Auditing your WordPress site is essential to ensure its optimal performance, security, and user experience. Here’s a comprehensive checklist based on the information gathered from the provided references:
Website Overview
- Ensure your website is fully functional and well-optimized.
- Periodically audit to identify technical problems and optimization opportunities.
Forms
- Locate all forms on your site and test their functionality.
- Ensure forms are capturing and submitting data correctly.
- Check for form responsiveness and user experience.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Install and configure an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO, All in One SEO, or The SEO Framework.
- Check meta tags, open graph information, and other SEO-related configurations.
- Review internal linking and ensure important pages are properly interlinked.
- Use tools like AIOSEO for comprehensive SEO audits and actionable suggestions.
Performance
- Check website loading speed and optimize for faster performance.
- Compress images and media files.
- Minimize CSS and JavaScript elements.
- Use tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom to measure site performance metrics.
Mobile Responsiveness
- Ensure the website is optimized for mobile devices.
- Test on various screen sizes and devices.
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool for validation.
Security
- Ensure the website has SSL encryption.
- Regularly backup the website.
- Monitor user activity and review logs.
- Enforce strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
- Use security plugins like Sucuri, iThemes Security, or WordFence.
Analytics
- Monitor website traffic and user behavior.
- Use tools like MonsterInsights to integrate Google Analytics with WordPress.
- Identify high-performing and low-performing pages for optimization.
Updates
- Regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
- Ensure compatibility after updates to prevent glitches or functionality problems.
Accessibility
- Ensure the website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
- Check color contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text for images, and other accessibility features.
- Use tools like Lighthouse for accessibility checks.
Privacy & Data
- Ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
- Inform users about data collection practices through a privacy policy.
- Use privacy-forward analytics tools if required.
Other Checks
- Ensure the website language is declared for better SEO and accessibility.
- Check for broken links and set up redirects if necessary.
- Ensure the website is indexed by search engines.
- Test website functionality, including buttons, navigation, and other interactive elements.
References:
By regularly auditing your WordPress site using this checklist, you can ensure that it remains secure, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines.