How Often Should I Update My Website?
IN A HURRY? HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE
Your website is not a “one-and-done” project; it needs to be regularly revisited for fresh content, messaging, and branding. Update your website with blogs or other resources at least every month, and revisit the overall messaging twice a year. When it comes to a complete overhaul, budget for every 3-5 years.
GOT A MINUTE? HERE ARE THE DETAILS TO CONSIDER
Your website is a critical piece of online real estate that establishes the legitimacy of your business. Launching a website is often a labor of love that takes considerable time, energy, and money, just like building a house. Even if you hire a professional to build your website (and your house, for that matter!), there’s still a DIY element to keeping it up-to-date.
Just like you are constantly making little tweaks and adjustments around your house - seasonal decor, landscaping, reorganizing, and home improvement projects - the investment you made in your website should also be regularly maintained. You need regular website maintenance to keep your online presence up-to-date, relevant, and optimized for search engines.
In general, I recommend updating your website with the following frequency:
Blogs and Other Resources: Every Month (Minimum)
I strongly suggest making a habit of posting new, relevant content to your website at least once a month. As a business owner, you have a lot of expertise and knowledge to share with your audience. Publishing this expertise as regular content on your website - blog posts, podcasts, videos, guides, and/or other resources - plays an integral role in establishing your brand's credibility.
This content provides value to your website visitors, customers, and clients, and gives people a reason to keep coming back to your website. Regular updates like these have the added bonus of enhancing your website's search engine optimization (SEO) because search engines like Google reward website traffic to sites that are credible and regularly updated with good content!
General Information and Messaging: Every 6 Months
Your website also serves as an information hub, which is why it’s important to periodically review and update the general information and messaging on your site. Your messaging should consistently align with the interests and needs of your target audience, which may change over time.
Every six months, go through each page of your website to ensure that the facts are still accurate and that you’re still offering all of the products and services advertised. Check the “About” page and “FAQ” pages for any outdated information, too, and test your contact form to make sure it’s functioning correctly. You should also check to make sure all the internal and external links are working.
Aesthetics and Branding: Every 3-5 Years
A website that was stylish and trendy five years ago might seem archaic today. We've all stumbled upon websites with designs reminiscent of the Windows 95 era - surely, you wouldn't want your site to be one of them.
To prevent this, I would highly encourage you to revamp the aesthetics and branding of your website once every 3-5 years. Not only will this keep it fresh and attractive, but it also allows you to align with your evolving brand and current digital marketing trends.
If any of this sounds overwhelming, or if you know you’re in dire need of some updates on your site, Melissa Swink & Co. is here to help! Our services include website content creation (blogs/articles), website copywriting and copyediting, building landing pages and one-page websites, full website design, and even a Website in a Day package. No matter if you’re looking for small updates every so often or a complete overhaul, we’re here to help. Schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation, today!