Start the new year with a website that is accurate, functional and ready to generate leads.
Your website often provides a potential customer’s first impression of your business. Outdated information, broken links or difficult navigation may cause visitors to leave before contacting you.
The end of the year is an ideal time to complete a small business website audit. Use this checklist to improve the customer experience, support SEO and prepare your website to generate more leads.
1. Test Contact Forms and Telephone Links
Submit every form and confirm that the information reaches the correct person. Check automated responses, confirmation messages and thank-you pages.
On a mobile phone, select each telephone number to make sure visitors can tap it to call. A broken form or phone link can quietly cost your business valuable leads.
2. Review Your Business Information
Check your website for outdated services, prices, hours, staff members, addresses, telephone numbers and service areas.
Your website, Google Business Profile and directory listings should present consistent information. Remember to update holiday hours and remove expired announcements.
3. Check the Mobile Experience
Open your website on a phone and tablet. Make sure text is readable, buttons are easy to select and navigation is simple.
Look for images or text extending beyond the screen. Forms should be easy to complete without excessive scrolling or zooming.
4. Look for Slow or Broken Pages
Select every navigation link, button and image link. Watch for missing pages, expired downloads and links that produce errors.
Large photographs, unnecessary code and outdated integrations may slow down the website. Test important pages using Google PageSpeed Insights, but evaluate speed as part of the entire customer experience.
5. Update Titles and Meta Descriptions
Each important page should have a clear, descriptive title and a compelling meta description.
Review your homepage, service pages, location pages, About page, Contact page and recent blog articles. Avoid using the same title and description on multiple pages. Include relevant keywords naturally without unnecessary repetition.
6. Review Calls to Action
Every page should guide visitors toward an appropriate next step.
Calls to action might include:
Request an Estimate
Schedule an Appointment
Call Today
View Our Services
Contact Our Team
Make sure each call to action is visible, specific and connected to a working form or link.
7. Check Analytics and Conversion Tracking
Confirm that Google Analytics, Google Search Console and advertising conversion tags are collecting information correctly.
Your reporting should show how visitors find the website, which pages attract interest and how many people call or submit forms. Measuring clicks without tracking inquiries makes it difficult to evaluate your marketing.
8. Replace Outdated Content and Photographs
Remove expired promotions, past events and information that no longer represents the business.
Replace outdated photographs and review written content for accuracy. Helpful, original content can improve customer trust while helping search engines understand your services.
9. Review Security and Integrations
Check your website platform, plugins, forms, scheduling tools, payment connections and email integrations.
Confirm that the security certificate is active. You should also know who is responsible for software updates, backups, technical maintenance and responding to website problems.
10. Plan New Pages
Consider whether your website needs individual pages for important services, locations or frequently asked questions.
Detailed service and location pages give visitors better information while creating additional opportunities to appear in relevant searches. Prioritize pages based on customer demand and your business goals for the coming year.
Begin the New Year With a Stronger Website
A website audit does not always lead to a complete redesign. Focused updates may make your website more accurate, helpful and effective.
Red Canary Marketing provides Website Design, SEO, Landing Pages & Conversion Optimization and ongoing website support for businesses throughout North Alabama.
Is your website ready for the new year? Request an Estimate and let Red Canary Marketing identify the improvements that could strengthen your online visibility and generate more leads.
