Website Launched: Don’t Forget Maintenance

Congrats, you launched your website! Feeling accomplished, right? But hold on a second – website development is just the starting line. Websites, like any valuable tool, require ongoing maintenance to function optimally. Building a maintenance routine early on saves you a bunch of time and money down the road. 

Website Maintenance Includes these 10 Non-negotiable 

Maintaining your website isn’t just about fixing things when they break. It’s about keeping it secure, fast, and engaging for visitors. 

Here are 10 essential website maintenance tasks:

1. Regularly check that all your pages load correctly and that forms and interactive features function smoothly.
2. Don’t risk losing valuable data! Regularly back up your website so you can restore it if anything goes wrong.
3. Keep your website’s software and plugins up-to-date to patch security vulnerabilities and ensure compatibility with the latest technology.
4. Clear out spam comments to maintain a clean and professional website.
5. Broken links frustrate visitors and hurt your SEO. Regularly check and fix any broken links on your site.
6. Address 404 errors (pages not found) to improve user experience and navigation.
7. Regularly update your website with new content to keep visitors engaged and improve your search engine ranking.
8. Review your website’s loading speed monthly and make optimizations for a faster user experience.
9. Every quarter, evaluate your website’s design, structure, and SEO to ensure it’s effective and up-to-date with best practices.
10.  Ensure all contact forms and interactive elements function flawlessly, like buttons, sliders, and accordions, to guarantee a smooth user experience and avoid frustrating errors.

Website Maintenance Routine

Owning a website is just the beginning, maintaining it is the key to sustained success. Website maintenance involves regular updates, security checks, and content refreshes. Here is what you should prioritize to get the most out of your website maintenance with limited time and resources:

Weekly Website Refresh

Think of this as your website’s power hour. 

1. Focus on functionality: This means checking forms, buttons, loading speeds, and fixing any broken links or 404 errors. A frustrated visitor won’t come back for a second chance.
2. Regular backups: Unexpected technical glitches happen. Weekly backups ensure you can restore your website quickly if needed.
3. Scan for security threats: Basic security scans can be run weekly to identify and address any potential security issues before they become major problems.

Monthly Website Tune-Up 

Monthly tune-ups take you beyond the everyday and into strategic optimization. 

1. Content refresh: Update key website information, like product descriptions, pricing, or contact details. Consider adding a fresh blog post to keep your content engaging and boost search engine ranking.
2. Analytics deep dive: Take a closer look at your website traffic data. Are there any pages with low performance? Understanding user behavior helps you identify areas for improvement.
3. Security checkup: Run a more comprehensive security scan monthly to ensure your website stays protected.

Quarterly Maintenance 

Your website benefits from a quarterly deep dive to ensure it’s firing on all cylinders. 

1. Content audit: Give your entire website content a once-over. Is it still relevant and accurate? Look for opportunities to refresh older content or identify gaps that need to be filled with new information.
2. Design refresh check: Websites can start to feel outdated over time. Is yours due for a visual refresh to maintain a modern and user-friendly look?
3. Review marketing campaigns: Are your website’s marketing efforts still on target? Analyze their effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.

Yearly Website Tune-Up

Give your website a yearly once-over to ensure it stays aligned with your goals and keeps visitors engaged. This ensures both the technical aspects and content are up-to-date and functioning smoothly.

• Take a deep dive into your website’s content. Is everything accurate, grammatically sound, and typo-free? Does it still resonate with your target audience? Consider refreshing outdated information or creating new content to keep visitors coming back.
• Identify your top-performing blog posts. Can they be spruced up with new information or insights to maintain their traffic-driving power?

• Don’t let your domain name expire! Renew it annually to avoid any downtime or website disruptions.
• Review the email addresses associated with your website. Are there any that are no longer needed? Get rid of unnecessary ones to streamline your communication channels.
• Is your website’s design feeling a bit stale? Evaluate if a refresh might be in order to keep your site looking modern and user-friendly.

By dedicating some time each year to this website maintenance routine, you can ensure your online presence remains polished, and informative, and continues to achieve your goals.

Advanced Website Maintenance, For a Complex Site

The basic website maintenance tasks covered in this guide are essential for any website. But for businesses with complex websites featuring extensive databases, e-commerce functionality, or custom applications, a deeper level of maintenance is required. Here’s a look at some advanced maintenance considerations:

Database Optimization 

Over time, databases can become cluttered with unused data or inefficient queries. Regular database optimization helps ensure smooth performance and prevents slow loading times. This might involve tasks like creating database backups, identifying and removing unnecessary data, and optimizing database queries for faster retrieval of information. While some basic optimization techniques can be done manually, complex websites may benefit from specialized software or the expertise of a database administrator.

Server Maintenance 

The server your website resides on plays a crucial role in its performance and security. Server maintenance tasks include regularly updating the server’s operating system and software, monitoring server health and performance, and ensuring adequate disk space and bandwidth availability. Businesses with complex websites may choose to manage their own servers or opt for managed hosting services where the hosting provider takes care of these tasks as part of the package.

Security Audits and Penetration Testing  

Basic security scans are a good starting point, but complex websites may require more comprehensive security audits and penetration testing. These involve simulating hacker attacks to identify vulnerabilities in your website’s code and infrastructure. Addressing these vulnerabilities can help prevent costly security breaches and data leaks. Hiring a reputable security firm to conduct these tests is recommended for complex websites.

Performance Monitoring and Optimization 

For complex websites, even a slight performance dip can significantly impact user experience and conversion rates. Advanced website monitoring tools can track performance metrics like website speed, uptime, and resource usage. This data helps identify performance bottlenecks and allows for targeted optimization strategies to ensure a fast and smooth user experience.

Version Control Systems  

When multiple developers are working on a complex website, it’s crucial to keep track of changes and ensure smooth collaboration. Version control systems like Git allow developers to track changes to the website’s codebase, revert to previous versions if needed, and merge changes from different developers without conflicts.

Website Maintenance, Keeping Costs in Mind 

While website maintenance is crucial, it’s understandable to be mindful of expenses. Here’s a breakdown of potential costs for US customers, along with some tips for keeping things affordable:

Common Website Maintenance Costs  

• Plugin subscriptions: $0 – $100+ per month. Plugins add functionality to your website, but some require monthly subscriptions. There are often free or freemium options available with basic features, allowing you to test the waters before committing.
• Security scans: $10 – $50+ per month. Basic security scans can help identify website vulnerabilities. Free options exist, but they may have limitations. Consider starting with a free scan and then upgrading to a paid plan with more features if needed.
• Website monitoring: $10 – $100+ per month. Website monitoring services track your website’s uptime and performance. Free trials are often available, so you can test before you buy.

Cost-Effective Website Maintenance Tips

• Many basic maintenance tasks, like backing up your website and updating content, can be done yourself. There are plenty of free online tutorials and resources available to help you learn the ropes.
• Explore the vast world of free plugins before considering paid options. Many free plugins offer a surprising amount of functionality.

Conclusion

Don’t let outdated content, slow loading times, or security vulnerabilities chase customers away. Your website is your first impression, and you only get one shot. In a world where about 88% of visitors won’t return after a bad experience, regular website maintenance isn’t just an option anymore. So, take charge, prioritize website care, and watch your business flourish! 

Simple website or complex needs? We offer website maintenance plans for any business.

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