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This episode is about something every small business owner and entrepreneur should be doing regularly. Insert: website working days to make website updates. (AKA the unsung hero of your business, trust us).
Your website is your virtual storefront. It’s the first impression most of your audience will have of your brand, so it’s important to make sure that it’s up-to-date and reflective of your current brand, voice, and offerings.
At the end of the day, it’s how you make money. It’s where you convert people into clients or customers. So, it’s important to take the time to make necessary website updates.
Why Website Maintenance Matters
Imagine walking into a physical store that hasn’t been updated in years. The decor is outdated, some products are mislabeled, and the store hours posted on the door are incorrect. Would you go back to that business? Probably not.
Your website is no different. It’s the digital face of your business, and keeping it fresh, accurate, and functional is crucial.
How often should you update your website?
It depends. Our recommendation for maintenance and freshness is quarterly. Some website updates may need to be done more often, such as adding new affiliate links in your blogs or creating a page for a new freebie.
How to Check When a Website Was Last Updated
Curious when you last updated your website? There’s a super easy way to check!
Check the Source Code for the Last Updated Date
- Go to Your Website: Open your website in a browser.
- View the Source Code:
- On most browsers, right-click on the page or click view in the top toolbar and select “View Page Source” (or “Inspect”).
- Search for Last Modified Date:
- Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Command + F (Mac) to open the search bar.
- Type “Last-Modified” or “updated” to find metadata that might indicate the last change.
- What to Look For:
- You might find something like <meta name=”last-modified” content=”YYYY-MM-DD”>.
- If your site doesn’t have this meta tag, it might not display the last update, and you’ll have to go to your website host to check.
What is a Website Working Day?
Website working days are similar to a CEO day, but you only focus on your website. You’re setting aside time to work on one specific thing for your business. Remember, your business is only as successful as the time you put into it! You can’t spend all your time on client work – where will your next client come from? Working on your business is never a waste of time!
What Should You Prioritize During Website Working Days?
So, what does a website working day look like? Here are some examples of website updates to make.
Keeping Your Content Fresh
New content engages your audience and helps with SEO. Search engines love up-to-date websites so frequent updates can improve your ranking and visibility.
Here are some easy website updates you can make:
- Post fresh blogs
- New resources or freebies
- Embedded or linked email sign-up forms
- Links to tools you recommend
- New brand images
- Correct outdated stats, tips, or data
Updating Outdated or Incorrect Information
Nothing turns a potential customer off faster than calling a number that doesn’t work or having outdated prices or services you no longer offer. Review your services and contact pages quickly to ensure everything is correct. If you mention your services or contact information in your blogs, it might be worth perusing them, too.
Spotlighting New Services
Have you added a new service or product? Website working days give you the chance to create dedicated pages that let your offerings shine. Having separate website pages for each of your services is better for SEO. It allows you to optimize for a single service and get super specific with your SEO metadata.
Adding new pages
In Episode 102, we break down five website pages you didn’t know you needed for SEO. Here are some examples of new pages you could add to your website.
- Custom 404 page
- Blog category pages
- Opt-in pages for freebies and newsletters
- Individual service pages
- Digital business card
- Custom Zoom page
If you don’t have these pages, slowly add them in! These website updates will give you a little SEO boost and make a deeper connection with your audience. You don’t have to add them all at once, but they are great to work on during your website working days.
Fixing Broken Links
Broken links are the equivalent of a dead-end street on your site. They frustrate users and could cost you a booking or sale (even if you have a fun custom 404 page that they land on!) Use the tool Broken Link Check to find all the broken links on your website. Either update the link or remove it completely. Your audience and search engines will thank you!
Visual Updates
Your website photos should reflect your brand as it is today. That means making these website updates.
- Refreshing Outdated Visuals: Are your photos from five years ago? It’s time for an upgrade. High-quality, current images make your website feel alive and professional. Don’t forget stock photography, too!
- Adding additional branding elements outside of your logo: Update or add in submarks, patterns, icons, etc. to keep your website fresh and fun! Your brand is so much more than that logo – show it off here!
- Include some movement: Have a little extra time? Add some fun movement to your site (submarks, scrolling banners, videos, etc.)
- Triple check mobile: And view your website live versus just in your website platform that you build your site within.
Tune into Episode 116 for more on how to make your homepage a scroll-stopper!
Make Website Working Days a Habit (and make them fun!)
Now that you’re convinced website working days are essential, here’s how to make them a regular part of your business routine:
Schedule It
We are scheduling queens! We need things like this on our calendars, or they won’t get done. Can you relate, friend?! Dedicate a specific day each quarter, or even monthly, to working on your website. Treat it like any other critical business meeting.
Get out of your house
Check out a new coffee shop or wine bar to work on your website updates. Get out of your house or your office and make it a full day with a new location, fun food and drinks, etc. This is a hotel we went to last time we had a website working day!
Create a Checklist
Your checklist or agenda might include updating your bio, swapping outdated copy, adding new pages, testing links, and reviewing your contact information. Our checklist is ongoing and lives in a Google Doc and Asana. We add to it whenever we remember something random and save it for our next website working day.
Delegate or Outsource
If the thought of doing all this yourself feels overwhelming, hire a professional to help. Web designers, copywriters, and branding experts can make this process easier.
Results You Can Expect From Making Website Updates
We know adding one more thing to your to-do list is asking a lot. But trust us, there’s a payoff for keeping your website fresh!
- Improved User Experience: Visitors are more likely to stay on a site that feels up-to-date and user-friendly.
- Increased Trust and Brand Authority: Accurate, current information builds credibility with your audience.
- Higher Conversion Rates: A clean, functional website with clear calls to action makes it easier for visitors to become clients or customers.
- Better SEO Performance: Regular website updates signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant.
So, are you ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a website working day? Remember, your website is more than just a digital placeholder; it’s a vital tool for growing your business. Dedicate time to nurture it!
If you liked today’s episode on The Duo On Air Marketing Podcast, don’t forget to leave us a review & subscribe!
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Abbey Oslin and Courtney Petersen are Minnesota-based marketing experts, educators, and co-founders of boutique marketing agency Duo Collective, which specializes in SEO, social media strategy, and branding for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. To learn more about Duo Collective, or to inquire about working with our team, head over to www.duocollective.com.
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