How To Do a Content Audit and Why It’s Essential for Better SEO?

Ella Pybus | 4 November, 2025 | 3 minute read | Blog, Content Creation, SEO

Do you ever feel like your website has loads of content, but little to show for it? That’s where a content audit can come in handy. Your secret weapon for finding what’s working, what’s not, and what’s holding your SEO back.

A content audit is the process of reviewing, analysing, and improving all the content on your website. It helps you see which pages drive results, which need an update, and which could be consolidated or removed altogether. 

By the end of this blog, you’ll know exactly how to do a content audit step by step, and how it can improve performance, rankings and improve your entire SEO content strategy. 

Why do a content audit?

If you’re publishing new blogs, guides, or landing pages without reviewing what already exists, you’re likely missing opportunities. 

A content audit helps you:

• Identify pages that attract traffic and conversions 
• Spot outdated or duplicate content 
• Improve SEO performance through structure and clarity 
• Align your site with user intent and brand goals 

Put simply, it’s like giving your content a health check. 

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before diving into your content audit, you’ll need a few key tools:

• Google Analytics: For performance data and engagement metrics 
• Google Search Console: To check indexing and keyword performance
• A spreadsheet or content tool: to organise URLs, titles, and findings 
• SEO software (like SEMrush): for tracking backlinks and keyword visibility

Want to learn more about building your SEO performance? Read our blog: How Strategic SEO Services Boost Growth

How to do a content audit step by step

Now that you know how it matters, here’s how to do a content audit properly:

Step 1: Gather all your content

Start by listing every piece of your content you have, blogs, landing pages, service pages, PDFs. You can export this data using an SEO crawler like Screaming Frog to make it easier and quicker. 

Step 2: Analyse Performance Metrics

For each piece, look at:

• Traffic: which pages get the most visits? 
• Engagement: Are users spending a lot of time or bouncing quickly?
• Conversions: Does the content actually lead to action?
• Backlinks: Which pages earn authority from another site? 

Step 3: Assess Quality and Relevance

Ask yourself:

• Is this content still accurate?
• Does it match our target audience’s intent?
• Is it well written and optimised for SEO and AI search in mind? 

Mark each piece as Keep, Update, Merge, or Delete based on your findings.

What Happens After the Audit? 

After the audit, the difference happens. It’s time to use your findings to:

• Refresh old content with new insights or keywords 
• Consolidate similar pages into stronger pillar content 
• Remove thin or duplicate content that adds no value
• Identify new topic opportunities based on gaps

How often should you audit your content?

For most websites, a content audit occurs every 6-12 months. But if you publish content weekly or run a fast-growing site, consider quarterly reviews to maintain your performance.

Our final thoughts 

A content audit is one of the simplest ways to boost SEO, improve user experience, and make smarter content decisions.

It helps you focus on what works, cut what doesn’t, and plan future content with confidence.

If you haven’t reviewed your site content lately, now’s the perfect time to start.

Ready To Explore More? Read our blog on: What is the purpose of a content audit?