How to Do a Site Audit on Your WordPress Website (And Fix Every Issue Like a Pro!)..

Step 1: Make a Plan—Know What You’re Checking
Think of a site audit as a health checklist for your website. Here’s what we’re looking at:

• Speed: How fast does it load?
• SEO: Is it search-engine friendly?
• Broken Links: Any dead ends?
• Security: Is it hacker-proof?
• User Experience: Is it easy and fun to use?

Got the gist? Perfect! Let’s dive into the fun part—fixing stuff!
Step 2: Test Your Site’s Speed (Because Slow Sites Are a Buzzkill)
Speed matters—a slow site sends visitors running. Let’s check it out and aim for some solid scores.

• Use a Tool: Pop your URL into Google PageSpeed Insights and click “Analyze.”
• Understand the Scores: You’ll get two numbers—one for desktop, one for mobile.
• Good Scores: Aim for 90+ on desktop and 85+ on mobile. These are green-zone territory—fast and user-friendly! Below 70? That’s a red flag we need to fix.
• Images: Big images drag things down. Use a plugin like “Smush” or “ShortPixel” to shrink them without losing quality.
• Caching: Speed up loading with “W3 Total Cache” or “WP Super Cache.”
• Hosting: If your host is sluggish, consider a faster one like SiteGround or WP Engine.

Step 3: Boost Your SEO (Get Cozy with Google)
SEO helps people find you online. Let’s make sure it’s on point.

• Grab an SEO Plugin: Install “Yoast SEO” or “Rank Math” from the WordPress plugin directory.
• Titles and Meta Descriptions: Are they catchy and keyword-friendly? Edit them in your plugin.
• Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks and pick “Post name” (e.g., yoursite.com/cool-post).
• Crawl Your Site: Use Screaming Frog SEO Spider (free version) to spot issues like missing image alt text or thin pages.
• Fix It Up: Add alt text to images and add more helpful content to short pages.

Step 4: Find and Fix Broken Links (No More 404s!)
Broken links annoy visitors and confuse Google. Let’s zap them.

• Use a Plugin: Install “Broken Link Checker” and let it scan your site.
• Check the List: It’ll show you any broken links (like 404 errors).
• Fix Them: Update wrong URLs or remove dead ones.
• Redirect Smartly: Use the “Redirection” plugin to redirect broken links.
• Pro Tip: Don’t forget external links—sometimes those resources disappear too!

Step 5: Secure Your Site (Lock Out the Bad Guys)
A secure site keeps hackers at bay. Let’s make yours a fortress.

• Update Everything: Go to Dashboard > Updates and refresh WordPress, themes, and plugins.
• Add Security: Install “Wordfence” or “Sucuri Security” and run a scan.
• Toughen Passwords: Swap weak passwords for strong ones.
• Back It Up: Use “UpdraftPlus” for automatic backups.

Step 6: Polish User Experience (Make It a Breeze to Use)
Your site should feel great on any device—especially phones.

• Test Mobile: Open your site on your phone or use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
• Check Navigation: Is your menu simple? Fix it in Appearance > Menus if it’s cluttered.
• Tweak Design: Tiny text or weird buttons? Adjust your theme or switch to something responsive like “Astra.”
• Pro Tip: Ask a pal to test it—newbies catch what you miss.

Step 7: Final Check (The Victory Lap)
Let’s make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

• Run a Full Audit: Use SEMRush Site Audit or GTmetrix for a deep dive.
• Fix Leftovers: Tackle their tips—like Core Web Vitals or duplicate content.
• Test It Yourself: Click around. Everything smooth? You’re golden!