When you first designed your website, what did you expect it would accomplish?
Are you happy with the way your current website is assisting your business growth?
Struggling to answer?
Well, the good thing is that you’re not alone!
Many businesses invest in creating websites but overlook one crucial aspect: MAINTENANCE!
Why Website Maintenance Matters!
Websites are built with a purpose. Whether it’s generating leads, selling products, or sharing information, your website serves as your digital front.
And, no matter what the purpose of your website is, it needs to be maintained regularly to achieve its goals.
Regular updates and maintenance are required to stay functional and attractive. It ensures your site remains appealing to visitors, functions smoothly, and continues to serve its intended purpose effectively.
Understanding Holistic Website Maintenance
You might understand website maintenance as being related to websites. But, what if I told you that it can apply to your Social Media presence and other media where your business has a presence?
Holistic website maintenance not only refers to the maintenance of websites but also all other media in a digital landscape where the business has a presence.
It’s a comprehensive approach to ensure your entire digital presence works together seamlessly. This means maintaining consistency across your website, social media profiles, email marketing campaigns, and other
digital platforms where your business exists.
Core Activities of Holistic Website Maintenance include:
1. Backups & Disaster Recovery
Imagine losing all your website data overnight. Sounds frightening, doesn’t it? That’s why regular backups are crucial.
Backups protect your digital assets against unexpected events like server crashes, cyber-attacks, or accidental deletions. A robust backup system includes regular automated backups stored in secure off-site locations, along with tested procedures for quick recovery if something goes wrong.
2. Core Updates
Your website’s foundation also needs regular updates, much like a building needs structural maintenance.
Core updates are essential for keeping your website running smoothly.
These updates often include security patches that protect against new threats, performance improvements that keep your site running fast, and new features that enhance functionality.
Ignoring these updates is like refusing to service your car – eventually, something will break down.
3. Plugin Updates
Plugins on your website also require constant attention to ensure everything works together harmoniously.
Outdated plugins can create security vulnerabilities, cause conflicts with other website elements, or simply stop working. By keeping plugins updated, you maintain optimal functionality while protecting your site from potential threats.
4. Content Updates
Content is the lifeblood of your website. Fresh, relevant content keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.
This isn’t just about adding new blog posts – it includes updating product information, refreshing service descriptions, and ensuring all information remains accurate and current. Regular content updates also signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant, which can improve your search rankings.
5. Website Redesign & Evolution
Your website shouldn’t remain frozen in time. It needs to adapt to changing user expectations and industry trends.
Website redesign isn’t just about changing colors or updating images – it’s a strategic process that keeps your digital presence competitive and effective. Modernizing your website’s look and improving its layout can significantly enhance customer experience and boost sales.
6. Performance Monitoring & Optimization
Nobody likes a slow website. A fast, responsive website not only pleases visitors but also ranks better in search results.
Performance monitoring involves regularly checking your site’s speed, identifying bottlenecks, and making necessary improvements. This might include optimizing images, minimizing code, leveraging browser caching, or upgrading hosting services.
7. User Audits & Security
Security breaches can devastate your business’s reputation and bottom line.
Regular user audits help maintain your website’s security by monitoring who has access to what.
This includes reviewing user permissions, checking for suspicious activities, and ensuring proper access controls are in place. It means you need to know who’s coming and going, and what they’re doing while they’re there.
8. Social Presence Management
Your social media profiles are like branch offices of your digital presence. Choose platforms where your audience spends time, and maintain them well.
An outdated Facebook page or unanswered reviews can harm your business more than having no presence at all.
Focus on quality over quantity – it’s better to manage three platforms effectively than ten poorly.
9. Review Management & Online Reputation
Online reviews are modern word-of-mouth marketing. Responding to reviews, addressing concerns, and maintaining your online reputation are crucial parts of digital maintenance.
Each interaction is an opportunity to show your business cares about customer feedback.
How Often Should You Perform Website Maintenance
Website maintenance isn’t a one-size-fits-all schedule, but a series of tasks that need different levels of attention.
Create an effective maintenance schedule and develop a rhythm that works for your business:
● Daily: Monitor reviews and engage with customers
● Weekly: Update content and check for technical issues
● Monthly: Review performance and adjust strategies
● Quarterly: Evaluate platforms and archive outdated content
● Yearly: Consider major updates or redesigns
Outsourcing Website Maintenance – Professional Help vs. DIY
While maintaining your website in-house might seem cost-effective initially, professional maintenance services have proven to be more valuable in the long run.
Professional services bring expertise, dedicated resources, and proactive problem-solving to the table. They stay updated with the latest technologies and security threats, allowing you to focus on running your business while knowing your digital presence is in capable hands.
To sum it up:
A good online presence is an investment in your business’s success. Protecting and nurturing it through proper maintenance isn’t just good practice – it’s essential for long-term success in today’s digital landscape.
By adopting a holistic approach to website maintenance, you ensure that your entire digital presence works together to support your business goals and growth.
But, holistic website maintenance can be time-consuming and technical, and it is easy to make mistakes that could end up costing you money in the long run. While it is possible to do website maintenance on your own, it is often best to hire a professional to do it for you.