Just as we undergo regular health checkups to ensure our body is functioning properly and free from diseases, your website also needs periodic checkups to maintain optimal performance and stay issue-free. But how often should you audit your website?
This is a common question among website owners and agencies managing multiple websites. In this guide, we’ll explain why regular audits are crucial and provide clear guidelines on the ideal audit frequency for your website.
A good rule of thumb is to audit your website once every quarter, but specific areas of your site require different audit frequencies. We recommend conducting performance and SEO audits monthly, as they play a key role in driving traffic to your website and require regular monitoring. For accessibility, a quarterly audit is sufficient to ensure compliance.
Note that audit frequency can also depend on your website’s type and industry. While small or non-SEO-focused sites may not require monthly audits, adopting a monthly audit schedule is a reliable approach for most other websites.
Let’s break down when specific audits, such as SEO, performance, competition and accessibility, should be conducted to ensure your website stays optimised.
The best practice is to audit your website for SEO once a month. However, immediate audits may be necessary if you notice a sudden drop in traffic, a decline in search engine rankings or when Google releases an algorithm update.
For a detailed, step-by-step approach, refer to our complete guide on SEO audit.
A good rule of thumb is to perform an accessibility audit once every quarter. However, exceptions arise when your website undergoes a redesign or migration or when the W3C introduces new WCAG guidelines or standards.
Need more insights? Check out our in-depth guide on accessibility audit.
You should conduct a performance audit once every month. Additionally, it’s essential to audit whenever you notice a high bounce rate, low time spent on pages, poor Core Web Vitals or long loading times, as these issues indicate poor user experience.
To track your website’s performance, check out our guide on how to monitor website performance.
We recommend conducting a competitive audit every 6-12 months. It involves analysing competitors’ websites to benchmark performance, spot gaps, and identify opportunities to improve your own site’s SEO, user experience, and offerings.
Yes, website audits are essential for small businesses. If your business relies on its website to attract customers, build trust, and generate leads, regular audits are crucial to ensure it performs effectively and meets these goals.
Moreover, smaller sites can still encounter technical issues, search engine visibility challenges, and performance problems that harm user experience and hinder business growth. Therefore, regular audits are needed, regardless of your business size.
If budget constraints prevent you from conducting regular audits, you can opt for a less frequent schedule. Conducting audits every two or three months offers a practical compromise, keeping your website in good shape without straining your finances.
The short answer is that regular website audits help you identify issues that could impact your traffic and conversions. They ensure your foundation is solid, helping your website perform at its best and supporting your business goals.
The long answer is:
Auditing your site regularly ensures that nothing – like broken forms, missing CTAs, or checkout issues – prevents users from completing desired actions. A smooth experience keeps visitors on track, leading to higher conversions and more revenue.
SEO audits help identify technical errors, broken links, or outdated practices that may hinder your site’s visibility. By resolving these issues, you maintain or improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for users to find you.
Frequent audits help you catch issues with your website before they escalate. Whether it’s SEO gaps, accessibility issues, security vulnerabilities, or slow-loading pages, addressing these problems early saves time, money, and reputation.
Accessibility audits make sure your site meets WCAG standards, ensuring everyone, including users with disabilities, can navigate and use it effectively. This not only helps you avoid legal risks but also reflects positively on your brand.
Regular audits keep your site optimised, helping you adapt to search engine updates and changing user expectations. This proactive approach gives you a competitive edge, ensuring your website stands out in a crowded digital landscape.
The cost of a website audit depends on the number of pages your site has. With WebYes, you can audit and continuously monitor your website’s SEO, accessibility, performance, and quality for just $59 per month.
We’ve established that conducting a monthly website audit is the safest way to ensure your site delivers the best possible experience to visitors. Allocating $59 for WebYes keeps your website optimised, enhancing traffic and conversion opportunities.
Conducting a website audit involves evaluating key areas such as SEO, performance, accessibility, and user experience. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
For a more detailed, step-by-step approach, refer to our complete guide on how to audit a website.
Regular website audits are key to ensuring your site remains optimised, fast, and user-friendly. No matter the size or type of your website, audits help you catch issues early, improve performance, and maintain visibility.
With WebYes, you can effortlessly manage SEO, performance, accessibility, and quality audits all in one place. Start auditing today to keep your website performing at its best, attracting more visitors, and maximising conversion opportunities.
Article by
Melwyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has been writing professionally for over 4 years. He has a strong background in SEO and is certified in web accessibility from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When he's not writing about website optimisation, you can find him enjoying a game of FIFA or exploring the open world of GTA.
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