FREE Step-by-Step Website Audit Checklist

Summary

In just three seconds, over half of website visitors abandon a site, often without businesses even realizing it. The video explores why businesses lose customers so quickly, delving into key metrics like Core Web Vitals, LCP, INP, and Cumulative Layout Shift that impact user experience and search rankings. With mobile traffic on the rise, the importance of site performance, SEO, user experience, and accessibility is critical. The video offers practical advice for businesses to improve website performance, from quick fixes to ongoing audits, emphasizing the need to make a lasting first impression.

Takeaways

• 😀 Over 50% of website visitors abandon a site within 3 seconds, making first impressions crucial.
• 😀 Many business owners are unaware that their websites are losing customers due to poor performance.
• 😀 Websites with poor performance are like stores where 50% of visitors walk in and immediately leave.
• 😀 Core web vitals, such as LCP (Largest Content Paint), measure how quickly key content appears on a website.
• 😀 Nearly 70% of websites fail to meet core web vital standards, leading to lower rankings and higher bounce rates.
• 😀 Google penalizes websites that fail to meet core web vital standards, which means businesses lose customers and search rankings.
• 😀 INP (Interaction to Next Paint) measures how quickly actions like clicking buttons respond, impacting user experience.
• 😀 Poor user interactions, like delayed checkout buttons, can lead to frustration and lost sales.
• 😀 Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is another issue, causing unexpected page jumps and accidental clicks on ads.
• 😀 Website issues like these directly affect trust, credibility, and business relationships, especially as mobile traffic exceeds 60%.
• 😀 The solution involves auditing four key areas: technical performance, SEO, user experience, and accessibility, with accessibility becoming a significant legal concern.
• 😀 Approximately 98% of websites fail basic accessibility standards, potentially turning away a quarter of potential customers.
• 😀 Many website issues are simple to fix, such as compressing images, fixing broken links, and adding alt text to images.
• 😀 Tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights can help businesses diagnose and fix website issues for free.
• 😀 Regular website checkups are essential, as digital landscapes constantly evolve, much like maintaining your car or health.
• 😀 In 2025, a website is often the first and only chance to make a positive impression, making the first 3 seconds crucial.

Q & A

What percentage of website visitors abandon a site in just three seconds?

Over 50% of website visitors will abandon a site in just three seconds, which is less time than it takes to tie your shoes.

What are Core Web Vitals and why are they important for websites?

Core Web Vitals are key metrics that measure a website's performance and user experience. They include Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These metrics are critical for retaining visitors and improving search engine rankings.

What is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)?

LCP measures how quickly the main content of a page appears. It's a crucial metric that determines how fast the user can start interacting with the content.

Why do so many businesses fail Core Web Vitals?

Nearly 70% of websites fail to meet Core Web Vitals, primarily due to poor website performance, large image files, or slow server responses. These issues result in slow page loading times and poor user experience.

What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP) and why does it matter?

INP measures the time it takes for a website to respond to user interactions, like clicking a button. If there’s a noticeable delay, users may feel frustrated, which negatively impacts the user experience.

How can poor user experience on websites affect businesses?

A poor user experience can result in higher bounce rates, lost customers, and lower search engine rankings. It damages trust and credibility, leading to a decline in both conversions and organic search visibility.

What is Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) and how does it affect user experience?

CLS measures how much a webpage layout shifts unexpectedly during loading. It can lead to users clicking on the wrong elements (e.g., ads), which frustrates them and leads to a negative experience.

How do mobile traffic trends impact website performance?

With mobile traffic now exceeding 60%, poor website performance on mobile devices can significantly affect user experience and customer retention. It's essential to optimize websites for mobile viewing.

What are the four key areas businesses need to audit to improve their website?

The four key areas to audit are: 1) Technical performance (Core Web Vitals), 2) SEO (to improve visibility), 3) User experience (ease of navigation and use), and 4) Accessibility (ensuring the website is usable by all, including people with disabilities).

What role does accessibility play in website performance?

Accessibility is crucial for ensuring that people with disabilities can use the website. It’s also a growing legal concern, with about 98% of websites failing basic accessibility standards, which can turn away a significant portion of potential customers.