CRO

The Complete CRO Audit Checklist: 47 Points to Optimize

A comprehensive conversion rate optimization audit checklist covering UX, copy, design, technical performance, and trust factors to maximize your website conversions.

Redwood Marketing TeamCRO SpecialistsDecember 1, 202612 min read

Why You Need a CRO Audit

Most websites leave 40-60% of potential conversions on the table. A systematic CRO audit identifies these opportunities and prioritizes fixes based on impact.

This checklist covers every aspect of conversion optimization, from technical performance to psychological persuasion.

Technical Performance (10 Points)

Page Speed

  • LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) under 2.5 seconds
  • FID (First Input Delay) under 100ms
  • CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) under 0.1
  • Time to First Byte under 600ms
  • Total page weight under 3MB

Mobile Experience

  • Fully responsive design
  • Touch targets at least 44x44px
  • No horizontal scrolling
  • Font size minimum 16px
  • Forms optimized for mobile input

User Experience (12 Points)

Navigation

  • Clear primary navigation
  • Breadcrumbs on product/content pages
  • Search functionality (if 50+ pages)
  • Footer navigation with key links
  • No more than 7 main nav items

Content Hierarchy

  • Clear H1 on every page
  • Logical heading structure (H1-H6)
  • Scannable content with subheadings
  • Bullet points and numbered lists
  • Short paragraphs (3-4 sentences max)

Forms

  • Minimal required fields
  • Inline validation
  • Clear error messages
  • Progress indicators for multi-step
  • Autofill enabled

Copy & Messaging (10 Points)

Value Proposition

  • Clear headline above the fold
  • Benefits-focused subheadline
  • Unique selling points visible
  • Problem-agitation-solution flow
  • Action-oriented language

Objection Handling

  • FAQ section or inline answers
  • Pricing transparency
  • Return/refund policy visible
  • Security/privacy assurances
  • Risk reversal (guarantees)

Trust & Credibility (8 Points)

Social Proof

  • Customer testimonials
  • Case studies or results
  • Client logos (if B2B)
  • Review ratings displayed
  • User-generated content

Authority Signals

  • Industry certifications
  • Media mentions
  • Awards or recognition
  • Team credentials
  • Years in business/numbers served

Call-to-Action (7 Points)

CTA Design

  • Contrasting color
  • Action-oriented text
  • Above the fold placement
  • Repeated throughout page
  • Adequate white space around CTA

CTA Copy

  • Specific (not generic "Submit")
  • Creates urgency when appropriate

Prioritizing Your Audit Findings

Use the PIE framework to prioritize:

P - Potential: How much improvement is possible? I - Importance: How valuable is the traffic to this page? E - Ease: How easy is this to implement?

Score each finding 1-10 on all three factors. Multiply for total score. Start with the highest scores.

Ready for a professional CRO audit? Our team can identify your biggest conversion opportunities.

CROConversion OptimizationAuditWebsite OptimizationUX

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