Complete WordPress Site Audit Checklist

Ready to dive in? You need a WordPress site audit to keep your site fast, secure, and high-performing. Half of marketing professionals report that an SEO review boosted their marketing results (WP Rocket). Let’s break down the complete checklist so you can run your own review without breaking the site.

Define Audit Objectives

Why does this matter? A clear goal drives focused action. Start by mapping what you want to achieve:

• Security Hardened Site
• Faster Page Loads
• Higher Search Rankings
• Better User Experience
• Consistent Brand Voice

Align these targets with your business KPIs.

Audit WordPress Setup

Verify WordPress Version

Confirm you’re on the latest core release. Updates patch vulnerabilities and unlock performance tweaks.

Check Theme And Plugins

• Audit active plugins for compatibility and load impact
• Remove unused or outdated extensions
• Run a wordpress plugin audit to flag conflicts

Inspect Database Health

Optimize tables, clear transients, and delete spam comments. A lean database speeds queries—link in with wordpress database optimization.

Check Security Measures

Update Software Components

Outdated WordPress core, themes, or plugins are the leading hack vectors (Shield Security).

Enforce Login Security

• Require strong, unique passwords
• Limit login attempts
• Enable two-factor authentication via wordpress security practices

Scan For Malware

Run daily scans. MalCare’s free scanner checks over 100 signals to spot hidden malware (MalCare). Remember, 72% of sites have faced breaches (WP Kraken).

Evaluate Performance Speed

Run Speed Tests

Use Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to identify bottlenecks. Track your baseline before you optimize.

Optimize Caching And CDN

Implement a caching plugin and a global CDN. Link to our wordpress cache optimization guide for setup tips.

Audit Images And Media

Compress, lazy-load, and serve responsive images. See best practices in image optimization wordpress.

Review Theme And Code

Switch to a lightweight theme or streamline your current one. Check out wordpress theme speed for recommendations.

Assess SEO Factors

Crawl Technical Errors

Use Semrush’s Site Audit tool to catch over 140 issues—from broken links to duplicate tags (SEMrush Blog).

Review On-Page Elements

• Meta titles and descriptions
• Heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Image alt attributes

Check Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals measure real-world user experience (WP Rocket). Track them in Search Console.

Review Content Quality

Conduct Content Audit

Identify underperforming pages and posts (Multicollab). Tag content by traffic, backlinks, and conversions.

Refresh Or Remove Content

Update stats, improve call-to-actions, or prune irrelevant posts. Stay consistent with your brand voice.

Examine UX And Design

Test Mobile Responsiveness

Check layouts on multiple devices. Fix breakpoints and font sizes via mobile optimization wordpress.

Evaluate Navigation Flow

Ensure menus guide visitors to key pages. Streamline clicks from landing to checkout.

Check Accessibility Compliance

Use alt text, proper labels, and keyboard navigation to meet WCAG standards.

Schedule Regular Audits

Websites with frequent updates deserve quarterly checks; simpler sites can audit annually (WP Kraken).

• Trigger a review after migrations or major plugin installs
• Automate crawl reports and security alerts

Outline Your Next Steps

You’ve got the blueprint. Now take action:

• Choose your audit tools and mark dates
• Run each checklist item with care
• Document findings and assign fixes
• Track improvements in speed, security, and SEO

Make your site audit a habit and watch your WordPress experience evolve from “just working” to “working for you.”