Website Audit – The Real World

As the new Marketing Manager of a certain company, I jumped at the chance of using my client’s website as the focus of my e-Marketing class’ website audit assignment.

 

Asked to create a 8-10 page proposal on the analysis, SWOT, 7Cs, website visibility report card, and recommendations on the website, I spent the extra effort, knowing I would show the same report to my manager.

As I sat down with my manager and brief him on the report, he was both amazed and irritated at how there was so much “obvious” details that had not been already corrected in the original website, and was anxious to immediately fix all of the mentioned changes/recommendations.

Although I have had other real-business clients in the past with my class projects, this was the first time I dealt with an actual employer. Below are some things I learnt from this experience:

  • Create an Action Plan with deliverables to clearly highlight all the important steps of action (prioritize, and go through with your client)
  • Ensure full communication with your client – make sure of what they want, because it may be different from what you originally intended in the report
  • Make clear to the client what you are able to carry through, and what you plan to delegate to 3rd party services (like website designers)
  • Clearly communicate with your 3rd party businesses – If possible, meet with them (and your client) personally and discuss the changes you would like to carry out to ensure all parties are on the same page.

 

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