A website can look impressive on the surface yet still fail where it matters—bringing in visitors and turning them into customers. If your site isn’t performing, an SEO audit from smokingchilimedia.com or theseoconsultantlondon.co.uk can reveal what’s wrong. It digs beneath the design to find technical errors, weak content, and hidden barriers that stop search engines from ranking your pages.
Here are seven clear signs it’s time to run an SEO audit without delay.
- Your Traffic Has Dropped
One of the most obvious red flags is a sudden or steady drop in traffic. If you used to get regular visits but now the numbers are falling, something is wrong. It could be technical issues, lost backlinks, or changes in Google’s algorithm.
An audit highlights where the problem lies, whether it’s broken links, poor site speed, or competitors taking your position. Without checking, you’re left guessing while traffic continues to slide.
- You’re Ranking for the Wrong Terms
Maybe your site shows up in search results, but not for the phrases that matter. If you run a local shop in Swindon but most of your visitors come from abroad, your keywords and content aren’t aligned with your market.
An audit reviews how well your site matches search intent. It shows whether your pages are targeting the right terms and if your content speaks the same language as your customers.
- Your Website Is Slow
A slow site is more than an annoyance. It damages both rankings and user experience. Visitors won’t wait for pages to load. They’ll click away, and search engines track that behaviour.
During an audit, page speed is tested. Large images, heavy scripts, or poor hosting are common causes. Once identified, these can be fixed to make the site faster and more attractive to both users and search engines.
- You’re Not Getting Enquiries or Sales
Plenty of businesses have sites that look great but don’t deliver results. If visitors arrive but leave without calling, buying, or filling in a form, something is off.
An audit checks whether the content matches search intent, whether calls to action are clear, and whether visitors can move through the site easily. Sometimes small changes—like better navigation or clearer wording—can make a big difference.
- Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Most searches now happen on mobile devices. If your site looks fine on a desktop but awkward on a phone, you’re losing half your audience. Search engines also prioritise mobile-friendly sites in rankings.
An audit reviews your site across different devices and highlights where the mobile experience fails. Fixing these issues not only helps rankings but also keeps visitors engaged.
- You Don’t Know Who Links to You
Backlinks are vital for SEO, but poor-quality ones can harm your site. If you don’t know who links to you, you could be carrying toxic links that drag you down.
An audit checks your backlink profile. It identifies strong, relevant links worth keeping and weak or spammy ones that could be hurting your rankings. Cleaning this up protects your site and builds trust with search engines.
- You Haven’t Updated Content in Months
Old content tells search engines your site may not be active. If pages are outdated or untouched for too long, rankings can fall. Competitors with fresh, useful content will take your place.
An audit highlights thin, duplicate, or stale content. It shows where you need updates and where new content can help you compete.
Health Check
An SEO audit is like a health check for your website. If traffic is dropping, enquiries are low, or your site is slow and outdated, it’s time to act. An audit uncovers what’s broken, what’s missing, and what needs to be improved.
The longer you wait, the more ground you lose to rivals who are already fixing these issues. Run an audit now, and you’ll have a clear plan to get your website back on track—visible, fast, and ready to deliver results.
