Creating a website is one thing, but managing your website is another challenge entirely.
Once your website goes live for the very first time, it’s easy to forget about website maintenance, updates, and other content needs. Definitely celebrate your new website, but don’t wait too long to build an effective system for small business website management.
Don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry. This blog post will explain how to do website management for small businesses.
Schedule time for updates
For a small business web manager, scheduling time for updates may seem impossible. You’re busy adding new products to your website, perhaps you’re designing a new landing page, writing product descriptions, and so on…
But keeping your website up to date is absolutely critical.
Failure to keep your site up to date will reduce overall security, your site will likely run slower, and you may even lose ranking positions in Google.
So, our advice: schedule time for updates.
Ideally, you should be checking for updates at least once a week. If you’re using WordPress, you can check for plugin updates (and WordPress updates) from the dashboard. Plugin updates usually take minutes (at most), whereas WordPress updates should be planned ahead of time, with backups made before updating.
Ensure all plugins are working correctly
Sometimes, a plugin or two may stop working correctly. For example, maybe you’re using an image compression plugin that is no longer reducing the file size of uploaded images.
It’s important to identify these issues early to prevent interruptions to your website.
As part of your weekly check-in for updates, it’s worth browsing your site and making sure everything is working how it should.
Continue adding to your website
Website management for small business does not end once your website is live.
As part of your website management strategy, you should be adding new content to your website.
For example, if you’re launching a new line of products in time for Christmas, then you want to create a dedicated landing page for these products.
Likewise, you’ll want to test new email list lead generation ideas, product pricing details, product descriptions, and so forth.
Adding to your website is part of the process — your website will likely look completely different a few months from now, and that is completely okay.
Content creation is a part of your website management
Finally, content creation is a part of your website management strategy.
Alongside creating new landing pages, editing product descriptions, prices, and so on, you should be putting out new content.
Often, this content takes place in the form of a blog.
A blog is a great way to increase search engine optimization, helping more users find your website and what you have to offer.
Ideally, you should be posting SEO content at least once a week, but focus on quality rather than quantity.
If your time is stretched or you don’t have the resources, publish as often as you can, even if this is once or twice a month.
Small business website design and management does not have to be complicated
If you’re a small business, or perhaps a one or two-person team, then keeping your website up to date may seem like an impossible task.
But don’t worry — we can help. The Adopt the Web team creates, designs, and manages websites for all kinds of businesses. We even create search engine-optimized monthly content to help you bring more traffic and success to your website and business — we were recently named one of the top SEO companies in Kentucky.
FAQs
Can you pay someone to manage your website?
Yes! Many businesses choose to hire a professional — or team of professionals — to manage their website and content needs.
How do I manage my business website?
At the very least, you should conduct regular updates to your website. Ensure your CMS is up to date, your plugins are working properly, and add new content to your site as often as you can.
What should a small business put on a website?
What you should put on your website is entirely dependent on your business. If you sell arts and crafts products, then create product pages and descriptions. And if you sell lead generation services, then write landing pages explaining what lead generation is, how it works, and why customers should invest in your services.
