A functional, clean-looking website has become less of a “plus” for a business and more of a necessity in recent years. Consequently, companies have poured billions of dollars into web development in hopes of being able to retain a large percentage of their customers through online retail.
Unfortunately, the only companies that are able to be successful with this tactic were those that are able to keep up with the maintenance of their websites. Website maintenance is more important now than ever before in bringing exposure to your business and this article is going to tell you everything you need to know to ensure that your website is in the best shape possible!
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What is Website Maintenance?
Website maintenance is the act of regularly checking your website for issues and mistakes and keeping it updated and relevant at all times. It is something that should be done as consistently as possible. This will keep your website fully functioning, bring more traffic to your site, and improve your search engine optimization and Google rankings. The same reason you should get a regular check-up at the doctor every year is why you should also keep up with the maintenance of your website. Ignoring it is a good way to run your website and your business into the ground.
Why is Web Maintenance So Important?
Simply having a website up and running isn’t enough to ensure traffic continues to arrive at your site. A website is a lot like a computer. One day, it may be functioning perfectly, with no viruses or errors. But quickly it becomes outdated and may not do many of the things that it used to be able to do. Websites become outdated even more quickly than technology. The worst thing you want is to have the website you use to promote your business be buggy and steer customers away. Thus, it is imperative to keep up with its maintenance to ensure it continues to do the job it’s supposed to. That’s not all though. Here are a couple of other specific reasons why maintenance is so crucial.
Website Security Depends on Maintenance
Security is one of the primary reasons why website maintenance is so important. Many companies utilize content management systems (CMS) like WordPress to create their website domains. These systems regularly require software and security patches that ensure that your website continues to be safe from potential threats. Failing to do so can give hackers the chance to steal data from your website, which is something that no one wants to deal with.
Helps to Improve Search Engine Result Rankings
Search engines such as Google raise rankings for websites that receive regular updates. The whole reason why you have a website in the first place is to expose your business to as many people as you possibly can and the best way to do that is by improving your search engine rankings. A website with a higher ranking increases your site’s visibility, which increases the odds that someone will arrive at your website when looking up relevant keywords.
How Do I Maintain My Website?
There are several different ways you can go about improving your site’s maintenance. Here are some of our best tips.
Consistently Update Your Site With New Content
In a society that moves as fast as the one we live in, news and trends come out every single day. This means that you should be regularly updating your page with new content relating to these trends. Many popular websites include a news or blog section on their page that’s incredibly easy to update and quick to refresh. Ultimately, the goal is to bring as much traffic to your website as possible. Posting refreshing yet relevant content on a regular basis will steadily increase the number of visitors to your website.
Keep Your Page Fresh
When a visitor lands on your homepage, it often only takes them a few seconds to decide whether or not they want to stay on it. This means that you need to make sure that the design of your site is clean and appealing to all of your visitors. It is easy for consumers to tell which websites regularly undergo design changes and which ones don’t.
When visitors click on your page, they don’t want to see an outdated, obsolete site that looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2006. That’s a major turn-off. Don’t be afraid to make bold design changes every-so-often. Include images, a variety of colors and solid headlines to grab the attention of your visitors and keep them clicking through your site. People are always more likely to buy from a website that looks professional and updated, so keep it that way!
Keep an Eye on Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
You might have great content and a great design, but if no one can find your site, all of your hard work will be for nothing. Quality search engine optimization is necessary for both creating and maintaining a steady flow of traffic to your site. Try to get into the mind of your target audience. What do you think a customer is searching for when they arrive at your site? What are some of the keywords and phrases that come to mind? Include these terms as often as you can within content and headlines on your page. Google rewards quality search engine optimization. If you want your website to continually bring in traffic, you want your page to be the first or second result when you look up a word or phrase that pertains to your business. SEO Design Chicago offers a variety of services that can vastly improve your website ranking. Increasing visibility to your site in money and time well spent!
How Much Does Website Maintenance Cost?
Depending on the size of both your business and your website, the amount of money you will spend on website maintenance services will vary. Here, we will break it down in a general sense.
Small Personal Blog
A personal blog typically does not drive a very significant amount of traffic and does not have too many needs as it pertains to overall site maintenance. Many blog sites such as Google Blogger offer their service for free and others, such as WordPress, may charge minimal fees. These fees are typically pertaining to hosting/domain fees. Overall Price Rating: A.
Company Website Used Solely for Marketing
Company websites are typically self-hosted, meaning that they require regular updates to ensure that security and functionality are maintained as well as data backups. Most company websites used solely for marketing also use simple design templates and don’t have too much content relative to online retailers. This means that the price shouldn’t be too steep, but it will definitely be more than a blog. Overall Price Rating: B-.
Large E-commerce Retail Websites
E-commerce retail websites are generally extremely customizable and have many elements of data structure that require consistent upkeep to maintain a solid user experience. You’re going to be dealing with a lot of content and customer data. Plus, you will be creating a functional, clean-looking design that will most definitely run you up some paper. Usually, companies with websites such as these have an IT team that keeps up with the day-to-day maintenance. Having an IT team will require a large investment. Overall Price Rating- C-/D+
Consistent Website Maintenance May Be the Key to Your Success
For many businesses today, your website is your business. You would do everything to maintain your brick-and-mortar business. You should treat the maintenance of your website the same way! It is the best way to keep customers returning to your business. Consistent site maintenance ensures that your website and business remain visible to consumers. This might just be the key to your success in today’s internet-dependent society. Go check on your website today!
FAQs about Website Maintenance:
- What is website maintenance?
- Why should I keep up with website maintenance?
- What is the website maintenance process?
- How much does a website cost per month?
- How much does a beginner website cost?
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