7 Things To Update On Your Website Right Now
Our Top Recommendations + Yearly Updates
The holiday parties are over, the new year resolutions are set, and you’re ready to hit the ground running and crush your new year business goals … but does your website feel the same way?
We recommend doing a quick website update at the start of every year to make sure your brand is ready to welcome in new clients and showcase what you do best.
Not only will it ensure that your website is ready to welcome in new customers, it will also save you a time-consuming (and expensive) website overhaul by giving your website a little TLC each year.
Our Top 7 Website Updates
1. Update your copyright
Your website copyright should be in the footer of your website and is probably the fastest, easiest update you can do for your website each year. It may sound silly but you would be surprised how many businesses still have a copyright from 2018.
2. Check for broken links
Throughout the year you may have moved pages around and it’s easy to forget to update a blog link or button somewhere on your website. You can use a tool like brokenlinkcheck.com to find any broken links you might now be aware of. This will quickly help you make simple changes such as adding a URL redirect for pages that no longer exist, or other general updates as needed.
3. Update testimonials and case studies
We know, this one can feel like a big one. Ideally, you’ve been doing this throughout the year but you would be surprised how long people can go without updating their testimonials or case studies.
You’ve done great work this year and you want to make sure you showcase your most recent client success stories! Not only does it increase your credibility, it also gives you the chance to spotlight your wins over the last year and showcase what you’re most proud of.
4. Update photos
Yes, you should update some or all of your photos every year.
Updating your photos will immediately give your website a fresh new look and feel. It’s also the easiest way to give your website a quick facelift without a major overhaul. This may even be the year you decide to update your custom photography! Not there yet? There are tons of great free stock options out there.
5. Update your About page
A lot can change about your business throughout the year, including changes to your internal team and affiliations. Make sure your about page is up to date with any team bio updates or staffing changes that occurred over the past year.
You’ll also want to make any numerical changes, such as years in business or years with the company, are updated appropriately. A quick tip to avoid having to make these updates each year is by using the actual year of origin as opposed to number of years as it relates to longevity.
For example, instead of saying, “For the past 5 years … “ you would say “Since 2018 … “. This will save you the headache each year this comes around!
6. Update your content
Do you need to make any tweaks to your services, pricing, or frequently asked questions? This is a great time to review and edit the content on your website pages to make sure it is accurate and up to date - you’d be surprised how much can change in a year!
Also, Google wants to see updates made to your website content so it knows your website is still fresh and current.
7. Do a quick analytics review
If you’re like most of our clients digging into your Google Analytics or Search Console may feel more like rocket science than marketing, but trust us - you need to do this every year! How did your website perform? How many website visitors are you getting? What is the most popular content on your website? Doing a yearly analytics review will let you understand what worked in the past and what areas of opportunity you have for the next year. Don’t have any past metrics or goals? This may be the perfect time to set started.
The Takeaway?
It’s time to give your website some new year TLC. We recommend pouring a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and sitting down to spend some quality time with your website. These 7 simple steps will give your website the quick refresh it needs to start the new year off on the right foot (or page).
