Moving Forward
What to do with your website and how to build a great online presence
Spread the word
When your website goes live, the most important thing to do initially is drive traffic to it. These are some ways you can consider getting the word out:
EMAIL LIST
If you have a newsletter or email list, be sure to let them know that the new site has launched, and, more importantly, how it can help their business or add value to your subscribers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Share the news of your website with your friends and family on social media. They might want to congratulate you and help spread the word. One post can go a long way when it’s shared and liked. Wherever you’re active online, share away!
WORD OF MOUTH
Word of mouth is the most powerful referral. Tell those around you about your new website, and ask for their opinions. That’s valuable feedback that may come in handy when considering changes and additions to the site moving forward.
Ask for reviews
Online reviews have become an increasingly important source of information for consumers. When a user conducts a search on the Internet and finds your business, they will probably read what other people have to say about it right away. Reviews can lead to greater visibility, more business, and higher rankings on the search engine results page (SERP). There are several ways to get reviews, including:
Google Review
Customer reviews are one of the best ways to show up in search results, so ask your customers to Google your business and leave a review. It’s super handy!
FACEBOOK REVIEWS
Reviews on Facebook are a great way for customers to express their opinions about your business. Don’t be afraid to ask your customers to leave a review on your Facebook page, or get their permission to share their comments with others.
TESTIMONIALS
After your website is live, gather as many testimonials as possible and post them on your site. People will often look for reviews on your site as well as on other websites before making a purchase or contacting you by phone or email. I recommend putting the best ones on your site.
Refresh and Update
After your site has been live for a while, it’s important to do some things to keep it fresh. Here are some suggestions:
Change Images
Changing or updating your site’s images a few times a year makes it look like you’re keeping up with current trends and making your site more valuable for users. They will see that you’re keeping your site fresh, and they’ll be more likely to keep coming back.
CHANGE Colors and Layouts
After being live for more than a year or so, it’s time to spruce it up. One way to do this is by changing some of the colors and graphics on your site. This will help keep people coming back for more.
Keep Your Information Updated
Make sure you update your website when information, staff or hours change. Nothing is more frustrating than having wrong information on your site. Keep your site streamlined and updated with current information about your business.
Build site content
Google is most interested in a website that attracts visitors, signs up new users, is updated regularly and posts new blogs or content. If your site is not being managed or updated, it can affect how search engines find you. Here are some options on how to build content for your website:
Blog
Blogging is a great way to increase traffic to your website and grow your online presence. If you can contribute good content that is well thought out and valuable to your customers, you will drive more traffic. Post regularly to social media to get the word out.
New Pages & Sections
To keep your site fresh, update images, graphics, and content. The more frequently you update, the more likely it is that Google will notice your site and index it more quickly. You can repost your site on social media alerting people that new there is new content.
Updated Content
As your business changes, update your website accordingly. Even adding a few words can show search engines that you are working on improving your site.
Protect your website
Website security is crucial to protect sensitive information from cyberattacks. Implementing measures such as SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular updates can prevent data breaches and ensure user trust. Security plans should include:
UPDATES
After ensuring that updates won’t have a negative impact on your site, the WordPress core and other plugins will be updated as they’re made available.
Security Monitoring and Malware Cleanup
Your website will always be safe and secure with daily malware, anti-virus, and malicious-code scans and a powerful firewall that prevents suspicious IPs and bots from entering your website.
Reliable Backup
Daily off-site backups will be available if the unthinkable (website disappears!) happens. Your website can be restored with just a few clicks from remote servers that won’t slow down your website.