Managing a Website: A Comprehensive Guide for website management success
Managing a website can feel overwhelming at first, like trying to herd cats while juggling chainsaws. Or at least that's how I felt when I launched my first site. Links were breaking, pages were crashing - it was a hot mess trying to keep things running smoothly.
But after plenty of trial and error, I've learned that with the right approach, website management doesn't have to be painfully complex or time consuming. In fact, it can become a streamlined system that practically runs itself.
In this guide, I'll walk you through the key areas to focus on when managing a website. I'll share tips and tools I've discovered that make the process much easier. My goal is to help you avoid common headaches so you can get back to growing your online business, not fighting fires.
Whether you handle your site yourself or work with a web manager, the steps I outline below will get you on the right track. Let's get started!
I. Regular Website Maintenance for Managing a Website
Keeping your website humming along requires dedicated, regular maintenance. Like a car, your website needs consistent care and attention to continue performing smoothly. I'll never forget the time I let routine tune-ups slide and ended up stranded on the highway! Don't let that happen to your website.
Schedule weekly reviews to monitor performance metrics and watch for hiccups. Are pages loading slowly? Is traffic dropping? Address issues right away. Back up site data on a strict regimen, daily if possible, to avoid catastrophe if disaster strikes. My backups saved me once when a plugin update crashed one of my new websites.
Remove unnecessary plugins and features to improve loading speed. And don't forget security - change passwords regularly and keep software updated. Consider services like Wix or hiring experts like us to handle maintenance, freeing you to focus on business growth. With proactive maintenance, your site will delight visitors rather than frustrate them. Prevent problems before they snowball and keep your website cruising smoothly!
II. Optimizing Design for Your Business Website
An attractive, user-friendly website design is crucial for engaging visitors and converting them into customers. But launch day is just the beginning - you must continually optimize your site's design as needs and trends evolve.
User experience is king. Analyze visitor behavior with heatmaps and user tests to identify pain points. For example, we discovered our checkout process was too complex by monitoring abandoned carts in one of our client`s projects. We simplified the form and increased conversion 26%!
Update visual elements regularly - even the best designs go stale. We suggest refreshing hero images quarterly and color schemes biannually at minimum. An outdated look screams "we don't care", while fresh visuals convey innovation and responsive branding.
Highlight new products and special offers prominently. We love announcing sales in vibrant banners - it grabs attention while providing value. Just ensure design consistency across your site.
Simplify and amplify calls to action. Remove distracting links and make CTAs clearly reflect desired actions. For example, we updated the business website for Fujiiryoki, a manufacturer of massage chairs, to boost conversions. By adding bold calls-to-action and lead generation forms across their site, we increased submissions by 32%.
Refine copywriting continuously. Use conversational tone and highlight benefits. Work relevant keywords naturally into headings and text - SEO should enhance, not impair, user experience. We provide expert copywriting services, incidentally!
Optimize conversion funnels relentlessly. Identify and eliminate friction in signup flows, product pages and checkouts. Little tweaks add up, like prefilling forms and offering guest checkout. Every improvement gets you closer to the sale.
Design Area | Optimization Opportunities |
|---|---|
User Experience | Heatmaps, user testing, persona research |
Visuals | Graphics, photos, color schemes |
Content | CTAs, copywriting, keyword optimization |
Conversions | Funnels, forms, page layouts |
Test changes extensively before launching to avoid unintended consequences. We recommend A/B testing new designs with small segments before rolling out site-wide. For example, our new navigational menu flopped with mobile users during testing - we refined it before full launch, avoiding mobile disaster!
In today's crowded digital marketplace, an attractive, seamless website is the best way to connect with customers and earn their business. But that requires continuous refinement as needs dictate - both yours and your visitors! Leverage the latest UX research and design trends, amplify your brand, and remove friction from the user journey. Your success in managing a website depends on it!
III. Content Management
A website's content makes or breaks the user experience and marketing success. An intentional content strategy aligned with business goals is vital.
Choosing a CMS
Selecting the right content management system (CMS) establishes a solid content foundation. We recommend user-friendly platforms like WordPress and Wix website builder that simplify website updates.
Key CMS considerations:
- Ease of use: The interface should be intuitive for content managers of all skill levels.
- Flexibility: Robust CMS options allow extensive customization and growth.
- Scalability: The CMS should easily accommodate website expansion and increased traffic.
- Security: Select a platform with strong security protections and frequent updates.
- Integrations: APIs for connecting analytics, marketing, and payment tools are useful.
- Responsiveness: Mobile-friendly CMS frameworks are a must these days.
Take time configuring CMS settings, templates, workflows, and access controls to match your needs. You want contributors editing pages, not wreaking havoc!
Content Creation and Curation
Website copy should be consistently reviewed and refreshed to stay engaging, valuable, and relevant. We suggest quarterly content audits to maintain freshness.
Watch keyword and topic trends as well - "hot" subjects one month may fizzle out the next. Align content with rising interests for improved visibility.
Adapt seasonal content like holiday promotions to the calendar. Use CMS scheduling to deploy and remove time-sensitive pages effortlessly.
Curate user-generated content like reviews, photos, and testimonials. Customer perspectives build trust and social proof. Obtain consent before publishing!
Respond to comments and questions promptly - it shows customers you care. Strive to engage within 24 hours before conversations go cold.
Managing Downtime
When maintenance necessitates downtime, ensure your "Site Down" page provides status updates, contact options, and access to resources. Friendly apologies ease frustration.
Distract anxious visitors with humor or value-adds like:
- Amusing images and GIFs
- Email signup for launch update alerts
- Links to related blog content
- Downloadable resources like whitepapers
The less painful your downtime, the quicker recovery will be. Plan pages in advance for smooth deployment.
Optimizing Content
Optimize web copy for SEO by incorporating relevant keywords naturally - keep sentences conversational. Avoid awkward over-optimization.
Refresh outdated content to keep pages feeling fresh and timely for visitors. Archive stale, underperforming pages.
Analyze content performance with analysis programs like Google Analytics. Identify high-value pages to further boost and low-value pages to refresh or remove.
A/B test content variations to identify improvements. For example, compare different homepage headlines and hero copy. Let data guide edits.
Fine-tuning and strategizing around website content is continual. But methodical management amplifies the value your content provides for users and your business.
IV. Technical Upkeep
When a website is launched, diligent technical care is required to keep it fast and functional over time. Otherwise performance will degrade and users will be alienated.
Cross-browser Testing
Thoroughly test across different browsers to identify compatibility issues before visitors notice them. Certain plugins, scripts, CSS, and other code can cause problems on specific browsers. Nip those bugs in the bud!
Prioritize testing for popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Also cover mobile browsers like iOS Safari and Chrome for Android.
Use tools like BrowserStack and LambdaTest for automated, multi-browser testing. Real users on real devices best simulates organic use cases.
Fixing browser-specific quirks proactively creates consistent experiences and prevents frustration when problems inevitably arise.
Monitoring Uptime
Monitor uptime closely using external monitoring services like UptimeRobot or Pingdom - don't rely on your own visits to catch outages. Services alert you immediately when your site is down.
We cannot stress enough how vital prompt resolution is for uptime issues - every single minute of downtime destroys revenue and erodes user trust. Have an emergency response plan ready for when disaster strikes.
Traffic Spikes
Anticipate and prepare for website traffic spikes, like major holidays, events, sales, or campaigns. Stress test your site beforehand to avoid embarrassing crash-related outages.
Consider scaling hosting plans and resources temporarily to handle influxes. Extra bandwidth and server capacity provides headroom when activity surges unexpectedly.
V. Performance Enhancements
A high-performing website loads quickly, handles traffic smoothly, and delights visitors. Optimization and updates should never cease, as there are always improvements to make
Page Speed
Page speed critically impacts conversions, bounce rates, and SEO. Test site speed with analysis tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix.
Then work to shave seconds off load times by:
- Compressing images
- Enabling caching
- Reducing server requests
- Minifying JavaScript
- Upgrading hosting plans
In competitive markets, a site that loads in 3 seconds trounces 6 second sites. Every fraction of a second matters, so optimize ruthlessly.
Database Optimization
As your website grows, database optimization becomes crucial for keeping things snappy.
- Properly index tables and queries
- Archive or delete unnecessary stale data
- Implement prudent purge policies
- Structure tables efficiently
Well-tuned databases remain responsive despite site expansion. Suffering performance means losing visitors.
VI. Marketing and Promotion
You've built an exceptional website - now get people to visit it! An effective marketing plan incorporates both inbound and outbound tactics.
SEO
Search engine optimization aims to establish organic visibility and authority for your brand and content.
- Optimize website copy and metadata for targeted keywords.
- Create high-quality, relevant content that attracts backlinks.
- Provide genuine value for users - build trust and authority.
- Avoid shady tactics - Google punishes spam sites algorithmically.
SEO is a long game, but elevates you above competitors over time through merit and hard work.
Email Marketing
Regular email campaigns keep you top of mind with subscribers and turn them into customers.
- Segment your list by interests for relevance.
- Maintain a consistent schedule - set expectations.
- Experiment with formats like giveaways and live Q&As.
- Offers and value-focused content boost open rates.
Email marketing remains one of the highest converting digital channels. Treat your list well!
Paid Ads
Paid ads leverage platforms like Google and Facebook to put your brand in front of motivated searchers.
- Define campaign goals - sales, leads, traffic, etc.
- Monitor performance closely and adjust targeting and bids to maximize ROI.
- Start small to grasp nuances before scaling up budgets.
When paired with a savvy strategy, paid ads deliver predictable growth. Just avoid treating them as a magic pill!
VII. Security Measures
In our increasingly treacherous digital landscape, security cannot be an afterthought. Fortify your website against threats seeking any vulnerability.
Passwords
Enforce strict password protocols for all admin accounts - significant length, maximum complexity, frequent rotation, the works.
Additionally, enable two-factor authentication for critical logins. The minor hassle is worth it the day your site gets hacked!
Software Updates
Keep WordPress, plugins, themes, and other software up-to-date constantly to close security holes. Revisions often address exploits identified in wild.
For peace of mind, have your site penetration tested annually as well. Ethical hackers uncover weaknesses before the bad guys do.
Backups
Backups aren't just for crashes - having clean site copies handy allows quick restoration after malicious attacks or accidental issues.
Don't take backups for granted. Test them regularly and store copies off-site for an extra layer of protection.
Website security requires perpetual vigilance. Arm yourself with knowledge and tools to lock things down.
VIII. Customer Support
Providing excellent customer service makes the difference between a great and poor user encounter. Make it easy for visitors to find help when needed.
Email Support
Publishing a support email address prominently gives customers a go-to contact option.
- Check email frequently - delayed responses negatively impact sentiment.
- Craft saved responses for common questions to improve consistency.
- Personalize messages - avoid impersonal, robotic language.
As one of the most ubiquitous digital communication channels, email remains a website support staple.
Live Chat
Live chat delivers real-time assistance, but use sparingly - overly-eager popups annoy more than help from our experience.
- Place strategically on high-value pages like checkout instead of sitewide.
- Set availability hours and stick to them.
- Hire chat agents strong in written communication, product knowledge and etiquette.
When implemented appropriately, chat provides a convenient alternative for quick questions.
Phone Support
While old-school, a published phone number remains useful for urgent issues.
- Keep wait times short by staffing sufficiently. Hold music gets grating quickly.
- Arm agents with knowledge bases and visitor information for personalized service.
- Record calls for future coaching and issue documentation.
Don't underestimate the impact genuine human interaction can have, especially when problems arise.
IX. Insights and Monitoring
Actionable insights provide vital visitor insights to inform your website strategy. But data is only useful if interpreted intelligently.
Key Metrics
Review metrics like traffic sources, landing pages, conversions and KPIs regularly. Look for trends, anomalies and optimization opportunities.
Don't get overwhelmed by granular data. Focus on highlights relevant to goals. Then drill down as needed.
Site Performance
Performance metrics like page load speeds, bounce rates and mobile friendliness indicate technical health.
Prioritize fixes benefiting users most, like sluggish pages. Rushed code causes problems - address urgently.
Marketing analysis
Marketing analysis measure effectiveness of campaigns, ads and assets. Know what delivers results and what to nix.
Every dollar matters, especially for small businesses websites. Ensure initiatives pay dividends.
Data illuminates clear paths to improvement - act on insights, not assumptions. And don't forget the human element too!
X. Keeping Up-To-Date
An outdated website communicates stagnation, not innovation. Stay current with regular maintenance and strategic feature enhancements.
Software Upgrades
Update core site software like your CMS, plugins, themes, etc. promptly when new versions release. They contain valuable improvements, security patches, and feature additions.
Letting technical cruft accumulate results in headaches down the road. Don't ignore notifications!
New Features
Evaluate potential new features objectively. Gratuitous bells and whistles bloat your site, but certain strategic enhancements can raise the bar for your audience.
Focus on features that solve pain points and directly support your goals. Resist neat distractions that don't move the needle.
Industry Trends
Monitor competitor sites and industry trends. Don't mimic blindly, but lagging the curve leaves money on the table. User expectations evolve - stay ahead.
Refreshing stagnant sites provides a competitive edge. But stay true to your brand - don't break user familiarity.
Summary
As you can see, properly overseeing a website involves many moving parts. But with diligent care and the right tools, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Just take it step by step.
Focus on crafting an exceptional user experience above all else - that builds the foundation. Then establish smart processes to handle technical upkeep, marketing, security, analysis, and other aspects.
Don't let your website turn into a neglected pet that makes a mess all over the house. Give it consistent love and attention and it will reward you for years to come.
If at any point website management starts to feel like too much, don't hesitate to get help from experts like us. Our team makes it easy to build and oversee a website, empowering you to focus on growing your business.
Here's to online success! Let me know if you have any other questions - I'm always happy to help fellow website owners. We're all in this together.
Only relevant insights.
No spam, just useful content tailored to you.
F.A.Q.
I've been working in this field 7+ years, staying tuned to the latest trends in website development, ux/ui design and marketing. Every week, I explore the ever-evolving landscape to keep you updated. Whether it's about picking the right tools or navigating the dynamic world of online presence, I've got you covered.
Only relevant insights.
No spam, just useful content tailored to you.