OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS
Launching your business website is just the start, ongoing management and maintenance are vital to keep it running smoothly. Ignoring these tasks is akin to driving a new car without servicing it, eventually, problems will arise.
After investing in your website, it’s important to ensure regular upkeep. From design changes to server maintenance, performance optimisation, analytics, and security updates, managing your website is crucial for both cybersecurity and customer service. Here’s a step-by-step guide to managing your website effectively, including when and how to address each task.
Step 1 – Choosing the Right Content Management System (CMS)
A good CMS makes managing your website much easier, from publishing content to maintaining functionality. Your web design team will likely recommend one, and for ease of use, we suggest WordPress. It’s user-friendly, even if you don’t have a web design background, and supports both simple and complex sites. Plus, WordPress offers a wide range of plugins and is completely free.
Step 2 – Daily Backups
Frequent backups are essential to mitigate the risk of cyberattacks or unforeseen issues. An up-to-date backup ensures minimal data loss and helps you restore your site quickly if something goes wrong. Making this a daily task is critical for effective website management, especially given the growing number of cyberattacks targeting small businesses.
Step 3 – Uptime Monitoring
Your website needs to be live and fully functional 24/7, and uptime monitoring tools like UptimeRobot, StatusCake, or Monitis can alert you if your site goes down. This helps avoid customer frustration and lost sales. Studies show that even minor downtime can significantly impact a business’s revenue, so monitoring uptime should be a daily task.
Step 4 – Daily Security Checks and Encryption
Daily security monitoring and encryption are vital to protect your website from threats. SSL certification through services like Let’s Encrypt provides necessary encryption, while tools like Cloudflare’s firewall and Duo Security’s two-factor authentication add further layers of protection. Regular security checks reduce risks and safeguard sensitive data.
Step 5 – Regular Updates and Patches
Keeping your CMS, plugins, and software up to date is essential to maintain security. Hackers often exploit outdated systems, making regular updates crucial. Weekly checks for updates, especially for WordPress, themes, and plugins, are an important part of your maintenance routine.
Step 6 – Weekly Content Updates
Fresh, high-quality content is essential for SEO and to keep visitors engaged. Websites that are regularly updated perform better in search rankings. Whether through blog posts, videos, or whitepapers, ensure you’re adding valuable content. Consistent updates, ideally weekly, help boost your site’s visibility and user engagement.
Step 7 – Routine Testing
Browsers and devices are constantly evolving, so regular testing ensures your site functions properly across different platforms. This should be done monthly or when major updates occur, ensuring a seamless user experience. In this matter, specialists from Overnight Glasses advise businesses to pay close attention to accessibility and usability, particularly on mobile devices. Addressing these aspects proactively prevents user frustration and improves overall customer satisfaction.
Step 8 – Monthly Performance Testing
Fast loading speeds are crucial for both user satisfaction and SEO. Tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights help you monitor your site’s performance. Monthly speed tests ensure your website meets benchmarks, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversions.
Step 9 – Monthly Form Testing
Forms are a vital way for users to interact with your site, whether they’re submitting enquiries or placing orders. It’s important to test all forms monthly to ensure they’re functioning properly, as updates to your site can affect them.
Step 10 – Database Cleanup
If you’re using WordPress, your database can quickly become cluttered with unnecessary data such as old drafts or spam comments. A quarterly cleanup helps streamline your site, improving its performance by reducing load times.
Step 11 – Staying Compliant with Regulations
It’s important to stay on top of evolving regulations. From privacy policies to accessibility standards under the Equality Act of 2010, your website must remain compliant. Ensuring compliance makes your site legally sound and accessible to all.
Step 12 – Tracking Performance with Analytics
Monitoring website performance using tools like Google Analytics is crucial. It tracks key metrics such as visitor behaviour, traffic sources, and content performance, offering valuable insights that help optimise your digital strategy.
DIY or Professional Website Management?
Website management is time-consuming and requires expertise, so should you handle it in-house or hire a professional team? If you have the necessary skills and a simple site, DIY may work. However, for growing businesses, outsourcing to a specialist team often delivers better results. At Grizzly, we offer comprehensive website management services, helping you focus on running your business while we optimise your online presence. Contact us today to learn how we can transform your website into a powerful sales tool.