Comprehensive website audit for Global Diet Quality Project
Challenge
The Global Diet Quality Project is a collaboration between Gallup, Harvard Department of Global Health and Population, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). The project aims to make comprehensive diet quality data and tools available worldwide.
The project’s website, www.dietquality.org, serves as a key resource hub for country-specific data and global guidelines, with essential tools like the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ).
Launched in December 2021, the website is a central point for the GDQ project’s mission of improving global diet quality. In June 2022, the website underwent a critical upgrade to enhance data visualization, dynamic indicator calculations, and overall accessibility.
To ensure the platform effectively serves its global audience, we conducted a detailed website audit focused on user experience (UX), accessibility, performance, security, SEO, and content strategy.
Solution
Our audit approach revolved around three pillars to ensure a comprehensive improvement of the website:
- Customer-Centric Design:
We focused on improving the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure easy navigation, better branding alignment, and intuitive access to tools and data. Special attention was given to accessibility, ensuring the website could be used globally with minimal barriers. - Customer-Centric Organization:
We optimized content for better downloads, lead generation, and conversions. A key focus was on improving the website’s SEO by making the content more visible to search engines, particularly focusing on resources like the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), indicator guides, and country-specific data. This optimization helped target audiences easily find and utilize the available tools. - Tech & Data as Enablers:
The audit emphasized security, stability, and scalability. By prioritizing these areas, we ensured that the website would be resilient, secure, and able to handle the increasing demand for resources and data visualizations. This also included improving the website’s performance across devices, particularly mobile optimization to accommodate a global audience.
Actions Taken
The audit process involved the following key actions:
- Website Expert Reviews: Our team conducted expert reviews focusing on UX, UI, branding, and usability.
- Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key project stakeholders helped clarify the website’s goals and target audience needs.
- Quantitative Data Analysis: We used tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, SEMrush, Lighthouse, and GTMetrix to assess website performance and SEO. This data-driven approach helped identify areas for improvement in performance and visibility.
- User Feedback: Tools such as Typeform and Hotjar were used to gather qualitative feedback, helping us understand how users interact with the site. This provided valuable insights for improving the overall user experience.
Tools Used:
- Google Analytics: To monitor traffic, user behavior, and site performance.
- Search Console & SEMrush: For SEO analysis and keyword optimization.
- Lighthouse & GTMetrix: To measure site performance, load times, and mobile responsiveness.
- Ahrefs: For backlink analysis and improving search engine ranking.
- Typeform/Hotjar: For collecting user feedback and running scenario-based UX reviews.
Audit Deliverables:
- Scenario-Based Walkthroughs: We conducted simulated walkthroughs based on different user personas to evaluate the website’s performance and ease of use.
- Website Questionnaire: Created and distributed questionnaires to gather qualitative feedback from users and stakeholders.
- Prioritization of Findings: Our findings were presented with clear priorities, allowing ELP to address the most critical areas first.
Technology
Our audit and subsequent recommendations led to significant improvements across multiple facets of the website:
- Enhanced UX and Accessibility: The website now offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience, making it easier for global users to navigate the tools, data, and resources available.
- Improved SEO and Visibility: By optimizing for search engines, the website’s resources, such as the DQQ Indicator Guide and country-specific data, became more accessible to target audiences, driving more traffic and improving lead generation.
- Performance Optimization: The site now loads faster and performs better on mobile devices, thanks to the integration of performance improvement plugins and infrastructure enhancements.
- Increased Security and Stability: Robust security measures were implemented, ensuring the platform is protected against threats and is scalable for future growth.
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