Website UX Audit

Website UX Audit Skill

Overview

Conduct systematic analysis of a website's user experience and interface design, producing structured reports that feed directly into design and implementation workflows.

The output consists of:

1. A main report with overall findings, cross-cutting issues, and prioritized recommendations
2. Section-specific reports for each major area of the site, with detailed analysis and implementation guidance

Key principle: All recommendations are categorized by implementation readiness to enable immediate action on what's possible without waiting for additional inputs.

Required Inputs

Recommendation Tiers

All recommendations MUST be categorized into one of three tiers:

Tier 1: Implement Now

Recommendations that can be actioned immediately using:

• Existing site content (text, images, data)
• Publicly observable structure and functionality
• Standard UX patterns and best practices

No additional information required from site owner.

Examples:

• Reorganizing existing navigation items
• Simplifying category labels using existing terminology
• Creating wireframes based on current content
• Fixing broken images/links that are observable
• Adding search functionality to existing content
• Improving layout and visual hierarchy
• Mobile optimization of existing pages

Tier 2: Requires Information

Recommendations that need input from the site owner before implementation:

• Business rules or logic not apparent from the site
• Access to backend systems or data
• Brand guidelines or design assets
• Content that doesn't exist on the current site
• Metrics, statistics, or claims to be displayed
• Pricing or product information
• Legal/compliance requirements

Document specifically what information is needed.

Examples:

• Adding audience metrics (need actual numbers)
• Testimonials (need permission and content)
• Integration with external systems (need access)
• New content sections (need subject matter)
• Pricing display (need current rates)

Tier 3: Future Enhancements

Strategic improvements that require:

• Significant new functionality development
• Content creation beyond reorganization
• Third-party integrations
• Ongoing operational commitments
• Major architectural changes

These inform the product roadmap but aren't immediate implementation candidates.

Examples:

• User review/rating systems
• Personalization engines
• Advanced search with ML
• Community features
• New content programs

Process

Phase 1: Discovery & Data Gathering

1.1 Explore Site Structure

Start by fetching the homepage:

web_fetch(url=homepage_url)

Then systematically explore:

• Main navigation sections
• Footer links
• Key landing pages
• Representative subpages (1-2 per section)

Document the site map as discovered.

1.2 Capture Screenshots

Use browser automation tools to capture:

• Homepage (desktop and mobile)
• Mobile navigation (open state)
• Each major section landing page
• Key interactive elements (forms, search, filters)
• Any areas of specific user concern

1.3 Run Performance Analysis

Execute PageSpeed Insights checks:

https://pagespeed.web.dev/analysis?url={homepage_url}

Record:

• Core Web Vitals scores
• Performance opportunities
• Diagnostic findings
• Mobile vs desktop differences

Phase 2: Analysis

Analyze across these dimensions:

2.1 Visual Design

• Typography (fonts, hierarchy, readability)
• Color palette (cohesion, contrast, accessibility)
• Layout (whitespace, density, grid usage)
• Imagery (quality, loading, relevance)
• Consistency across pages

2.2 Information Architecture

• Navigation systems (primary, secondary, footer)
• Content hierarchy and organization
• Labeling clarity
• Search and findability
• Duplicate or conflicting paths

2.3 Content Quality

• Messaging clarity and tone
• Value proposition communication
• Call-to-action effectiveness
• Content freshness and relevance
• Grammar, spelling, consistency

2.4 Interaction Design

• Form design and usability
• Interactive element clarity
• Feedback mechanisms
• Error handling
• Loading states

2.5 Mobile Experience

• Responsive design quality
• Touch target sizing
• Mobile navigation patterns
• Content prioritization
• Performance on mobile

2.6 Accessibility

• Semantic HTML usage
• Keyboard navigation
• Screen reader compatibility
• Color contrast ratios
• Alternative text for images

2.7 Performance

• Page load times
• Resource optimization
• Render-blocking resources
• Image optimization
• Code efficiency

Phase 3: Report Generation

3.1 Main Report Structure

Create comprehensive main report with:

Executive Summary

• Overall site assessment (2-3 paragraphs)
• Most critical issues (top 3-5)
• Quick wins available
• Estimated impact of improvements

Cross-Cutting Issues Issues affecting multiple sections:

• Pattern-level problems
• Systemic usability issues
• Technical debt
• Brand inconsistencies

Prioritized Recommendations Group by tier:

1. Tier 1 (Implement Now) - Action immediately
2. Tier 2 (Requires Information) - Note what's needed
3. Tier 3 (Future Enhancements) - Strategic roadmap

For each recommendation:

• Issue: What's wrong
• Impact: User/business consequence
• Solution: Specific fix
• Tier: Implementation category
• Effort: Rough estimate (S/M/L)

Performance Summary

• Core Web Vitals breakdown
• Top performance issues
• Quick optimization opportunities

Next Steps Clear action items:

• Immediate implementations (Tier 1)
• Information to gather (Tier 2)
• Strategic planning items (Tier 3)

3.2 Section-Specific Reports

For each major site section, create focused report:

Section Overview

• Purpose and goals
• Current state assessment
• User journey analysis

Visual Design Assessment

• Section-specific visual issues
• Consistency with site standards
• Recommendations

Content & IA Assessment

• Content effectiveness
• Navigation and structure
• Findability issues
• Recommendations

Interaction Design Assessment

• Key interactions review
• Usability issues
• Recommendations

Implementation Guidance Tier 1 recommendations only:

• Specific changes to make
• Wireframes or mockups (if helpful)
• Content reorganization specifics
• Priority order

Quality Standards

Recommendations Must Be:

• Specific: Clear, actionable instructions
• Justified: Explain impact and reasoning
• Tiered: Correctly categorized for implementation
• Prioritized: Relative importance clear
• Measurable: Success criteria defined where possible

Reports Must Include:

• Evidence from actual site (screenshots, URLs)
• Comparative examples (good vs current)
• Performance data (when relevant)
• Accessibility issues (WCAG violations)
• Mobile-specific concerns

Avoid:

• Generic advice applicable to any site
• Recommendations without justification
• Mixing tiers (keep clear separation)
• Assumptions about unavailable information
• Subjective opinions without UX principles

Output Format

File Structure

Create organized deliverables:

ux-audit-{site-name}/
├── 00-main-report.md
├── 01-homepage.md
├── 02-section-name.md
├── 03-section-name.md
├── screenshots/
│   ├── homepage-desktop.png
│   ├── homepage-mobile.png
│   └── ...
└── performance/
    ├── pagespeed-mobile.png
    └── pagespeed-desktop.png

Report Formatting

Use consistent markdown structure:

• H1 for report title
• H2 for major sections
• H3 for subsections
• Tables for structured data
• Code blocks for specific implementations
• Bullet lists for recommendations
• Numbered lists for step-by-step processes

Browser Automation Integration

When browser tools are available, leverage them for:

Screenshot Capture

computer(action="screenshot", tabId=tab_id)

Mobile Viewport Testing

resize_window(width=375, height=667)  # iPhone SE
resize_window(width=414, height=896)  # iPhone 11 Pro Max

Interactive Element Testing

navigate(url=page_url)
find(query="search button")
computer(action="left_click", coordinate=[x, y])

Console Error Checking

read_console_messages(pattern="error|warning")

Network Performance Analysis

read_network_requests()

Additional Resources

Reference Files

For detailed workflows and standards:

• references/CHECKLIST.md - Comprehensive audit checklist for thorough coverage

Example Files

Working examples in examples/:

• EXAMPLES.md - Sample audit reports and recommendation formats

Best Practices

During Discovery

• Capture evidence systematically
• Document navigation paths taken
• Note observable user friction
• Screenshot liberally
• Record performance metrics

During Analysis

• Apply recognized UX principles
• Reference WCAG standards
• Compare against modern patterns
• Prioritize user impact
• Consider implementation feasibility

During Reporting

• Lead with high-impact items
• Provide clear visual examples
• Separate what's possible now vs later
• Make recommendations actionable
• Include success metrics

Communication

• Write for multiple audiences (designers, developers, stakeholders)
• Balance technical detail with accessibility
• Use visual aids effectively
• Organize for easy navigation
• Enable quick reference

Common Patterns

Navigation Issues

• Over-complex menu structures
• Unclear labeling
• Inconsistent navigation across sections
• Missing breadcrumbs
• Poor mobile navigation

Solution Pattern: Simplify, clarify labels, add consistent navigation cues

Content Issues

• Unclear value propositions
• Weak calls-to-action
• Outdated information
• Inconsistent tone
• Poor content hierarchy

Solution Pattern: Refine messaging, strengthen CTAs, reorganize hierarchy

Visual Issues

• Inconsistent styling
• Poor typography hierarchy
• Low contrast
• Cluttered layouts
• Inconsistent spacing

Solution Pattern: Create consistent design system, improve visual hierarchy

Mobile Issues

• Non-responsive elements
• Small touch targets
• Horizontal scrolling
• Poor mobile navigation
• Slow mobile performance

Solution Pattern: Implement responsive patterns, optimize mobile experience

Performance Issues

• Large unoptimized images
• Render-blocking resources
• Excessive JavaScript
• Slow server response
• No caching strategy

Solution Pattern: Optimize assets, defer non-critical resources, implement caching

Success Criteria

Effective audit delivers:

• ✅ Clear, prioritized action items
• ✅ Tier 1 recommendations ready for immediate implementation
• ✅ Evidence-based findings with screenshots
• ✅ Specific solutions, not just problems
• ✅ Section-specific implementation guidance
• ✅ Performance improvement opportunities
• ✅ Accessibility issue identification
• ✅ Mobile experience evaluation
• ✅ Strategic roadmap (Tier 2 & 3)