Believe it or not, launching a website is not the final step to building your brand’s online presence. To keep your site running smoothly and performing optimally, it is best to conduct routine website maintenance checks. An up-to-date and accessible website paves the way for prospective customers to turn into loyal clientele. Following a site designed for the premier user experience, ensuring a secure platform for your leads is critical to maintaining strong client- business relationships.
In this post we will define website maintenance and cover the different types of security measures that should be done on a regular basis.
What is website maintenance and how can it impact lead nurturing efforts if not monitored on a regular basis?
Website maintenance is the process of keeping a site up-to-date and functioning smoothly. With routine check ups, businesses can reassure secure performance of site elements including but not limited to, contact forms, backlinks, plugins, and payment processes. Moreover, having a website maintenance plan serves as documentation for future security updates and content management.
It is important to note that your website is reflective of your brand’s efforts to build long lasting consumer relationships. Your site should help to boost credibility within your industry and provide visibility to prospective customers. On the flip side, an unmaintained website often increases the risk of slower loading times, functionality issues, and site crashes.
Without a detailed website checklist, your site could become susceptible to data breaches and fake form submissions leading to a reduction in qualified leads.
What does a maintenance plan consist of?
The essential elements of a maintenance plan include security updates, website hosting, plugin updates, management of user permissions, and other support resources tailored to business needs. It also involves more general tasks such as backing up a site regularly and monitoring site performance.
Backup & Data Recovery
Why is a backup a critical piece to the maintenance puzzle?
A backup prevents data loss and ensures site restoration in the event of a major problem. Frequent backups of your site also eliminate the need to rebuild pages from scratch by recovering previous layouts. Based on the size and complexity of your site, it’s a good idea to evaluate the best automatic/manual backup plan that suits your business.
Security Updates
Security updates help to ensure that a site is secure from any potential threats. Running monthly checks on a website can identify and fix vulnerabilities that may cause potential harm to users.
Moreover, returning and prospective visitors can be assured that their personal information remains confidential and within a secured database.
Plugin & Theme Updates
One of the most significant ways to reduce the risk of your site being compromised is to keep it updated!
Theme updates help to patch vulnerabilities and bugs that will interfere with the functionality of your site. In addition, plugin updates introduce new tools and features to improve user experience and enhance website performance.
Performance Optimization
Websites with high levels of performance and fast loading times often result in higher conversion rates. A responsive website will positively impact lead nurturing efforts in attracting more qualified leads that can be converted into lasting, loyal customers.
User Management Permissions
Managing your users’ permissions helps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of website processes. Permissions provide different levels of access to users within your organization.
SEO Monitoring
Keep your SEO in check! Monitoring your site’s SEO will help to improve brand visibility from a digital point of view. This can include weekly, monthly, or even quarterly updates ranging from visual content to fixing internal and external links.
Here are some main components of SEO to consider:
- Link Building
- Keyword Research
- On Page SEO
- Off Page SEO
- Technical SEO
Website Audits
A website audit is an examination of a site’s performance prior to large scale redesigns or SEO evaluations. Auditing your website will help you analyze the amount of traffic driven by organic leads and improve current lead nurturing efforts.
Here’s what an audit can do for you:
- Affirm content is informative and up-to-date
- Incorporate other competitive tactics into your own marketing strategy
- Improve SEO
- Optimize conversion rates
- Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your site’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
- Optimize your page for mobile use
Accessibility Testing
What is website accessibility?
Website accessibility is the practice of making a website accessible to all users – including its format, structure, navigation, and visual design. Accessibility gives users equal access to your content and accommodates any limitations they may face. Making content more user-friendly and easy to understand speaks volumes to your brand as a whole.
It shows your visitors and prospective customers that you care about them individually.
Content Updates
Your website’s content should be kept up to date with relevant information and exciting new announcements! Replacing outdated content brings a sense of professionalism and credibility to your business while giving leads a reason to be invested in your company.
Website Hosting
A website hosting package is an essential for maintaining a strong online strategy, long after launch. Your website hosting service depends on the level of traffic driven to your platform and the amount of data that needs to be stored.
In addition, a good website hosting package will offer round the clock technical assistance or support.
Connect with our website and marketing experts to see how we can help you. with a managed hosting service!
Since website maintenance is an ongoing process, investing your time in a well-developed web support service is essential to ensure the safety and security of your platform and prospective visitors.
We are excited to announce an expansion in our website maintenance packages to improve site performance and security!
All of our website support packages cover the following elements, but are not excluded to: plugin updates, user permissions, and Content Delivery Network (Downloading).
For additional information about our website support packages or questions about a customized plan, please email us at [email protected].
