If you’ve ever owned (and I’m sure you have) something you treasured so dearly, even as a child, then I’m sure you have a pretty good memory of the lengths you went to maintain its value to you. Things like dodging mud and puddles when you wore those white sneakers. Taking them off before engaging in that rough, dusty football game. Making sure they’re squeaky clean the first thing you get home, just anything to make them last a little longer.
I imagine keeping your website running employs the same concept. Only there’s an extra layer to it: The value of your website is largely determined by your website visitors and your conversion rate. This adds more pressure to why you have to maintain it, but it is also a good strategy to sustain your competitive edge in your industry.
The truth is, a website that is not maintained will eventually crash, and all the work you put into creating it will be in vain.
So, how do you keep your site running smoothly?
Update your content
Your website thrives on consistent attention and content updates. Keeping your audience engaged involves refreshing your pages with relevant and captivating information. Regularly publish new blog posts, update product listings, and ensure that your content remains aligned with the latest industry trends. This not only keeps your visitors interested but also contributes to improved search engine rankings.
Have a regular backup routine
Much like stashing away your treasured belongings in a safe place, regular backups act as a safety net for your website. Schedule automated backups to ensure that even if the unexpected occurs—be it server crashes, malware attacks, or accidental data loss—you can restore your site to its previous state. This precautionary measure guarantees that the hard work and dedication poured into creating your website won’t be lost in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Monitor Website Analytics
Monitoring your website’s performance is akin to regularly checking the health of your prized possessions. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track key performance indicators such as page load times and user interactions. Monitoring the performance of your website can help you identify areas for improvement, optimize your website’s speed and functionality, and address any issues promptly.
A well-performing site not only enhances user experience but also positively impacts your search engine rankings.
Update your site’s security
With an increasing rate of cyber attacks, it is important that your website continues to have updated security measures at all times. These regular security updates are the virtual locks and keys that safeguard your online space against attacks by hackers seeking personal information from your site’s visitors.
Some of the proactive measures to secure your site include ensuring that your content management system (CMS) and plugins are up to date, and employing strong, unique passwords.
Make it mobile responsive
A website that is mobile-responsive caters to the diverse preferences of online users. Search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites in search results, emphasizing the importance of responsiveness for both user satisfaction and search engine rankings. Therefore, have your web developer test your site across various devices and screen sizes to guarantee a seamless experience for mobile visitors. The more accessible your site is, the more visitors you are likely to have.
Maintaining a website comes down to making sure it provides the best user experience possible. If you do it right, it will certainly serve you way better and way longer than those childhood white sneakers.
We understand that website maintenance can be overwhelming due to some of its technical complexities. That is why at Chapa Link we offer to shoulder that burden for you, so you focus on only running your business.