Business Growth, Customer Trust, Strategy, User Experience, Website Audit, Website Design

WordPress Audit Checklist: Be Proactive in Managing Your Website

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It’s open-source, flexible, scalable, and backed by a massive ecosystem of themes, plugins, and developers. Whether you’re building a personal blog or a full-scale eCommerce site, WordPress provides the tools to create virtually any digital experience.

 

Pros of WordPress

  • User-Friendly: Its intuitive dashboard allows non-technical users to manage content easily.

  • Customisable: With thousands of themes and plugins, you can extend functionality and design without needing to code.

  • SEO-Ready: SEO plugins and clean code help improve visibility in search engines.

  • Community Support: With a global user base, it’s easy to find solutions, tutorials, and support forums.

Cons of WordPress

  • Maintenance-Heavy: Regular updates are needed for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

  • Plugin Overload Risk: Adding too many or conflicting plugins can slow down or break your site.

  • Security Vulnerabilities: Because it’s so widely used, WordPress is a popular target for hackers.

  • Needs Regular Audits: To keep your site secure, fast, and optimised, a comprehensive audit should be performed regularly ideally every quarter.

This is where a WordPress website audit becomes essential. It’s more than just a check-up. It’s a strategic review that identifies technical, performance, and content issues that may be limiting your site’s effectiveness. Whether you’re maintaining your own website or managing client sites, a structured audit helps ensure everything is running smoothly and aligns with business goals.

1. Technical Performance
Site Speed & Load Time

WordPress can become slow if not optimized. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to measure load time. Focus on:

  • Caching: Use plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.

  • Image Optimisation: Compress images with Smush or Imagify.

  • Minification: Minify CSS/JS via your caching plugin or Autoptimize.

  • Database Optimization: Clean up your WordPress database with WP-Optimize.

Mobile Responsiveness

Even if you’re using a responsive theme, test your site on actual devices and emulators.

 

Broken Links & 404 Errors

Use Screaming Frog to scan for broken links and fix or redirect them.

 

HTTPS & SSL Certificate

Ensure your entire site runs on HTTPS. Use Really Simple SSL to force HTTPS across your WordPress site easily.

 

2. SEO Health (WordPress-Focused)
SEO Plugin Configuration

Most WordPress sites rely on plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO Pack. Make sure:

  • Titles and meta descriptions are set for each page/post.

  • Sitemap generation is enabled.

  • Canonical URLs are properly configured.

  • Focus keywords are being used appropriately.

 
URL Structure

Use pretty permalinks (e.g., /services/web-design) via Settings > Permalinks. Avoid default structures like ?p=123.

 
Schema Markup

Add rich snippets via your SEO plugin or Schema Pro for reviews, products, events, etc., to enhance search appearance.

 

XML Sitemap and Robots.txt

Verify your sitemap is correctly submitted to Google Search Console. WordPress SEO plugins usually auto-generate a sitemap. Customise your robots.txt (via plugin or FTP) to avoid blocking important content.

 

3. User Experience (UX) on WordPress
Theme and Navigation

Audit your WordPress theme:

  • Is it regularly updated and supported?

  • Is the navigation menu clean and structured?

  • Are widgets cluttering the sidebar or footer?

Accessibility

Test your theme with WAVE or axe DevTools. Some premium themes are not accessibility-optimised so look for issues like:

  • Missing alt text (fix in Media Library)

  • Poor contrast

  • Non-keyboard-friendly navigation

Content Layout

If you’re using page builders like Elementor, ensure they’re not creating unnecessary layout complexity or slowing down the site.

 

Conversion Optimisation

Check all forms (e.g., WPForms, Gravity Forms) and CTAs for function and placement. Use Heatmap tools (like Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity) to analyse user interaction.

 
4. Content Quality
Post and Page Review

Ensure each page and post:

  • Has a clear goal

  • Is optimised for keywords

  • Uses appropriate headers, bullet points, and visuals

Media Optimisation

Delete unused media files (use Media Cleaner) and compress existing ones. Use WebP format where possible.

 

Duplicate Content

Check for near-identical content across posts/pages or duplicated title tags via your SEO plugin. Consolidate or redirect as needed.

 
5. Plugin and Theme Management
Active vs. Inactive Plugins

  • Deactivate and delete unused plugins.

  • Replace outdated or unsupported plugins with reputable alternatives.

  • Avoid having multiple plugins that do the same thing (e.g., two SEO plugins).

Theme Audit

  • Remove unused themes except the latest default WordPress theme (as a fallback).

  • Ensure your active theme is not heavily modified directly.

Plugin Conflicts

Conflicts between plugins can cause visual glitches or backend issues. Use Health Check & Troubleshooting to identify them safely.

 
6. Security Checks
Core WordPress Updates

Ensure the WordPress core is updated. Consider enabling auto-updates (with caution).

 
Plugin and Theme Updates

Outdated plugins and themes are the #1 security risk. Set a routine to review and update them weekly.

 
Security Plugin

Install a plugin like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri to scan for vulnerabilities, monitor logins, and block brute-force attacks.

 
Backups

Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault to automate regular site backups. Store them offsite (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive).

 

7. Analytics & Performance Monitoring
Google Analytics Integration

Ensure proper tracking via Google Site Kit or manual insertion using Insert Headers and Footers plugin.

 
Search Console & Indexing

Connect to Google Search Console to monitor indexing status, search visibility, and performance issues.

 
Uptime Monitoring

Use tools like UptimeRobot or Jetpack Monitoring to get alerts when your site is down.

 
8. Legal Compliance
Privacy Policy & Terms Pages

Add these via WordPress Pages and link them in the footer. Many themes and plugins include templates to help.

 
Cookie Consent

Use a plugin like Complianz or CookieYes to manage cookie consent for GDPR/CCPA compliance.

 

Running your website on WordPress gives you tremendous flexibility but it also requires ongoing care. A full WordPress website audit reveals hidden inefficiencies, improves your site’s security and speed, and helps you deliver a better user experience. From plugin health to SEO configuration, theme integrity to analytics tracking, each step plays a crucial role in your site’s success.

 

Performing this audit quarterly or semi-annually ensures you’re not leaving traffic, leads, or conversions on the table. 

 

Helpful Links: 

Enjoying our content?
Subscribe to our newsletter and always be in the loop.

Recommended Reading