’re not getting consistent leads from your website, then we’re back to square one and investing in some online marketing or a website redesign or even a brand new one to help scoop up those leads.

Slow websites (more than three seconds to load) will not be getting you the leads you need as most customer will have bounced off your site.

Check your website page speed and let us know your results.

5. Content

Content is now so many things: videos, photos, downloadable checklists, free e-books. However, Google is also searching one of the most important elements of your website and that is its written content.

Most people would say that people don’t read lots of words … that could true … but for Google to rank you highly, it will need sufficient well-written, relevant content to ‘crawl’ and push you up its rankings.

Writing content suitable for Google, your website and your customers is quite a skill, and it is one of the most time-consuming projects you’ll undertake.

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling are also important and keeping your content fresh is also crucial.

Most businesses don’t have time to spend on this, particularly as the minimum per key page is 300 words.

Google penalises thin content so it worth spending time on this part of your website.

Again, we all know time is our most precious commodity, so Bloom Digital Marketing in Cheshire can help.

So here we’ve dealt with some of the most important elements of your website audit. Most of the above are aspects that take time, skill, and passion to ‘get right’ and it is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge: it’s an ongoing project that never ends and needs lots of attention.

Yet before you even get to the ‘big stuff’, there’s an audit which you can do yourself and then see where you need the fundamental fixes BEFORE you tackle the larger project, such as those listed above.

Our Do-It-Yourself checklist will help you understand how Google ‘sees’ you, and you can build on these basics so you understand how the rest will fit in.
And you can always call us anyway, we’d be happy to discuss your business and your goals.

Get my free DIY Website Evaluation Checklist

Five easy steps to check if the foundations of your website meets Google’s high expectations.

By signing you’ll be added to Bloom Digital Marketing email list. You can unsubscribe at any time. Your contact details are securely stored.

No spam or sharing of information. Just good genuine advice.

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What our clients say about their dedicated Digital Agency in Cheshire

We partner with our clients for the long haul, so we can deliver them ongoing results that help their business grow and thrive online.

Nathan S.

20:37 23 Dec 25

Bloom Digital Marketing have been brilliant to work with on SEO for my photography business. They’re genuinely invested in understanding my business, really listen, and the whole team is always on hand when needed. Professional, approachable, and easy to recommend

AGM Products L.

19:38 22 Dec 25

We've been using Bloom for the last couple of years and it's been a pleasure working with such a professional and friendly company. The whole team have been so helpful in looking after our website, offering great advice and prompt support. With their wide range of knowledge and expertise, we know we are in safe hands. Highly recommended!

B S.

13:49 08 Dec 25

We've worked with Bloom Digital Marketing since mid 2022. Our website now consistently delivers quality removal enquiries. The bi-weekly calls keep everything on track, and we never miss a lead thanks to the systems they've put in place. They're proactive, reliable, and genuinely feel like part of our team

Peter H.

12:59 25 Jun 25

We’ve worked with Bloom since 2019, started as a one man band to a team of ten. We’ve grown our revenue 10x and we can say we wouldn’t be where we are without the team at Bloom.

Darren A.

14:44 12 Jun 25

Fantastic people at Bloom. They do what they say they are going to do. Hit deadlines, continually communicate and deliver on the project. Sometimes you just want a capable team to take on your project and Bloom are capable and then some. Highly recommended.

Response from the owner 19:03 16 Jun 25

Thanks Darren. Much appreciated. Looking forward to watching the results. You and the whole team at Amita have been a dream to work with and that's enabled us to deliver. We now say we want more Darren's please.

Agostino F.

21:04 02 Sep 24

I moved my website and digital marketing to Jeanette and the team in March this year, after being taken for a ride from another company. The changes I have seen in traffic and the comments made on the new website are amazing. Working with Jeanette is like having another wife, ( Unlike a wife though you don't have to go home to her! But be rest assured she is in the background getting ready to set more tasks!).... she is constantly on the case demanding information and doesn't let go ... in order to do the best possible job. Other companies I have dealt with don't have the same passion and enthusiasm . I cant recommend them highly enough, all the team are a dream to work with, very professional and enthusiastic, making it their job to know my business

Response from the owner 10:33 03 Sep 24

Thank you Ago and of course Milo ha ha ! I like being Chief Nag but on a serious note, I am happy we have been able to provide you with a website that works and support you with the business growth. Now to plan the next few months out for your ongoing marketing.

Sarah H.

14:02 31 Jul 24

Tsiantar Architects have been working with Jeanette and the team since the beginning of last year on the design and launch of our new website, which we are absolutely delighted with and has been a great success. Jeanette spent a lot of time finding everything out about us and our business, the way that we work, and what we were trying to achieve. She is fantastic to deal with, and goes above and beyond to help us and make sure we are getting the best results for our business. Not only are the team at Bloom really creative and talented, but they’re also great to work with. We get quick responses to queries and any amendments we require, monthly updates, plus in-person meetings. If you are looking for someone to design your website and provide on-going SEO and marketing support, then we would not hesitate in recommending Bloom Digital Marketing.

Response from the owner 14:12 31 Jul 24

What a wonderful review, Sarah! We're over the moon to hear how happy you are with the website and our services. Your respect for our work motivates us to continue striving for excellence. Feel free to reach out if you need any further assistance. We're just one call away. Thank you so much for your recommendation!

Hannah G.

20:26 27 May 24

As a small business owner, I've worked with about 5 companies over the last 7 years. Each of them has made promises, and unfortunately most have failed to deliver. Many have taken advantage of my lack of knowledge about websites and have taken significant sums of money from me.

When I reached out to Jeanette, I was rather fed up, and also had a lack of faith and trust.

I can't thank her and her team enough for their support over the last 6 months. I have really values that Jeanette doesn't want to keep me in the dark, quite the opposite she has wanted to help me understand things better.

She has been mindful of my limitations of funds, and has given me sound advice on what I'm spending on and when.

Having someone that is straight forward and cares seems to be rare in this industry, so I consider myself very lucky.

I've also seen actual results, so this team actually do what they say!

Response from the owner 12:40 28 May 24

Hi Hannah, thanks for the amazing review. We were aware of your journey so far and it was more important than ever that we looked after you. We are proud of our commitment to transparency, value for money, and most importantly, generating tangible results for our clients. Your trust in us means a lot.

Queries JB Plumbing & H.

07:52 11 Apr 24

We cannot speak highly enough of the team at Bloom. As a plumbing company, having a visible online presence is crucial, and when our Google Business profile was suspended, we were understandably worried and it affected our business massiveley. However, Jeanette and her team truly went above and beyond to resolve the issue.

Throughout the entire process, they kept us informed and provided regular updates. Their efforts ultimately resulted in the successful reinstatement of our Google Business profile, for which we are incredibly grateful.

We highly recommend Bloom Digital Marketing to any business seeking outstanding digital marketing services. Thank you for your exceptional support !

Response from the owner 08:48 11 Apr 24

Thank you so much JB Plumbing & Heating! We really appreciate your kind words and recommendation. We definitely celebrated resolving the issue with your Google Business profile and that it’s live again !

Tsiantar A.

15:42 13 Mar 24

We have been working with Jeanette and the team since the beginning of this year on the design and launch of our new website, which we are absolutely delighted with and has been a great success.
Jeanette spent a lot of time finding everything out about us and our business, the way that we work, and what we were trying to achieve. She is fantastic to deal with, and goes above and beyond to help us and make sure we are getting the best results for our business.
Not only are the team at Bloom really creative and talented, but they’re also great to work with. We get quick responses to queries and any amendments we require, monthly updates, plus in-person meetings. If you are looking for someone to design your website and provide on-going SEO and marketing support, then we would not hesitate in recommending Bloom Digital Marketing.

Response from the owner 10:02 21 Nov 23

Thanks Tsiantar Architects! We appreciate your kind words and are thrilled that you are delighted with your new website. It was a pleasure working with you to understand your business and goals. We're glad that our team's creativity and responsiveness have been valuable to you. We look forward to continuing to provide ongoing support for your SEO and marketing needs. Thank you for recommending Bloom Digital Marketing!

John G.

16:47 10 Jun 23

Great service and very helpful

Response from the owner 14:07 12 Jul 23

Thanks John, much appreciated. Glad to be supporting local family businesses.

Claire N.

08:48 11 May 23

I am new to the business world and Jeanette came highly recommended for support with the technology side ( I am terrible!) The company is highly responsive and keep you updated regularly to help you understand the process and aims of the work they are doing. Her communication is amazing and not full of technological terms which really helped me. I would highly recommend using this service.

Response from the owner 10:40 11 May 23

Thanks so much Claire and I'm glad we have made it easier to understand on the tech front. Looking forward to following your new aesthetics business and seeing it grow.

Lee V.

08:19 13 Mar 23

Over the years we've worked with Bloom Creative on a number of projects and always found them, professional, friendly, focused and extremely knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.

Response from the owner 12:28 19 Apr 23

Thank you Lee !

Abby W.

22:19 20 Sep 22

I've worked with Jeanette and the team on a number of projects together and can't recommend them highly enough. Jeanette is absolutely lovely to work with, and genuinely cares about delivering the best results to her clients.

If you're looking for a web design and marketing expert who really knows how to deliver results, Bloom is your only option: their work is great, they're fantastic to work with, and they treat every project like it's their own.

Their dedication to great customer service really makes a difference - I highly recommend Jeanette and the crew at Bloom Creative Design.

Response from the owner 20:41 25 Sep 22

Thank you Abby - we love working with you guys on our projects.

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