The Art of Audit: Perfecting Ecommerce Website Assessments for Stellar Results
Since we're all about design, it's about time we had a little yak about an equally essential part of web development – the thrilling world of ecommerce website auditing. Look, I understand it might not sound like a rip-roaring joy ride, but we're talking digital harmony here; better SEO results, delighted customers and seriously boosted sales. Worth strapping in for the journey, eh?
Recognise the importance of performing audits on ecommerce websites towards achieving better SEO results.
Understand the extensive view such audits entail, covering everything from your site's technological underpinnings to its user experience aspects.
Learn the step-by-step process required to conduct a full ecommerce audit adequately, including a review of SEO, the study of UX/UI, accessibility, and speed checks.
Understand the need for professional assistance in the guise of specific tools designed to facilitate these audits, including Google Lighthouse and Screaming Frog.
There's no denying the paramount importance of an ecommerce website audit. In the wild west, that is the digital realm, the difference between landing on the first or the fifth page of Google carries the same weight as being the prime stallholder at a bustling market or the unlucky trader down a dimly lit alley. A well-executed audit uncovers the hidden secrets of your website, providing crucial insights for finger-on-the-pulse web developers to craft thorough optimisation strategies and deliver spot-on solutions.
But what does an ecommerce website audit actually entail? If you thought it was merely about checking how pretty your pages look, think again, mate. The scope here is as cavernous as the Mersey Tunnel, reaching all the way from technological attributes to user experience features of your site. We're talking website hierarchy, navigation, page loading speed, mobile compatibility, and quality of content. In other words, a soup-to-nuts overview of the customer journey, designed to ensure smoother travels and a more significant load in their baskets by the time they hit the end of the line.
Now onto the fun bit - the practicalities of carrying out such audits. You need a systematic, meticulous approach that leaves no digital stone unturned. This approach begins with studying the site's SEO elements, seeing whether meta titles, descriptions, and header tags are shouting in catchy headlines or whispering in barely readable fonts. From here, the focus shifts to the site's UX/UI, essentially evaluating the atmosphere of your virtual pub. Is it welcoming or does it send potential customers running for their lives? A thorough accessibility evaluation should be next on your checklist. You want to ensure that every customer, regardless of physical or sensory limitations, feels truly included. Finally, round off your audit with a comprehensive speed check – consider it a quick dash around the track at Aintree; the faster the pacing, the quicker your race is won.
Lucky for us, we're not left to do all this heavy lifting ourselves. A brigade of tech-gadgets waits at the ready to assist you in your auditing endeavours. Tools like Google Lighthouse and Screaming Frog can play a critical part in your ecommerce website audits. They are professionals at diagnosing potential weaknesses in your website's design and functionality that may be curtailing its effectiveness and overall appeal.
From a designer's perspective
To wrap this up, here’s the angle from yer Scouse web designer's point of view. In the grand scheme of things, an ecommerce website audit is akin to a well-necessary MOT for your vehicle. It's a no-nonsense, comprehensive examination that leaves you knowing every nook and cranny of your four-wheeled (or in this case, digital) contraption.Without it, you're just driving blindly, aren’t you? But with an effective audit to hand, you're in control, steering your digital beast sleekly through roads less travelled and highways frequented, always knowing which pit stops need your immediate attention and where you can confidently put the pedal to the metal.So, while an audit might initially seem like a dose of digital Castor Oil, it's genuinely the magic potion that can put your online shop on the fast lane to triumph. So, roll up your sleeves, fire up those web tools and get stuck in, you've got a website to optimise and an internet to conquer.