AUDIT PRACTICE 2 MIN READ
A practical checklist for reviewing a client website audit
A structured way to move from audit output to a review your team can stand behind.
An audit report is a starting point for professional review. Use this checklist to understand what was checked, validate the observations, and prepare a useful next step for the client.
1. Confirm the review context
Before you interpret individual findings, confirm which website was audited and whether the review is for a prospect or an existing client. Keep the purpose of the audit clear: an initial review, a client baseline, or a follow-up.
- Confirm the site and the intended audience for the report.
- Note that an automated review records observations; it does not assess every business or user context.
- For ongoing client work, keep the baseline associated with the saved client website.
2. Read coverage before reading the score
A site audit discovers and samples pages, and individual checks can complete, be sampled, fail, or be skipped. Look at coverage to understand the scope behind the findings and category scores.
- Check which categories and page samples are represented.
- Look for partial, sampled, failed, or skipped checks before drawing conclusions.
- Avoid presenting one score as a complete measure of the website.
3. Validate the findings that matter most
Severity and a priority action plan help narrow the review. For each important finding, inspect its evidence, affected URLs, and remediation guidance. Confirm it in the relevant context before recommending a change.
- Group repeated observations into a client-readable issue.
- Check the affected page and supporting evidence.
- Use severity as a prioritization signal, then apply your own technical and business judgement.
4. Shape the report around a decision
A useful report connects the observation to its impact and a next step. Separate what the audit observed from the action your team recommends, and be clear when further investigation is needed.
- Lead with the few issues that deserve a conversation now.
- Explain who should own each follow-up: your team, the client, or another specialist.
- Use agency branding and the PDF report when a shareable deliverable is appropriate.
5. Make room for a follow-up review
When the client site changes, a new audit can help revisit the findings. Comparisons are available for completed audits associated with the same saved client website, so keep that relationship intact.