Testing the Waters: Why a Website Audit Makes Sense Before You Go Live
In my experience, people quietly spend weeks, sometimes months, writing their website copy, developing their services, and trawling through Pinterest boards for design ideas. They put in real work to get to the point of going live.
And somewhere in that process, perspective begins to blur.
What once felt clear: what you offer, how you want to present your business, what to include and what to leave out, can slowly become murky. After staring at your own words and layouts for long enough, it becomes difficult to tell what makes sense anymore.
You may find yourself asking:
Is my Squarespace website actually guiding people toward the action I want them to take — or am I just hoping they’ll figure it out?
Does my site look cohesive and professional — or does it feel a little mismatched and homemade?
Can someone land on my homepage and quickly understand where to go next?
Is my website easy to use on a phone, or am I only judging it from my laptop screen?
Am I explaining what I do clearly, or am I so familiar with it that I’ve skipped steps in my explanation?
Will anyone actually find this site in a search engine, or have I focused so much on design that I’ve ignored visibility?
The Risk of Launching Without Clarity
There’s a particular kind of mental fatigue that sets in when you’ve been staring at something too long. You’ve built the site. You’ve adjusted the fonts. You’ve rearranged sections more times than you can count. At some point, you just want to hit publish.
But launching without stepping back can mean presenting a message that isn’t as clear as it could be, adding calls to action that aren’t strong enough, or creating a layout that makes perfect sense to you but not to someone encountering your business for the first time.
Pausing for a professional Squarespace website audit before you go live creates space for clarity. It allows you to move from guesswork to informed decisions.
Why it’s Hard to See Your Own Blind Spots
When you’ve built something yourself, you’re too close to it. I often share this analogy with clients: trying to assess your own website is like trying to view a painting from inside the frame. Objectivity becomes almost impossible.
You know what you meant to say. You know where everything is. A first-time visitor doesn’t.
An outsider’s perspective in the form of a professional website review helps you clarify your message, remove friction, and structure your site so that the flow from one page to the next feels natural. It also helps align your site’s structure with the outcome you actually want — whether that’s enquiries, bookings, or sales.
What a Website Audit Actually Looks At Before Launch
A thorough Squarespace website audit looks beyond colours and layout. It examines the whole picture:
Strategy: Does your site clearly support the goals and direction of your business?
Design: Does the visual presentation reflect your professionalism and personality in a cohesive way
Navigation: Can visitors quickly find what they’re looking for, or does the structure create confusion
Usability: Does your website function smoothly across devices, especially on mobile?
Content: Is your message clear and compelling — without overwhelming or under-informing?
On-site SEO: Have you addressed the key fundamentals that help your site be discoverable in search engines?
Testing the Waters Before Investing More Time or Money
Before launching your website, before your run ads, share your link widely, invest in SEO, or announce your launch, it’s wise to check that the foundations are solid.
Is your navigation intuitive?
Are your calls to action clear and confident?
Is the messaging on your homepage simple and focused?
Are there opportunities hidden in plain sight, or design quirks that unintentionally distract?
A website audit allows you to test the waters before committing more time, money, or energy.
Who This is Best For
If you’ve built your site yourself and are close to launching or if you’ve recently made significant updates and want reassurance that everything is aligned, a Website Audit offers clarity without committing to a full redesign.vIt’s a cost-effective way to gain a professional perspective on your Squarespace site before taking your next step.
A structured, objective review helps you see what a visitor sees, identify what truly needs attention, and move forward with focused confidence rather than endless tweaking.
If you’d value a second set of experienced eyes on your Squarespace site before launching or investing further, my Website Audit is designed for exactly this stage.
It’s a focused, practical review that highlights what’s working and where small changes could make a meaningful difference.
