Made-up content
Fake testimonials, invented team members, statistics that came from nowhere, wrong business facts: address, founding year, services. Checked against what you tell me is true.
The checklist,
in plain language.
The full methodology behind the $400 audit, and the same pre-handoff pass on every site I build.
What this audit is not
- No code fixes. Fixes are quoted separately, or you hand my list to your own developer
- No content rewriting, logo or design work, or photography
- No deep security or penetration testing, only basic security hygiene checks
- No load or stress testing, only basic performance checks
- Websites only: no mobile apps, desktop software, or APIs (ask for a custom quote)
- Covers up to 10 unique page types plus 2 user flows (a contact form or a booking flow); beyond that is a small add-on per flow
Clear boundaries protect both of us: they keep the price fixed and the turnaround honest.
Does everything work, for everyone?
Functional testing
Every link, menu, form, slider, tab and search box is actually used, not just looked at. Broken links are scanned across the whole site, inside and out. The contact form gets the closest look: required fields, error messages, spam protection, and above all proof that a submission really arrives in your inbox. Phone links, email links and third-party widgets (maps, calendars, booking) are checked by clicking them.
Compatibility & responsive
The site is inspected in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge, current and previous major versions, and on iOS and Android phones and tablets. Screens from 320px small phones up to large desktops: no clipped text, no overlapping elements, no sideways scrolling. Forms and menus fully usable by touch. If your business prints pages (menus, order forms), that gets a sanity check too.
Content & experience
What customers read and how the site makes them feel is still quality.
- Spelling and grammar pass on all visible copy
- Placeholder leftovers: “lorem ipsum”, “[Your Name]”, “Your tagline here”, template comments
- Brand consistency: business name spelled the same everywhere, logo quality, colors and fonts consistent
- Contact details correct everywhere: footer, contact page, and Google Business Profile
- Images have alt text; no broken or missing images
- Page titles and main headings make sense on every page
- A clear next step is visible on every page (call, form, booking)
Speed
Measured on a phone, the way most of your customers arrive.
- Mobile load speed measured with standard Google tooling: the score, plus the worst offenders, named
- Oversized images flagged (usually the single biggest lever on speed)
- Core page-vitals snapshot: largest paint, layout shift, and input delay
- Third-party scripts weighed: chat widgets, trackers and similar add-ons
Being findable on Google
The basics that decide whether you show up in local searches.
- Unique page title and description written for every page
- Heading structure sane: one main heading per page, logical order underneath
- Sitemap and robots files exist and are correct
- Google Search Console and Analytics installed and actually receiving data
- Google Business Profile linked (for local businesses)
- No accidental “do not index” settings left on pages that should be searchable
Security & reliability hygiene
Basic checks that prevent the usual embarrassments. This is not a deep security audit.
- Secure connection (HTTPS) everywhere; the ordinary address redirects to it
- No mixed-content warnings (unsecured pieces loading on a secured page)
- Admin credentials handed over properly, never left as “admin / admin”
- Backups exist and are genuinely restorable (checked with the host or the configuration)
- Forms don’t leak data in web addresses; no obvious open-redirect issue
- Privacy / cookie notice present where your customers expect it
The AI-built-site pass
AI tools build fast, and they leave patterns behind. These checks exist because I see them missed everywhere.
Dead references
Links and citations pointing at pages that don’t exist. A classic artifact of generated text.
Voice drift
Copy that suddenly changes tone or style between sections: the sign the text was generated in pieces and nobody read it end to end.
Bloat
Page weight and script count far higher than the site’s size justifies.
Decoration pretending to be function
Buttons with nothing behind them, “before/after” sliders that don’t slide. Elements that look interactive but do nothing.
Duplicates
The same content block repeated, or near-identical pages quietly competing with each other in search.
Every finding gets a severity
| Severity | What it means | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Blocker | Prevents a customer from completing something essential: the form doesn’t send, the site is broken on mobile, the phone number is wrong | Fixed before anything else |
| Major | Real damage to trust or usability: broken links, missing page titles, placeholder text customers can see | Fixed before launch, or within the first week |
| Minor | Noticeable but not harmful: a typo in the footer, inconsistent button styles | Fixed in the next update |
| Polish | Opportunities to look more professional: nicer image crops, tighter wording | Your choice |
Your deliverable
What the $400 buys
- Executive summary: a short overall verdict and top risks, with a launch recommendation of go, fix first, or rebuild
- Findings table: every issue with its severity, the page, a screenshot, reproduction steps and a suggested fix
- Fix-ready checklist: an ordered action list any developer or AI tool can work through
- Walkthrough call: 30 minutes to explain findings and answer your questions in plain language
Turnaround: 3-5 business days from intake.
Before I start
What I need from you
- The website address (live or staging)
- A list of pages, or I’ll map it myself
- Logins, if any part of the site is gated
- Any devices that matter (“customers are mostly on iPhone”)
- What worries you most: your top 1-3 concerns, always covered first
That last item matters most. You know your customers better than any checklist.
You’ve seen the standards. Now see where your site stands.
The free 20-minute check-up is the easiest way to start: we look at your site together and I tell you plainly whether an audit is worth it, or whether you’re fine as you are.