You most likely don’t devote much time to website updates if you’re a business owner. You’re busy running your operations, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours updating your website.
But the truth is, neglecting your website can be a huge mistake. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of keeping your website up-to-date, and we will provide you with an easy guide on how to do it!
1. Evaluate Your Website’s Current Design and Functionality
The first step in updating your website is to evaluate its current design and functionality. Take a close look at your website and ask yourself the following questions:
– Is My Website Visually Unappealing?
Today, many people are attracted to images and videos. If your website is all words and no visual, then it can be offputting to many potential customers.
Cramming your site with too many images can also be hard on the eyes. So ensure you carefully choose only relevant images that serve a purpose and are not there for decorative reasons.
Your site’s design is also another essential factor to evaluate. If your site includes unorganized content or confusing sections, prospective customers will leave in a heartbeat.
That’s why consulting a company that provides UI UX services is crucial to help improve your lead generation and turn browsers into customers.
– Are There any Broken Links or Images on My Website?
Broken links and images can be a massive turn-off for website visitors. They can also damage your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). So it is essential to fix any broken links and images as soon as possible.
You can use online tools such as Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider to scan your site for broken links and images.
– Does My Website Function Properly on all Devices (e.g., desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone)?
Your website should function properly on all devices. If it doesn’t, you need to fix the issue as soon as possible.
You can use online tools such as Screenfly or Responsive Design Checker to test your website’s responsiveness.
Your site should also be easy to navigate for visitors. If it’s not, you need to fix the issue as soon as possible.
– Is My Website’s Content Up-to-date?
One of the essential features of a website is its content. If your website’s outdated content, it can damage your credibility and lose potential customers.
If you have an e-commerce site that sells shoes, for example, you need to ensure that stock info is continuously updated.
If you have several black boots in your stock, but your site says you’re out, many customers won’t bother calling or put in the extra effort to reach out.
Remember, many businesses compete in the online arena just like you, so it’s crucial to check your site for outdated info.
– Are My Website’s Forms and Contact Information Up-to-date?
If your website has forms or contact information, make sure they are up-to-date. Outdated forms and contact information can damage your credibility and lose potential customers.
If your social media has one phone number but your site lists a different number, people will be confused and search for another business.
-Is My Blog Section Up-to-date?
If you have a blog section on your website, it’s essential to keep the blog posts up to date. A blog that’s not up-to-date will not rank on Google or other search engines.
When writing a blog post, include a publish date to know when the post was written.
Your blogs must serve a purpose and shouldn’t be written to just fill pages. Write blogs that will educate, entertain, or inform your readers.
You can also include your call to action on blog posts where you want to convert people into customers. You can get people to sign up for a guide newsletter or request a demo.
Just be sure that your call to action is relevant and targets the right audience.
– Is My Website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Up-to-date?
Keeping your site up-to-date with content is often not enough to increase your rankings on search engines.
Through implementing SEO practices, you can ensure you’re using the proper keywords, headings, and internal links, to increase your position on SERPs.
You can use tools like SurferSEO, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to choose the right keywords and help your page attract more views.
Tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights or SEO Site Checkup help you improve your website’s page speed.
2. Create a Project Plan and Timeline
The best way to update your website is to create a project plan and timeline. This will help you track your progress and ensure that all tasks are completed promptly.
Start by creating a list of all the tasks that need to be completed. Then, assign deadlines to each task.
Once you have a project plan and timeline, you can start working on updating your website.
If you don’t have the time or resources to update your website yourself, you can hire a web developer or agency to do it for you.
Be sure to ask for quotes from multiple developers or agencies before making a decision.
You should also read reviews and check out portfolios to make sure you’re hiring the right team for the job.
3. Execute the Plan and Test the Results
Once the project plan and timeline are created, it’s time to start executing the plan.
Make sure to test the results of your updates before launching them to the public.
This will help you ensure that everything is working correctly and that no errors were introduced during the update process.
4. Launch Your Updated Website
After all, tasks are completed, and tests are successful, it’s time to launch the updated website.
Make sure to announce the update on your social media accounts and send an email blast to all of your customers.
Remember to include a link to the new website so people can easily find it.
Start Rebuilding Your Site Today
So, what are you waiting for? Start updating your website and give your customers the best user experience possible.
With just a few simple changes, you can significantly impact your site’s perception. And who knows? You may see an increase in sales as a result!
