The 3 website checks: what they mean and how to test them yourself
When we look at a small company's website, we measure three things. None of them is a matter of opinion: each one gives a number or a yes or no. This guide explains what each check means, how to run it free, and what fixing it usually involves.
Check 1: mobile PageSpeed score
What it is. Google's PageSpeed Insights runs a lab test of a web page on a simulated mid-range phone and gives a performance score from 0 to 100. Google's own documentation rates 90 and above as good, 50 to 89 as needing improvement, and under 50 as poor. We use "under 50" as our line.
How to check it free. Go to pagespeed.web.dev, paste your homepage address and choose the Mobile tab. Run it two or three times. The score can move by several points between runs, so look at the general range rather than one number.
What a fix usually involves. The common causes are large uncompressed photos, heavy scripts from plug-ins or chat widgets, and themes that load far more than a page needs. Fixes include resizing and compressing images, removing scripts nobody uses, and in some cases moving to a simpler, lighter page design. A small static site is usually quick to load because there is very little for the phone to download.
Check 2: is the site on https?
What it is. https means the connection between your visitor and your website is encrypted. Browsers show a padlock, or a "Not secure" warning when a page is loaded without it. It matters most on any page with a contact form, because people type their name and email there.
How to check it free. Type your address into a browser starting with https:// and see whether the page loads without a warning. Then type it with http:// and see whether it moves you to the https version. If the first fails or shows a certificate message, there is something to fix.
What a fix usually involves. Installing a certificate (many hosts offer these at no extra cost), then redirecting the old http addresses to the https ones and updating any internal links. On a new static site this is set up from day one.
Check 3: an out-of-date copyright year
What it is. Many sites have a line in the footer such as "© 2016". It is a small thing, but a visitor reading it may wonder whether the business is still active, or whether the rest of the page is current. We treat 2018 or earlier as out of date.
How to check it free. Scroll to the bottom of your homepage and read the footer. Check one or two inner pages as well, as they sometimes differ.
What a fix usually involves. Often it is a single line of text. If the footer is typed in by hand, change it. If your site's theme controls it, you may need a small edit to the template so it updates itself each year. It is the cheapest fix of the three, though it is worth asking whether the page content around it is current too.
For letting agents
Tenants and landlords often look at your site on a phone, sometimes while on the move between viewings. Property listing pages tend to carry many photos, which is where mobile speed is most often lost. Try the PageSpeed test on a page with several images, not only the homepage. If you take enquiries or landlord valuation requests through a form, check that the page is on https. Letting agents also handle personal details, so a plain, secure contact form is worth having.
In England, letting agents with a website must publish their list of fees on it, and say which redress scheme they belong to where one is required (Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 83 on legislation.gov.uk). We do not write that content for you; we keep the pages that carry it clear and easy to find.
For accountants
Clients may find your firm through a referral, then visit your site to see if you look established. A site that loads slowly on a phone, or shows a "Not secure" warning on the contact page, can undercut a message about care and accuracy. Check your services pages and any client enquiry form. Footer years matter here too: a firm that writes about current tax rules sits oddly beside a footer from 2015.
If you publish tax guidance, make sure dated articles are marked as such, so readers know when they were written.
What to do with your results
If all three checks pass, you may not need us, and that is a good outcome. If one or more fails, you have a short, specific list to hand to whoever looks after your site. You can also use ours: our free check runs all three tests in a single step.
If you would like to see what a rebuilt site could look like, our launch package is a fixed £395 one-off for a 3–5 page site, and you see a preview before you pay anything. The pricing section on the homepage lists exactly what is included. We are an AI-assisted studio and work only by email, with no calls or meetings.