Our 5-Step Website Optimisation Checklist for 2025

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and as we are well into Q1 of 2025, businesses need to assess whether their websites are keeping up. A slow-loading page, a frustrating mobile experience, or an outdated content management system (CMS) can mean lost customers, lower search rankings, and increased security risks. The good news is that if you take the time to evaluate your website and plan ahead, you will find yourself in a much better position – and we are here to help! 

What should you be focusing on to ensure your website is prepared for 2025? From speed and accessibility to SEO and security, here are the key areas you should be reviewing—along with our practical steps to ensure you’re ahead of the curve. 

 

1. Speed and Performance: Is Your Website Quick Enough? 

A good start is asking yourself: how long would you wait for a page to load before leaving a website? Most users won’t hang around if the page is not loading quick enough—53% of users will leave if a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load [1]. Moreover, Google’s Core Web Vitals have made speed a ranking factor, meaning that a slow site won’t just frustrate your visitors but could also negatively impact your search visibility. 

When a website takes a while to load, it could be because of  large image files, bloated code, or too many third-party scripts that are draging down performance. We recommend considering tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse, as these can help diagnose the issues, and then optimisations such as image compression, minifying CSS and JavaScript, and using a content delivery network (CDN) can significantly speed things up. 

For businesses with high traffic volumes, server efficiency also plays a role. Is your hosting provider still fit for purpose? If your site is slow during peak times, upgrading to a better hosting plan or implementing caching mechanisms could make all the difference. 

 

2. Accessibility: Can Everyone Use Your Website? 

An accessible website isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ in 2025—it’s essential for inclusivity, user experience, and legal compliance. Yet, 98% of websites still fail to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) [2], potentially excluding millions of users with disabilities. Remember that ensuring your website is accessible can expand your audience, improve visitor satisfaction, and even boost SEO. 

There are some useful questions we recommend asking yourself when figuring out whether your website is accessible:  

• Have you considered whether someone with impaired vision can navigate your site?
• Are buttons and links on your website easy to use for people with motor difficulties? Are they easily located, and have adequate contrast?
• Does your content work well with screen readers – can you easily navigate your site using written content alone?
• Is your colour contrast high enough to be readable?
• Do all images have meaningful alt text?
• Can users navigate without a mouse? 

 

3. Mobile Experience: Is Your Website Designed for How People Actually Browse? 

With over 60% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices [3], a website that works well on desktop, but struggles on mobile, is no longer acceptable. People’s browsing behaviour has changed, and so should your website. Mobile-first design isn’t just about resizing elements—it’s about ensuring the experience is seamless, fast, and intuitive. 

Whenever we help our clients optimise their websites for exceptional mobile experience, here are some of the things we keep in mind: 

• Have you tested your website on multiple screen sizes?
• Are buttons easy to tap?
• Is the text legible without zooming?
• Is the navigation clear and accurate? 

While Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test can flag issues, real-world testing is just as important. If visitors are pinching and scrolling excessively to find information, it’s time to rethink your design. 

Speed, again, is another crucial factor here. Mobile users often rely on slower connections, meaning a heavy page can feel unbearably slow. Reducing unnecessary animations, using lightweight fonts, and prioritising essential content first can make a significant difference. If you want to keep heavy features such as animations on your desktop site, then just implement these changes on your mobile designs. 

 

4. SEO in 2025: Are You Keeping Up with Search Evolution? 

Search is changing, and we find that traditional SEO tactics are no longer enough. Google’s increasing use of AI-driven results and its Search Generative Experience (SGE) means that ranking well now requires a deeper understanding of search intent. Are you providing direct, useful answers to user queries? Does your content stand out as authoritative and relevant to your audience? 

It is important to focus on structuring content effectively, answering common customer questions, and using schema markup to help search engines understand your pages. Featured snippets and voice search optimisation are becoming increasingly valuable, so ensuring your content is concise, well-formatted, and easy to interpret is key in 2025. 

 

5. Security and Compliance: Is Your Website Protecting User Data? 

Unfortunately, cybersecurity threats continue to rise, and businesses can’t afford to take website security lightly. Did you know that 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses [4],  yet many websites still rely on outdated security measures? If you’re not actively protecting your site, you could be putting customer data, and your reputation, at risk. 

Basic security hygiene includes keeping software and plugins up to date, using HTTPS encryption, and implementing strong authentication measures. But security isn’t just about preventing hacks; it’s also about compliance. Regulations like GDPR mean businesses need to handle user data responsibly, using cookie consent banners clear, making sure that your privacy policy up to date.  

End-of-life (EOL) software is another risk factor. If you’re still using Umbraco 8 or Drupal 7, your CMS is no longer receiving security updates, leaving it vulnerable and at-risk of security threats. Migrating to a supported version should be an imediate priority, to ensure your site remains protected 

 

 

As digital expectations continue to evolve, businesses must ensure their websites remain competitive, accessible, and optimised.  

A website audit can reveal hidden issues and help you stay ahead. Whether it’s a simple performance tune-up or a full-scale platform migration, taking action now will ensure your website isn’t holding you back in 2025.  

If you’re unsure where to start, our team can help assess your website’s strengths and weaknesses. Don’t hesitate to reach out and book a free consultation with us - we are here to help you get to where you want to be as fast and seamlessly as possible.