Content Audit Process Checklist

Step-by-step checklist for thorough content audits

Follow this comprehensive checklist to ensure every critical step of your content audit is completed. Track progress, assign owners, and maintain quality throughout the process.

Phases

Total Tasks

Weeks

Complete Process Checklist

Phase 1: Planning & Preparation

Week 1

Define audit objectives and success criteriaIdentify key stakeholders and get buy-inDetermine audit scope and boundariesAssemble audit team and assign rolesSelect and configure audit toolsCreate project timeline and milestonesSet up communication channelsSchedule stakeholder meetings

Phase 2: Content Inventory

Week 1-2

Crawl website with technical SEO toolsExport content from CMSDocument all content types and formatsCatalog URLs, titles, and metadataIdentify content owners and authorsNote last modified datesMap content to site structureCreate master inventory spreadsheet

Phase 3: Data Collection

Week 2-3

Pull traffic data from Google AnalyticsExport Search Console performance metricsGather conversion and goal dataCollect engagement metrics (time, bounce)Document backlink profilesExtract social sharing dataCompile user feedback and ratingsBenchmark against competitors

Phase 4: Content Analysis

Week 3-4

Assess content quality and accuracyEvaluate SEO optimization levelsReview content structure and formattingCheck mobile responsivenessAnalyze page load speedsIdentify duplicate or thin contentMap content to buyer journeyScore content by priority criteria

Phase 5: Recommendations

Week 4-5

Categorize content (keep, update, remove)Prioritize improvement opportunitiesIdentify quick winsCreate content gap analysisDevelop optimization strategiesPlan content consolidationDesign new content calendarEstimate resource requirements

Phase 6: Reporting & Planning

Week 5-6

Create executive summaryPrepare detailed findings reportBuild priority action matrixDevelop implementation roadmapCreate content style guide updatesPresent findings to stakeholdersFinalize action items and ownersSet up tracking and monitoring

Quality Gates

Critical checkpoints to ensure audit quality and completeness:

After Inventory:

All content documented
No sections missed
URLs validated

After Analysis:

Data accuracy verified
Scoring consistent
Gaps identified

Before Delivery:

Stakeholder review done
Recommendations feasible
Resources confirmed

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Skipping stakeholder alignment at the start
Not documenting exclusions and assumptions
Focusing only on traffic metrics
Ignoring technical SEO issues
Making recommendations without considering resources
Not setting up tracking for post-audit improvements

Download Process Checklist

Get the complete checklist in a printable format. Track progress, assign tasks, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Pro Tips for Using This Checklist

Print and laminate for reusable physical tracking
Import into project management tools (Asana, Trello, etc.)
Assign specific owners to each major phase
Schedule weekly check-ins to review progress
Add time estimates to each task for better planning
Customize tasks based on your specific audit scope

Need Expert Guidance?

Our team can guide you through each phase of the content audit process.

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