Managing a website is a lot like managing a garden. Once a week you have to mow the lawn, trim the hedges and basically just all-around tend to the place.
If you don’t, things quickly and easily become over-grown. Until eventually your site visitors will think there really isn’t much to look at.
With that in mind, here’s what I’m trying to do on a weekly/daily basis… (And I encourage you to do the same)
- Click around and browse your website as if you were a first-time site visitor. What works? What doesn’t? What can you get rid of to make things simpler?
- Ask for feedback from people. Were you able to find what you were looking for? If not, how can I make it easier/better to search this site?
- Respond to comments in a timely manner to keep the dialogue going.
- Get rid of the clutter. This includes any widgets that people aren’t clicking on.
- Optimize the Calls To Action on my landing pages. First, I check Google Analytics to identify my top landing pages. Then, I have Goals set up to track conversions. Then, I ask myself, what can I do to improve these metrics?
What do you think… What are some of your tips for keeping your website fresh and stocked full of useful content?
[PHOTO CREDIT: Mikey G Ottawa]
I get bored so easily with my own website. One week, I love how it looks, another week, I anxious to change things up, or just “trim the hedges” at least.
I agree, it’s important to maintain your site and keep it fresh – the same is true for a retail store.. and I think it applies to websites too.
Denise: That’s the perfectionist in us that keeps us itching/wanting to change every little thing. Heck, I know I wake up everyday wanting to change something 🙂