It’s time for spring cleaning with current information.
Don’t you hate it when you search for websites and come across dead pages, bad links, and seriously outdated information?
Don’t be that website. These web visitors probably will likely visit you in person or spend much time on your site.
1. Review every page. The worst thing a visitor to your website can do is find old and broken information. Spring cleaning should happen at least every year, Check each page on your site. If you come across a page that features an old event or other outdated information, then take it off the live portion of your website. Put it in a “draft” or archive folder. If you want to keep the page live, perhaps because it had photos of the event, change the written copy so that it is clear that this event already happened. If it’s an event or activity that happens annually, you can update the upcoming “save the date” information. Also, look for broken graphics, links or contact information that has changed.
2. Build SEO. While you’re already reviewing each page, it is also a good time to work on SEO (search engine optimization). Adding or reviewing or cleaning up your keywords or key phrases can help with SEO. Although adding “alt tags” to your images doesn’t always SEO much, it’s still wise to check images and add them for their original purpose of helping people with visual disabilities to access your site. An example of adding an image alt tag might be to put a tag on your homepage photo with the name, address, and contact information of your business or organization.
3. Build a content calendar. Visitors and Google like to see an active website, which will likely be interpreted as an active business or organization. Creating a content marketing strategy does not take a huge effort and will help guide you as you build content. get you over the first hurdle. Simply open a word doc or spreadsheet and start brainstorming ideas for content articles. Write down a temporary title, the general idea or outline and a target date to post.
- Write all frequently asked questions (FAQs) to archive on the website. Keep track of common questions they answer via email and add them to your FAQ list.
- List important dates or events in your business and use these additional ideas for posting content
4. Add functionality. In addition to cleaning up your website. An annual review is a great opportunity to review functionality. Website content management systems (CMS) are always adding functions to their services. If they are not, you probably need to try a new CMS. Familiarize yourself and implement some of the new functionality. Maybe it’s time to add a calendar, member area, forum, or shopping cart. There are even plugins that allow you to automatically archive or expire an article – this can help with future audits.
Set a time annually to spring clean your website. This will help give visitors a great first impression and encourage them to visit your physical location or to engage with your site.
If you need help, let us know. We can help.