How to Keep Your Website Updated

If you just paid someone to create or redesign a website for you, the last thing you want is for it to slip into a state of appearing outdated or having irrelevant and inaccurate content. The good news is that there are easy ways to keep your website fresh and up to date.

First, you should commit to updating your website on a monthly and quarterly basis. Monthly updates are focused on short-term changes, like keeping information up to date. Quarterly updates should be focused on long-term planning, like the navigation and usability of the site.

Here’s what you should be looking for each month:

1. Is the content on the homepage and primary pages still accurate and relevant? If you have an events page promoting an event that has now passed, you’ll want to change that to either photos from the event, or when the next event is, etc. Did you have an employee leave or a new one start recently? Make sure the staff and their corresponding contact information is correct as well.

2. Are there any missing or broken links? If you recently moved a page, be sure to check to see if the link has changed. You also want to check links to outside sources as those can frequently change without your knowledge. Pro Tip: If you’re using WordPress, download a plug-in like this one that checks for broken links throughout your site. That can save you loads of time!

3. Do the theme and plug-ins require an update? It’s critical that you keep these updated, primarily for security reasons but also for aesthetics.

Here’s what can be addressed quarterly:

1. Is your website easy to navigate (from an outsider’s perspective)? Pretend you are visiting your site for the first time, or better yet have someone else review it for you, and make sure that it’s easy to navigate from one page to the next without getting lost.

2. Is there anything distracting or unnecessary on your site? If you have a Twitter feed in your sidebar but you rarely use Twitter, then it really shouldn’t be there. 

3. Does your website still serve your mission and long-term goals? Make sure that over the months and years you don’t outgrow your website. For example, if your business or organization has expanded to include new audiences but your website is still clearly focused on one, you’ll want to reevaluate your website needs.

Updating your website for a few minutes each month can save you time and frustration in the long run. If this all seems overwhelming to you, then consider having a professional do it for you.