Website Design Audit: Importance and Benefits (Checklist)

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

Many businesses may wish that there was a听way to听tell whether their website was functioning the听way they desired. In听other words, is听it听offering the听value that is听intended? Fortunately, this is听precisely what a听design audit is听for.

Hearing the听word 聯audit聰 can have a听negative connotation to听it, but a听design audit is听far from a听bad thing. While it听may take a听little time to听perform a听full design audit, it听can result in听significantly better outcomes for听a听website.

What is听a听Website Design Audit?

A听website design audit operates as听a听magnifying glass on听a听brand鈥檚 website to听evaluate visual elements, images, usability, interface, and听everything in听between. The intention is听to听determine that everything is听working correctly and听communicating to听the听audience. This helps to听discover inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and听general issues.

While there may be听some obvious issues to听fix, a听design audit also discovers various design fails that cannot be听blatantly seen.

Importance of听Web Design Audit

Some businesses may push the听importance of听web design audit by听the听wayside.

However, design audits are essential in听the听modern age to听stay ahead of听the听competition. This is听especially true when a听business grows, as听it听must effectively deliver to听a听broader audience.

A听design audit may need to听be听done as听a听refresh to听a听site.

After all, the听internet is听a听rapidly changing landscape, which means the听effective techniques and听elements also change. Some websites may have been incredibly successful years ago, just to听see statistics plummet as听the听landscape changes.

A听design audit helps to听discover the听areas that aren鈥檛 effective anymore and听allows designers to听remedy these issues.

Moreover, a听design audit should not be听considered a听one-time thing. After an听audit to听bring everything up听to听speed, evaluating and听maintaining these standards should be听an听ongoing practice.

What are the听Benefits of听a听Design Audit?

Some businesses may wonder about the听effective benefits and听returns of听a听website audit. After all, it听can take time and听resources to听conduct a听website audit, especially if听hiring a听third party to听do听so.

As听long as听corrective changes are made as听a听result of听an听audit, it听will have a听positive impact on听the听customer. In听turn, this will lead to听significant and听measurable returns.

Firstly, let鈥檚 look at听the听general benefits of听an听audit for听users.

Better usability and听user experience

At听the听end of听the听day, it听doesn鈥檛 matter whether the听site seems usable internally. The exterior users and听customers are the听ones who truly gauge usability.

Improved site usability will make it听easier for听visitors to听navigate and听find what they want.

Customer satisfaction

Virtually everyone who has browsed the听web has stumbled upon a听page that is听difficult to听navigate, is听too cluttered, or听has some other type of听issue. Issues like these can lead to听a听user becoming frustrated and听leaving the听page.

A听design audit helps to听locate and听eliminate these stops or听barriers. This means visitors and听customers will be听more satisfied with conducting their business on听the听site.

Brand image

Let鈥檚 be听real, a听poorly designed or听difficult-to-interact-with website does not reflect well on听a听business. This is听especially true if听the听website has not seen a听modern branding refresh in听some time.

A听design audit can help to听flesh out issues like these, which leads to听a听new coat of听polish for听the听brand image.

The results of听a听design audit

All of听this amounts to听a听website that is听better looking, more navigable, and听easier to听use. These factors mean more user activity and听a听longer session time, increasing conversions.

This means the听site will see increased:

Sessions
Registrations
Subscriptions
Info requests
Leads
Purchases
General actions completed

So, when design issues are found and听addressed, it听can actually lead to听increased profits.

After all, users will be听more able to听readily access the听site, navigate, understand the听product, and听purchase/sign up/etc.

How Long Does an听Audit Take?

The next question is, how long does an听audit take?

There is听no听set length to听an听audit, primarily because it听can vary depending on听the听extent and听range of听the听issues.

Typically speaking, a听business should expect the听audit to听take a听few days up听to听a听month of听evaluation. This is听quite a听large range, but it听is听difficult to听gauge until the听audit is听underway.

Website Design Audit Checklist

There is听no听standard or听correct way to听conduct a听design audit.

The first step is听to听create a听checklist of听all of听the听areas that should be听addressed.

We听created a听list of听questions a听team can ask themselves to听discover areas of听improvement.

Imagery and听design

滨蝉听typography consistent throughout the听entire site?
Are icons and听logos the听same style?
Are backgrounds and听patterns consistent across pages?
滨蝉听the听overall design cohesive, and听does it听adhere to听a听similar style?
Do听additional landing pages follow the听same pattern as听the听primary site?
Are brand and听logo colors consistent across the听site?
Are images appealing and听relevant 迟辞听迟丑别听肠辞苍迟别苍迟?

Coherent navigation

滨蝉听each page of听the听site consistent and听navigable?
滨蝉听information well-written, credible, and听easy to听digest?
Can content across the听site be听easily scanned?
Can users quickly find contact and听location information for听the听business?
滨蝉听there a听visible search bar for听users to听find what they are looking for?

User accessibility

Does text contrast against the听background for听easy visibility?
Are links functional and听direct to听the听right pages?
滨蝉听SEO functioning well enough to听rank the听site on听search engines?
滨蝉听signing up, subscribing, or听purchasing straightforward and听hassle-free?
Do听input forms only ask for听pertinent information?
滨蝉听the听website accessible to听those with disabilities?
滨蝉听the听site mobile-friendly and听easy to听navigate across all devices?

These are not necessarily all of听the听questions a听team needs to听ask, nor do听they cover everything a听team may need to听address. After all, every business and听website is听different and听may require varying degrees of听review and听overhaul.

However, the听above questions cover most areas where flaws may exist. This can help the听designer or听team get started and听can help to听prompt other questions that may come during the听audit.

Do听You Need a听Third Party to听Conduct the听Audit?

Any business can conduct its own internal audit through the听above steps, provided they have the听team and听skills to听do听so.

However, in听some cases, it听may be听better to听recruit a听third-party service to听conduct a听design audit.

Firstly, if听the听internal team isn鈥檛 familiar with design points and听inefficiencies, the听audit may not have the听ideal results.

Additionally, the听internal team may not be听able to听spot the听issues and听inconsistencies that an听external pair of听eyes will.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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