How to Analyze Your Website Like a Professional Designer
A website is very important and almost vital for all businesses these days regardless or if you sell stuff online or not. We no longer need to tell people about products or services; they already know about a vast majority of them thanks to the internet.
However, having a website is insufficient. You have to keep it fresh and current so that the visitors keep coming and converting into customers. As your business grows, your website needs to adapt.
So at the beginning of each year, I think it's a great idea to audit your website and see what you can improve. In this guide, we’ll explain the steps to do just that, whether it’s your site or your competitors.1.Consider The Audience
As you check out a website, remember who it is for. That doesn’t mean snobbery, it means availability for the individuals who will be working with it.
Pretend you are the one who should be using the site. Would you be able to navigate it easily? Would you get what you need from that? You know how when you buy a pair of shoes, you want to see if they fit or not?
If you’re able to, you might go to someone who matches your average website visitor and give them a test run. Assign them a few tasks to complete on the site, and ask for their feedback. They'll let you know whether the website is on point, or whether you need to make some adjustments.
Check The Site Is Well Optimised
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of ensuring that your website ranks high enough in search engines results pages (SERPs) such as those from Google.
A well-optimized site is more likely to rank higher in search results. And there are so many small efforts you can make to boost its SEO. A large part of it is ensuring that the search engines understand what your site is about, which involves including the correct keywords in your content.
Also, ensure that your page titles and descriptions are on point, images have ALT text, content is formatted correctly and you use H1 tags in headings. And you want your site to load quickly and you want a clean link structure.
These changes are marginal, yet they can have a significant impact on your site's searchability.
Discover the website's position for important keywords.
Google Search Console is a powerful tool that provides insight into how Google views your site and its performance.
By linking Search Console with Google Analytics, you can access more data to help you fine-tune your site.
One neat feature there is a “Performance Report” that tells where you rank for certain keywords. It tells you things like how many visits you get for every keyword, where those visitors are located, and what devices they are using.
As keywords are a cornerstone of SEO, it is a good idea to periodically check in on the ones you are targeting. So, align those with what you have to sell, and what people are looking for. This is for you to sustain your game.
Identify And Redirect Broken Links
Broken links can be a real bummer for your website visitors, and can reflect poorly on your company.
These occur when someone clicks a link, but rather than getting what they were looking for, they arrive at an error message, such as “Oops, this page doesn’t exist anymore.”
Keeping an eye on broken links is so damn important because they spoil the user experience and Googleeye will never afford to do that. And when Google is unhappy with the pages they’re showing in search, they can penalize your site.
Fortunately, many free tools are available to help locate broken links such as Google Analytics, Sitechecker, InterroBot, and Screaming Frog.
When you've identified broken links, redirect them properly (including the correct error code) with a CMS like Wordpress. That way, users aren’t hitting a dead end and you’re not missing out on potential customers.
Run A Content Audit
Content is a powerhouse when it comes to generating leads, even more so than paid search ads, as per the Content Marketing Institute.
However, it's not just about churning out any old content. Quality is key. Your content should be substantial, well-organized, and offer something fresh and valuable to your audience.
Regularly reviewing and updating your content is crucial. Don't overlook the opportunity to breathe new life into older but successful content pieces. If you have a blog post that's driving tons of traffic and sitting pretty at the top of Google's rankings, don't just toss it because it's from a few years back.
Instead, give it a makeover! Update the information to make it current, and don't forget to add a note showing when you revised it. That way, you keep the good stuff working for you and your audience stays engaged.
Optimize For Mobile
The count of internet users visiting over mobile phones continues its upward trend calculate at 4.3 billion worldwide in 2023.
And since 2015, Google has been serious about mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor for websites.
For you to stay up to date, Google provides a useful tool: Lighthouse. It’s free and allows site owners to see just how mobile-friendly their site is.
But the thing is, you don’t just open one page. Try out a few of your different pages to get a sense of how your site plays on mobile.
Oh, and speed matters, too! Nobody likes waiting for a website to load up, especially on their phone. So remember that when you’re fast-tracking your site for mobile users.
What is Website Analysis?
Content is an essential part of the business’s online presence. But just having a website isn’t sufficient. To do better, you need to know how your website is doing. That is where website analysis comes into play.
What Is Website Analysis? Website analysis is the act of collecting and analyzing data regarding the performance of your website. But it is taking a range of metrics and numbers to see how users interact on your website is not only how you see your site can be disrupted and where you can improve the process ultimately working your site for the best results. It’s like a check-up on your website that will help you diagnose issues and prescribe the remedies.
Why Website Analysis is Crucial for Professional Design
What Do Professional Designers Look for When Analyzing a Website?
Professional designers focus on usability, aesthetics, and technical performance. They assess:
UI/UX: How intuitive and user-friendly the site is.
Performance: Page speed, Core Web Vitals, and mobile responsiveness.
Branding: Consistency in colors, typography, and messaging.
Accessibility: Compliance with WCAG standards and usability for all users.
How Design Affects User Experience, Branding, and Conversions
A well-designed website improves engagement, trust, and conversions. Poor design leads to high bounce rates and lost revenue.
Good design: Enhances usability, reinforces brand identity, and drives user actions.
Bad design: Causes frustration, reduces credibility, and increases exit rates.
Visual Hierarchy & Layout: The First Impression of a Website
How a Website’s Layout Is Perceived by Users
Users scan pages in common ways:
F-Pattern: Emphasis on the top left followed by downward movement
Z-Pattern: Z-pattern moves diagonally across the page, used for landing pages
Components That Influence Visual Hierarchy
Size & Contrast: Key elements need to pop.
Spacing & Alignment: Helps establish clarity and order.
Decoding Color: Affects feelings and behavior.
Common Layout Mistakes
excessive use of cluttered elements.
Bad font hierarchy and low contrast
The center of rotation, or pivot point, is not specified.
FAQ: How to Analyze Your Website Like a Professional Designer
1. Why is it important to analyze my website regularly?
Regular analysis ensures your website stays updated, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines, improving traffic and conversions.
2. How do I evaluate if my website is user-friendly?
Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. Test navigation, readability, and ease of access. Ask real users for feedback on their experience.
3. What SEO factors should I check when reviewing my site?
Check keyword usage, page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, heading structure (H1, H2, etc.), page speed, and internal linking.
4. How can I track my website’s keyword rankings?
Use Google Search Console to see how your site ranks for important keywords and analyze traffic sources and user behavior.
5. Why should I fix broken links on my website?
Broken links hurt user experience and SEO. Use tools like Google Analytics, Screaming Frog, or Sitechecker to identify and redirect them.
