How Often Should You Audit Your Site for Broken Links

Once a year is not enough for an active site. Here is a sensible schedule.

September 3, 2026 · 3 min read · Updated September 7, 2026

Breakage never stops

Links break continuously as your content changes and the wider web shifts. A single annual audit leaves months of accumulated breakage unnoticed, which is plenty of time to lose value and trust. Related: How to Find Broken Links at Scale

Keep reading: Why Broken Links Quietly Hurt Your SEO, Internal vs External Broken Links: Which to Fix First, How to Find Broken Links at Scale. See how LinkRotly helps you continuous broken link monitoring for websites.

Match the pace to your site

A large, frequently updated site deserves more frequent checks than a small, static one. The more you publish and edit, the more often links break, so the more often you should look. Related: Why Broken Links Quietly Hurt Your SEO

Continuous beats periodic

The most reliable approach is continuous monitoring that alerts you when new links break, rather than a periodic scramble. Then you fix problems while they are small and few. Related: How do you keep affiliate links from dying quietly and costing you commissions?

Always audit after big changes

Any migration, redesign, or large content change is a moment when links break in bulk. Run a thorough audit immediately afterward, every time, to catch the damage before it settles in. Related: Broken Links After a Site Migration: A Survival Guide

Key takeaways

Links break continuously, not once a year
Check more often the more you publish
Continuous monitoring beats periodic audits
Always audit right after a major change

Written by

Julien Jimenez

Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.

Frequently asked questions

How does site size affect audit frequency?

A large, frequently updated site deserves more frequent checks than a small, static one. The more you publish and edit, the more often links break, so the more often you should look.

When should you always run a link audit?

Right after any migration, redesign, or large content change, every time. These are the moments links break in bulk, so a thorough audit immediately afterward catches the damage before it settles in.