Checklist · Free PDF
The 20-Point Small Business Website Audit
Twenty concrete checks for search visibility, mobile usability, trust and the path to a customer inquiry.
Download free PDF1. Business identity
Compare your business name and phone on the homepage, contact page and Google Business Profile. Correct mismatches.
2. Tap-to-call
On a real phone, tap the primary phone number and confirm the dialer shows the right number.
3. Genuine service area
Name the communities you actually serve. Do not imply that a hidden service-area address is a walk-in storefront.
4. Clear main offer
Ask someone to view your first screen. Can they identify your trade, location and main service without scrolling?
5. Useful service pages
Give each important service a page explaining the work, common customer questions, limitations and next step.
6. Local content
Include genuine local project details where useful. Remove near-identical pages that only swap city names.
7. Page titles
Check the browser tabs of key pages. Use a specific, distinct title describing each page and your business.
8. Meta descriptions
Give important pages a clear summary. Avoid duplicate or misleading descriptions; Google may choose different snippet text.
9. Headings
Use a clear main heading and logical subheadings. Remove headings that promise services you do not offer.
10. Indexability
Use Google Search Console URL Inspection on key pages. Check for accidental noindex tags or robots.txt blocks.
11. Canonical URLs
Confirm each key page identifies the preferred URL and does not point to an unrelated page or test domain.
12. Sitemap
Open /sitemap.xml. Include real public pages with working URLs and submit it in Search Console. A sitemap does not guarantee indexing.
13. HTTPS
Visit key pages over HTTPS and check for browser warnings, broken images or mixed-content errors.
14. Mobile layout
Test a narrow screen. Check readable text, reachable buttons and no sideways scrolling or overlapping content.
15. Speed
Run PageSpeed Insights on your homepage and main service page. Prioritize large images and slow scripts affecting real visitors.
16. Working links
Click navigation, booking and footer links. Fix broken destinations, redirect loops and links to outdated offers.
17. Lead form
Submit a clearly labeled test inquiry. Confirm it reaches the right inbox, saves correctly and gives the visitor confirmation.
18. Trust and consent
Verify licensing, insurance and guarantee claims. Use real testimonials and project photos only with permission.
19. Accessibility
Navigate with a keyboard. Check visible focus, form labels, contrast and meaningful image descriptions.
20. Lead measurement
Track completed inquiries and useful calls, not only visits. Confirm test events are counted once and handle data according to your privacy notice.
Sources
Put your next step on the calendar
Plan 12 weeks of useful local content with the $1.99 Small Business Content Calendar, or start your own checks with Self-Serve for $49/month.