Website Content Audit Sheet

Who this is for

A page-by-page check of a website. Each page gets a row saying what it is for, when it was last touched, whether it is still accurate and what should happen to it next. At the end you have a list of work with an owner and a date on each item.

Small business owners, charity and club web volunteers, and site editors who have inherited a website and need to know what is on it before changing anything.

What this helps you track

• Every page in scope, with its address and title
• What each page is for and when it was last updated
• Pages that are out of date or have broken links
• Whether to keep, update, merge or remove each page
• Who is doing the work and by when

How to use it

1. Write the site, the audit date, who is auditing and how many pages are in scope.
2. List the pages from the site menu, sitemap or content system, one per row with the address and title.
3. Open each page and note its purpose, the date it was last updated and whether everything on it is still true.
4. Click through its links and write how many are broken.
5. Choose an action for each page, give it an owner and a due date.
6. Count the pages to update and to remove into the header boxes, and review the list at the next audit.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How many pages should one audit cover?

As many as you can check properly in the time you have. On a large site, set the scope to one section at a time and write it in the pages-in-scope box so the next audit knows where to pick up.

What is the difference between update and merge?

Update means the page stays but its content needs correcting or refreshing. Merge means two or more pages say much the same thing and should become one, with the old addresses sent on to the new page.

Do I need special software to find broken links?

No. Clicking each link on the page works for a small site. A link-checking tool is quicker on a larger one, and you can copy its count into the broken links column.

How often should a site be audited?

There is no set interval; it depends on how fast your content goes out of date. Many owners do it when prices, staff or services change, or before a redesign.