What makes a website ‘Good’? rethinking the website review process

“We need a better website.”

That’s where the conversation often starts. But what does better actually mean?

Too often, a “good” website is judged on looks alone. Clean design. On-brand visuals. Slick video and animation. But surface-level improvements rarely fix deeper problems.

If you’re serious about improving your website, a proper review is the first step. 

Not a fresh coat of paint

Good visual design matters. But it’s not enough.

A good website works for everyone. It reflects organisation values, supports business goals, and stays accessible to all users. If it doesn’t, design alone won’t save it

Design is only as strong as the thinking behind it.

Asking better questions

Most reviews focus on what’s easy to see:

• Does it look modern?
• Is it responsive?
• Are the menus correct?

These are valid questions, but they are not the most important ones. A better review asks:

• What are people here to do?
• Can they do it without struggling?”
• Is the content helping or hindering?
• Is anything missing, broken or misleading?
• Is this inclusive? Can everyone access it?

Where most reviews fall short

It’s common to look at individual pages in isolation. Or gather internal opinions without speaking to users. Or audit what’s visible, without asking what’s absent.

But these approaches miss key issues:

• They focus on pages, not journeys
• They rely on opinion, not evidence
• They look at what’s there, not what’s not

A website isn’t a collection of pages. It’s an experience, so review it the way people actually use it.

What a good website review looks like

A proper review looks beneath the surface. It helps you understand how your site is actually performing, what’s working, what’s not, and why.

It should:

• Analyse user journeys, beyond design
• Assess clarity and accessibility of content
• Highlight performance, structure, and technical issues
• Include both quick fixes and long-term recommendations
• Result in a prioritised, actionable improvement plan

This kind of review gives you clarity. It gives you a path forward. And it stops you from wasting time and budget fixing the wrong things.

You can’t improve what you don’t understand

A website review isn’t a score out of ten. It’s a tool for insight. It helps you plan change and make improvements that have real impact for the business and users.

If you’re planning a redesign, don’t start with opinions. Start with evidence.

Want a website review that goes deeper than design?

Path offers strategic website reviews that link user needs, business goals, and accessibility. This helps our clients move forward with clarity and confidence. Contact hello@path.ie to find out more.