Website Spring Cleaning: 6 Tips for Updating Your Online Presence
See why now is a great time to update your website and how
Be honest: how much is spring cleaning this year? Did you clean the gutters, sweep the pantry, organize your closets?
What about your company website? Don’t you also deserve a fresh start?
The truth is, websites are things that live and breathe. And things that live and breathe require maintenance.
This is why spring is a lovely time to revamp your website and dust your corner with metaphorical dust.
Read on for my top 6 tips for updating your website:
1. Clean WordPress
So how do you update your website? At the most basic level, you update WordPress.
WordPress is software and all software needs to be regularly updated to keep it safe and running smoothly.
In addition to ensuring WordPress is up to date, any plugins you may be using should also be kept up to date. It is also a good idea to periodically check for broken links and remove any media that you are not using.
Depending on your technical skills, this may be easier said than done. Never start messing with your website’s backend unless you are familiar with WordPress and have reliable backups (it doesn’t hurt to know what to actually do with those backups, in case you ever need them). .
Fortunately, if you work with a reputable web development agency, they can take care of the basic maintenance of your website for you.
If you don’t have regular maintenance, it might be a good idea to contact your web designer and ask them to update it every month.
2. Update the content of the website
The text and images on your website are the representation of your brand in the world, and your home page must be especially attractive or visitors will not realize that they have landed in the right place.
So is your website content displaying exactly the right image that will result in leads and sales? Are you getting the type of conversions you want?
Fortunately, changing the copy on your website is one of the easiest changes you can make. Remember, ‘Copy is King’ in the online world. If it’s not well written, you won’t build a lot of trust in your leads or move them to action.
Cleaning up your website can be as simple as changing a few headlines or perhaps updating your current specials. For example, our client A Bear and Bison Inn regularly updates the specials and packages they offer (don’t they seem tempting?).
3. Give it an updated look
I bet you look around your house with the eye of a hobbyist decorator. You probably no longer use deep pile rugs or the dusty pastel wallpaper that was popular in the ’80s.
In fact, I bet you’re constantly modifying the look of your home: new carpet here, updated shades there, to keep it fresh and modern.
You need to bring that same critical eye to your website. Does it look like other websites you like? Does it look like it was built this year … or 5 years ago or even more?
Remember that online trends move much faster than any other type of trend. That is why it is generally recommended to update your website every 3 years or so to make sure it is up to date with current best practices.
So, use this spring energy to make your website look and feel contemporary and attractive to today’s market.
4. Add a blog … or update your blog!
A blog is the perfect way to keep your website copy fresh and new. Plus, Google really rewards websites that continually post new content.
Additionally, blog posts are great ways to connect with your customers and showcase your expertise. And they can double as social media posts and content for your newsletters.
For example, we love how our client Malary’s created a ‘fashion show’ blog post to showcase her latest spring fashions. It’s timely content worth sharing, and it’s the perfect way to showcase your products.
So if you really want to revamp your website, consider adding a blog section. You can call it your ‘Blog’, ‘Articles’, ‘Stories’ or whatever suits your brand (note that we feature bears in ‘Resources’).
The important thing is that you have a dedicated section on your website for posting new and regular content.
And if you already have a blog, now is a good time to update it! Posting once a week is ideal, but even once a month it will start to pay off over time.
5. And a subscription to the electronic newsletter
Hopefully you already have an email list, because it is one of the most important marketing resources any business can have. Consistent newsletters are one of the best ways to stay on the minds of your potential customers.
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READ: How to Create an Email Marketing Campaign Your Audience Will Love
Sending consistent newsletters to your followers gives you the ability to develop a “Know, Like and Trust” relationship with them that will dramatically increase your brand visibility and market reach.
Learn 4 Tips To Help You Increase Your Email Open Rates.
Read more on our website.
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But do you have an easy sign-up form for your email list on your website? And do you have a tempting offer?
The reality is that first-time visitors to your website may not immediately become customers. The best way to convert them into customers is to collect their email, so you can start a relationship and start building trust.
That’s why you want to make it as easy as possible for website visitors to join your list. If you don’t have an email newsletter signup form on your site, contact your web developer to add one.
Not sure which service to choose? We have a list of recommended newsletter service providers on our site to consider.
And if you have one, are you getting as many records as you would like? Maybe it’s time to change your opt-in offer or think about changing your current wording or location.
6. make sure your site is shareable
Most of the websites created today will have links to their social media platforms. It’s still a good idea to check them every now and then to see if they still work.
But since we are reviewing your website, please take a look at the social media features on your site again. Sure, you can have links to your social platforms.
But, do you make it easy for other people to share your content?
Consider adding social sharing features to your site, especially your blog articles, so that people can easily share them with their followers with just one click. This can create much more brand exposure and website traffic.
Ready, Set, Go!
If your website needs a spring overhaul, we can help you update your site, give it a new look, and create ongoing social media and communications with your followers. Contact us today to learn more about our branding, digital marketing and web design services that will showcase your business and attract more paying customers.
For the success of your business, â € ¨
Susan