So you have a website. And it’s beautiful. Great! Now you can sit back, let it works its magic and, maybe, in 5 years or so update it. Not exactly.
In order to be most effective a website should be treated like a well-oiled machine, receiving regular maintenance so it continues to run smooth and reliably. While this may initially seem like more work than you signed up for when choosing to have a digital presence, if you keep up on it, you’ll find ‘tuning up’ your website is actually a rather quick process. And, the time it takes to complete these preventative measures is much better than the alternative- which can not only cost you a lot of time, but also money and reputation. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why regular website maintenance is so important to your business.
- First and foremost, security. Hackers are always looking for loopholes and holes in the system, so having an up-to-date website content management system is imperative! Outdated bug fixes, security patches and plugins can lead to client information being compromised, the website being replaced or deleted, unknowingly spreading viruses or malware, and even having your website being blacklisted on search engines, particularly Google. None of these are worth the risk; spend the short amount of time to keep current. And, if conducting updates yourself are out of your comfort zone, or time is an issue, we offer web management plans to do this for you.
- Next, is content information. While especially important if you’re promoting sales or sharing a calendar of events, it’s actually relevant to all websites. No one likes to visit a website that never changes and has the same, possibly inaccurate, information on it. Potential customers are no exception. Keep information fresh giving customers a reason to return and potential customers a reason to visit. If you have an e-commerce site, make sure pricing and products are current. Nothing breaks trust between a customer and business like incorrect prices or product offerings. Updates don’t have to occur daily but should be regular, contain informative information and add value to visitors. Regular content updates also help with search engine optimization (SEO), which can increase a site’s search results. New photos and graphics a great way to renew the look of a website, they should be changed periodically too. If the site contains backlinks to other websites, it’s a good idea to check these periodically to ensure there are no broken links and the information you’re linking to is still relevant.
- Since we’re talking about freshening up the site, let’s discuss layout too. A website is the online face of the company so it should be the best it can be. Now that users equally spend their internet time on desktop/laptops and mobile devices, it’s more important than ever that a site function well on all devices. And, we’re not just talking about a mobile-friendly site anymore. Responsive design is what users demand these days, so make sure you’re giving it to them or, they may choose to go another site…and business.
- And, lastly, but just as important, is monitoring. Monitoring analytics and SEO is very important because it can give insight on whether your site is doing what you want it to do. If not, analytics can usually provide ideas on how to change your site and achieve the desired outcome.
If you would ike help updating your website to responsive design, freshening the look, or conducting monthly security updates, contact us. We want to help your business’ growth and exposure through a more secure and efficient website.
