During a recent call with a potential client, they asked if we could review their site and give a quick SEO quote on the spot.
But imagine calling a mechanic and asking them to diagnose and fix your car problems based solely on a 20-minute conversation. It wouldn’t work. A mechanic needs to carry out a thorough inspection to check your car and possibly run tests to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it properly.
An SEO audit is a website’s thorough inspection. It identifies issues and opportunities to boost visibility, rankings, and sales to your business. Much like a mechanic’s inspection aims to have your car running smoothly, an SEO audit helps set the stage for a successful online strategy.
SEO Michael Wall, presenting an SEO Audit at Codefixer.
5 Reasons Why an SEO Audit is Important
Understanding why an SEO audit matters can help you see the bigger picture of how your website is performing and how your business measures against your competitors. To fully understand how it can impact your website, here are five reasons it’s worth considering
1. Helps You Stay Ahead of Changes on Google
Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and what SEO tactics worked even just a few months ago might not work today. For instance, features like exact-match domains and keyword density are now relics of the past. Instead, the importance of following the E-E-A-T guidelines and quality backlinks has taken over.
An SEO audit keeps your website pace with these changes by rooting out outdated strategies so your site aligns with Google’s latest priorities.
2. Identifies Technical Site Issues & Offers Fixes
Technical issues like slow page load times and broken links can silently sabotage your website’s performance. For example, if a website takes 4 seconds or more to load, the bounce rate (the percentage of visitors leaving without interacting further) can jump to 90%.
Search engines prioritise user experience, rewarding well-optimised, user-friendly sites. An SEO audit uncovers these hidden problems so you know what fixes are needed to optimise your website to create a smoother user experience.
3. Taps into Valuable Content Opportunities
An SEO audit evaluates your existing content to see what’s working, what’s missing, and whether you’re reaching the right audience. It also uncovers content gaps, helping you outrank competitors and establish your brand as an industry authority to attract more quality traffic.
By optimising underperforming content and adding evergreen pieces, you can boost your SEO ROI in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
4. Provides an Off-Page & Backlink Health Check
Backlinks are a key off-page SEO element that can significantly impact your website’s success. For instance, websites that rank #1 tend to have 3.8x more backlinks than the rest of Page One sites, making them critical for organic growth. However, not all backlinks are helpful.
An SEO audit helps identify harmful backlinks so you can remove or disavow these links to protect your site’s reputation. It also uncovers other off-page opportunities, such as optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP) to strengthen your local search presence and build trust with potential customers.
5. Provides an Understanding of Your Market Position
An SEO audit doesn’t just look at your website: it compares your performance to your competitors. By analysing factors like keyword rankings, traffic levels, and backlink profiles, an audit shows where you stand in your industry and highlights gaps you need to address.
It helps you take inspiration from what competitors are doing well and adapt it to your own strategy. And, it also gives you a clear picture of the scale of investment needed to outpace them. Armed with this information, you can make more informed decisions about where to focus your efforts for maximum impact.
Why an SEO Audit is Important Before Starting SEO
Though many businesses can be eager to start their SEO strategy, we recommend investing in an SEO audit first. It’s like trying to build a house without a solid foundation to support it.
Our detailed audits provide an in-depth analysis and actionable recommendations with no strings attached. It’s a low-risk, high-reward investment that helps you focus on what will deliver the best results with minimal wasted effort.
Additionally, it serves as a starting point to measure your SEO success and track progress over time. Since SEO is a long-term strategy, understanding where your website stands before starting highlights the lasting impact it can have in driving sustainable organic growth.
That said, not all websites require a full audit. For smaller websites, a simpler review may be enough to uncover key issues and set you on the right track.
SEO Audit FAQs
When considering an SEO audit, it’s natural to have questions about the process and its value. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you make an informed decision.
FAQ’s
Find Out If You Need an SEO Audit
Not sure if an SEO audit is the right step for your website?
We’ll provide honest advice on whether an audit makes sense for your business and your specific business goals. Enquiries are free, and we’d love to help you take the next step toward improving your online performance this year.
