Congratulations, you’ve launched your website! So what do you do now?
Launching a website is a huge achievement, but the work doesn’t end there. Regular maintenance is needed to help keep your website running properly, attracting visitors and performing well. Not only does it help with improving user experience, but it also helps with search rankings, security and overall performance.
Here are some tips to maintain your website once it’s live.
Update it with Fresh Content
Both your visitors and search engines prefer new content over time. Not only does updating it with fresh content keep the users engaged and happy – it will also rank it higher than competitors. You can add blog posts, update product or service pages, add new testimonials and make sure your company’s information is correct.
This makes users come back for your new content and lets search engines know that your site is active.
Check your Website Performance
The functionality and website speed are important for keeping visitors coming back to your site. No one wants to go on a slow-loading or glitchy website, and increases the chance of them leaving the website. To prevent this, regularly use speed tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your website’s load speed and fix the problem. Large files, broken links, non-working buttons and outdated forms can affect this, so it’s important that you test your website and fix issues that pop up.
Update Themes, Plugins & Security
Regular updates are needed to keep your website functioning properly if it uses a content management system like WordPress or Divi. It’s important to check in with your website and update the theme, plugins or security to avoid defects that hackers can take advantage of.
If you think of your website as a car, would you ignore maintenance on it? Think of oil changes, brake checks,
and tire pressure. These are done regularly to make sure your car is at its best. In the same way, websites need maintenance to work optimally. Outdated software can lead to glitches and security risks, so checking for updates once a month makes sure your website is safe and working.
Optimize for SEO & Mobile
A good website should always be optimized for search engines and mobile users.
As more users use their phones to browse websites, mobile optimization is essential. To make sure your website works well on mobile, test it on different screen sizes and different devices. You can borrow your friends and family’s devices to see how they look and where changes can be made.
Keep your SEO current by using alt text for photos, improving meta descriptions and using keywords on your site. You can use Google Analytics to check your website to look at user behaviour and make improvements.
Backup your Website
If your website is suddenly deleted by a cyber attack or by accident, all that work is gone. With a backup file,
your website is safe if a nightmare like that ever occurs. Putting in the time to invest in backing up your website is similar to investing in insurance for your website data.
You can set up automatic backups or download that backup as a file on your computer. Luckily, you can download plugins to make that process easier. You should save your backup on the cloud or an external hard drive so you can restore your site if anything goes wrong. It’s also a great idea to test your backups to make sure they are
fully functioning.
Check Your SSL Certificate
Also known as a Secure Sockets Layer Certificate, it guarantees that any sensitive data exchanged through your website is done on a secure network. It’s so important that Google requires you to have one to be able to rank higher on search engines. Also, having one makes your users feel secure and protected while on your website.
When you land on a website without an SSL Certificate, there will be a pop-up saying “Your connection to this site is not secure.” This could drive away visitors who are looking at your products or services. Having an SSL Certificate protects your business and customers while telling search engines that your brand is trustworthy.
Gather User Feedback
Gather user feedback and use that to guide the construction and growth of your website. Take time to ask your customers and visitors questions about their experience with the site. Is it easy to navigate? Is the design professional and modern? Are the call-to-actions engaging and easy to find? Understanding your audience can provide valuable information that can improve your website’s usability, which can increase engagement and profit.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining your website is just as important as creating it. Regular updates, new content and feedback keep your website running smoothly while meeting any business goals. Website security should be the priority, making you and the consumer feel safe. This can be quite time-consuming, but it’s an investment to bring better results in the long run.
If you need help with website maintenance or have questions, book your free consultation here and we’ll help you.