What a modern website audit must cover
In 2026 a useful website audit is evidence-based: live HTTP status, crawl access, indexability, Core Web Vitals from real users, on-page SEO basics, and a short list of fixes ordered by impact.
Skip tools that only dump hundreds of warnings. Start with whether Google can crawl and index the page, whether visitors experience a fast and stable load, and whether the page matches search intent.
30-minute triage checklist
1. HTTPS and redirect hygiene — one preferred host, no long redirect chains.
2. robots.txt allows important paths; Sitemap: points to a valid XML sitemap.
3. Canonical tags are self-referencing on key templates.
4. Title and meta description are unique and intent-aligned.
5. Mobile viewport is present; primary CTA is usable on a phone.
6. Core Web Vitals: check Search Console field data, then PageSpeed Insights for diagnosis.
7. AI-ready reachability: llms.txt, AI search bots in robots.txt, and server-rendered content agents can read.
8. Deep security scan on your own site: leaked keys, headers, cookies, source maps, plus Production readiness (health URL, error tracking, security.txt, robots/sitemap).
9. Screenshot or visual history — catch layout regressions between releases.
Prioritize like a product team
Label findings P0–P3. P0 blocks indexing or conversions. P1 hurts rankings or trust. P2–P3 are polish.
AuditHQ website projects schedule this loop: lab scores, competitors, and ranked recommendations so you fix what moves the needle first.