UX audits: what they find and how to use the results

What UX audits cover

UX audits review how users interact with your site. They identify where users struggle, what works well, and what to fix first.

For more on UX/UI services, see UX/UI design and consulting.

What gets reviewed

1) User journeys

Key user journeys are mapped and tested to identify friction points.

• Key flows: Common tasks like finding information, completing forms, making purchases.
• Friction points: Where users get stuck, confused, or abandon tasks.
• Success paths: What works well and should be preserved.

2) Navigation and information architecture

How information is organised and how users find what they need.

• Site structure: How pages are organised and linked.
• Navigation patterns: Menus, links, and how users move through the site.
• Findability: How easily users can locate information.

3) Usability issues

Specific usability problems that impact user experience.

• Interaction patterns: Buttons, forms, links, and how they behave.
• Content clarity: Whether content is clear and actionable.
• Error handling: How errors are communicated and resolved.

4) Accessibility basics

Basic accessibility checks that impact user experience [1]Source 1 .

• Keyboard navigation: Whether users can navigate without a mouse.
• Focus indicators: Whether focus is visible and clear.
• Color contrast: Whether text is readable.
• Form labels: Whether forms are properly labelled.

For more on accessibility audits, see what an accessibility audit includes.

What you get

1) Findings report

A report documenting issues, priorities, and recommendations.

• Issues identified: Specific problems found during the audit.
• Priorities: What to fix first based on impact and effort.
• Recommendations: Clear guidance on how to fix issues.

2) User journey maps

Visual maps showing key user flows and where friction occurs.

• Journey visualization: How users move through key tasks.
• Friction points: Where users struggle or abandon tasks.
• Opportunities: Where improvements would have the most impact.

3) Evidence and examples

Screenshots, examples, and evidence to support findings.

• Screenshots: Visual evidence of issues.
• Examples: Specific instances where problems occur.
• Context: Why issues matter and how they impact users.

How to prioritise fixes

1) Impact and effort

Prioritise fixes based on impact to users and effort to implement.

• High impact, low effort: Quick wins that make a big difference.
• High impact, high effort: Important but require more work.
• Low impact, low effort: Easy fixes worth doing if time allows.
• Low impact, high effort: Usually not worth doing.

2) User journeys

Focus on fixes that improve key user journeys.

• Critical paths: Journeys that are essential to your goals.
• High-traffic pages: Pages that many users visit.
• Conversion pages: Pages where users take important actions.

3) Business goals

Align fixes with your business goals and priorities.

• Enquiry generation: Fixes that help users contact you.
• Sales: Fixes that help users complete purchases.
• Information access: Fixes that help users find what they need.

How to use the results

1) Share with your team

Share findings with your team to build understanding and buy-in.

• Present findings: Walk through key issues and priorities.
• Discuss priorities: Agree on what to fix first.
• Plan implementation: Decide who will fix what and when.

2) Create an action plan

Turn findings into a clear action plan.

• Prioritise fixes: List fixes in order of priority.
• Assign owners: Decide who is responsible for each fix.
• Set timelines: Agree on when fixes will be completed.

3) Track progress

Monitor progress as fixes are implemented.

• Check off fixes: Mark fixes as complete as they are done.
• Re-test: Test fixes to ensure they work as intended.
• Measure impact: Track whether fixes improve user experience.

4) Iterate

UX is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

• Regular reviews: Schedule regular UX reviews to catch new issues.
• User feedback: Collect and act on user feedback.
• Continuous improvement: Make UX improvement part of your regular process.

When to get a UX audit

Consider a UX audit when:

• Users struggle: You notice users having trouble with your site.
• Low conversions: Users are not completing key actions.
• Redesign planning: You are planning a redesign and want to understand current issues.
• New features: You are adding new features and want to ensure good UX.

UX audit vs usability testing

UX audits and usability testing are complementary but different.

• UX audits: Expert review of your site to identify issues. Faster and cheaper.
• Usability testing: Testing with real users to see how they actually use your site. More expensive but provides real user insights.

For more on usability testing, see user testing basics for small sites.

Summary

UX audits review: user journeys, navigation and information architecture, usability issues, accessibility basics.

You get: findings report, user journey maps, evidence and examples.

How to prioritise: impact and effort, user journeys, business goals.

How to use results: share with team, create action plan, track progress, iterate.

For more on UX audits and UX/UI services, see UX/UI design and consulting. For more on usability testing, see user testing basics for small sites or user research and testing services. For more on landing pages, see landing pages that convert. You can also get in touch to discuss your UX needs.