Free website testing

Website testing for non-geeks:

Do you really know how well your website is configured?

Just because a website looks good, doesn’t mean it’s functioning properly. There are a variety of free diagnostic services that can be used without having to buy, or register for anything. There are a lot of moving parts and metrics behind this preverbal tech curtain: page load time, mobile adaptability, data structure and hierarchy, image compression, etc.

These are just a few of the many free resources:

• Web Page Test – a report-card like summary of your sites health (listed above).
• Google Structured Date Testing Tool – it looks at the navigation efficiency of your site.
• Google PageSpeed Insights – a website speedometer.
• Pingdom Website Test Speed & DNS Health – speed and health.
• Resposive Design Checker – a really cool view of how your site looks on a variety of mobile devices (Android & Apple).
• Website Pulse – another speed metric test.
• GTmetrics – another report-card like summary.
• Google Analytics – this requires registration and some coding in order to use. It provides an amazing amount of  demographics like age, gender geography, user flow through the sites, plus much, much more.

If your site shows failing test grades consistently, consider a website audit. Audits are best performed by an independent third party. It’s a wise investment in your business. Websites are like humans, plants and animals. They all need care & security to live and flourish.

NOTE: Several test samples should be taken to get a clearer picture. Browsers, time and the geographic location of the servers can vary the results. These are only tools, and like medical diagnostics, a professional should be consulted to fully interpret the information.