As the new year approaches, it’s important for website owners to take some time to review and update their sites to ensure they’re running smoothly and effectively. Here are six things you should do at the beginning of each year to keep your website in tip-top shape:
- Check the copyright date has been updated. It’s important to make sure that the copyright date on your website is current, as it not only serves as a way to show that the site is up-to-date, but also demonstrates that you’re actively maintaining and updating the site. To update the copyright date, simply go to the footer of your website and find the copyright notice. Replace the old year with the current one, and save the changes.
- Review your website analytics. It’s essential to understand how your website is performing, and analytics tools such as Google Analytics can provide valuable insights into website traffic, user behavior, and more. At the beginning of the year, take some time to review your analytics data from the previous year and see what’s working well and what areas may need improvement.
- Update your content. Fresh, high-quality content is crucial for attracting and retaining visitors to your website, so it’s important to review and update your content regularly. At the beginning of the year, take some time to review your website and see if any outdated or irrelevant pages need to be removed or updated. You should also consider adding new content, such as blog posts or new pages, to keep your site fresh and engaging.
- Check your website’s security. Cybersecurity is more important than ever, so it’s essential to ensure your website is secure. Start by ensuring that your website uses a secure connection (https), and consider installing a security plugin to help protect against cyber threats. You should also review your website’s user accounts and passwords to ensure they are secure and not easily guessable.
- Optimize your website for mobile. With more and more people accessing the internet from their smartphones, your website must be optimized for mobile. Check to ensure that your website is responsive and easy to navigate on a smaller screen. Consider implementing mobile-specific design elements, such as larger buttons and font sizes.
- Review your website’s design and user experience. A well-designed website is crucial for keeping visitors engaged and coming back for more. At the beginning of the year, take some time to review your website’s design and consider making any necessary updates. This could include refreshing your website’s color scheme or layout, or adding new features to improve the user experience.
By reviewing and updating your website at the beginning of each year, you can ensure that it’s running smoothly and effectively and providing the best possible experience for your visitors. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large corporation, these simple steps can help keep your website running at its best.
Elisa Heisman says
I’m happy to say that I’m already doing many of these things for my website at work. We rebranded last year, which gave me the opportunity to freshen things up. But there is always something to improve upon. This month, I’m trying to figure out a new layout for my homepage. Wish me luck! Thanks for this very helpful post.
Paul says
Wow, it sounds like you’ve already accomplished a lot for your website this year! Rebranding is a big undertaking, so I’m glad you were able to freshen things up. It’s always a good idea to continue looking for ways to improve your website. Good luck with the new layout for your homepage! I’m sure it will turn out great. And thank you for finding the post helpful. Having a checklist of things to review and update on your website is always good, so I’m glad it was useful for you. Keep up the great work!
doug says
HI Paul,
Thanks for the reminders. I am sure there is something in there that I need to update.
Hopefully these blog challenges will take care of keeping it fresh with new content.
Paul says
Yes, Doug! I hope the blog challenges keep you motivated to push forward.
Amanda says
Thanks for the great website updating tips for your the new year.
Paul says
I am happy you liked my blog, Amanda! Stay awesome.