If you missed my last post about getting your website ready for the holidays, then now's a great time to invest a few minutes on some basic website maintenance, to help get your WordPress Website ready for the New Year.

Keep reading to gain some valuable tips on ensuring your website's in tip-top shape for the upcoming year.

Update Your Copyright Date

A lot of website owners forget to update the copyright date on their website, and some don't even realise the importance of it. An updated copyright date indicates to visitors that your website is maintained (and not abandoned), and that the content is up-to-date.

Update WordPress, Plugins & Themes

This one's a no-brainer and should ideally form part of your monthly website maintenance! ALWAYS make sure that your website is running the latest version of WordPress and that all your plugins and themes are updated. Remember to take a backup of your site before updating, just in case you run into any conflicts.

Test Your Forms

It is not uncommon for contact forms to suddenly stop working (usually after updates). Make sure that you are receiving all form submissions sent from your website and that contact and subscription forms are functioning properly.

Update Pricing & Information

Remove any outdated banners / advertising, and ensure all your products are priced correctly. If shipping costs, business contact or banking details have changed, be sure to update all these important details on your website.

Remove Old Users & Update Passwords

Delete any users (admins, shop owners, subscribers, etc) that no longer require access to your website, and update passwords to ensure your website remains secure.

Remove Unused Images, Themes and Plugins

Images, themes, plugins, and documents can take up a lot of space in your hosting account and can also affect your website loading times. Now is a good time to do a quick clean up of all the stuff that you're no longer using and ensure you're not storing any unnecessary files.

Add New Content

Create and add some fresh and engaging content such as a new blog post or page. Adding new content will not help maintain, or in some cases improve your Google ranking (Google LOVES new content), but will also help draw new and existing visitors to your website.

Wrapping Up

Keeping your website in good health is important, and what better time to focus on cleaning up your website than right now!

Read also: getting your website ready for the holidays

Updated 25 September 2024

Your website is the digital face of your business, and the content you include plays a critical role in attracting, engaging, and converting visitors.

Web Content to Gather Before Creating a New Website

Whether you're launching a basic website or building an e-commerce platform, your content needs to be well-planned, informative, and designed for user experience (UX). Following this updated content checklist, you can ensure your website is optimized for both functionality and SEO, while also providing a seamless user experience.

General & Global Website Elements

• Logo: A high-resolution version of your business logo that reflects your brand identity.
• Favicon: The small icon that appears in the browser tab. It’s often a simplified version of your logo.
• Responsive Design: Ensure your website layout adapts to various devices (desktop, mobile, and tablet).
• Footer Elements: The footer area plays a vital role in improving user engagement and conversions. Common elements to include:
  • Social media links
  • Legal links (Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions)
  • Contact information
  • A mini-menu or sitemap
  • Newsletter opt-in
  • Certifications, memberships, or awards
  • Call-to-action buttons (e.g., "Contact Us," "Subscribe")
  • Business hours or location details

Home Page

Your homepage is the most critical page on your website—it sets the tone for your entire online presence.

• Hero Image/Header Image: A high-quality, visually appealing image that represents your brand or offerings.
• Main Headline: A clear and concise message that tells visitors what your business does.
• Tagline: A short, memorable slogan that reflects your brand identity.
• SEO Optimized Headline: A headline or meta description designed to help search engines rank your website.
• Call to Action (CTA): Strategically placed buttons, such as "Get a Quote" or "Shop Now."
• Core Content: Briefly introduce your business or services and use engaging visuals to support this information.

About Page

Visitors often head to the "About" page to learn more about your business and its story.

• Main Content: A description of your company, its mission, and values. Focus on building trust and connection.
• Images: Include professional team photos or visuals that reflect your company culture.
• Team Information: Team member bios, roles, and social media links.
• Certifications & Memberships: Showcase any awards, certifications, partnerships, or accreditations to build credibility.

Products/Services Page

Whether you're offering services or products, this page should present what you offer in a clear, organized manner.

• Headings: Use keyword-rich headings to clearly separate different services or product categories.
• Product/Service Descriptions: Concise yet detailed descriptions of each offering.
• Images: High-quality images or videos of your products or services.
• Pricing/Packages: Display prices or contact buttons for quotes.

Blog

Maintaining a blog is an essential SEO tool that can help drive organic traffic and establish authority in your industry.

• Initial Posts: Start with at least three blog posts that cover relevant industry topics or company news.
• Featured Images: Every blog post should have a visually appealing featured image for better engagement.

Contact Page

Make it easy for visitors to reach out to you.

• Contact Information: Include phone numbers, email addresses, and a physical mailing address.
• Contact Form: Make sure it has relevant fields (e.g., name, email, subject) and send the form to the appropriate email address.
• Map Embed: Include a Google Map to your business location if you have a physical store or office.
• Supporting Content: Areas serviced, business hours, and photos of your premises (if relevant).

Supporting Content

Enhance the credibility and user-friendliness of your site with these elements:

• Testimonials: Include customer testimonials with images, especially for service-based businesses.
• Client Logos: Showcase logos of past clients to build social proof.
• FAQs: Add a Frequently Asked Questions section to help address common concerns.
• Downloads/Resources: Offer downloadable resources like PDFs, guides, or whitepapers.
• Videos: Embed promotional, explainer, or testimonial videos to increase engagement.

On-Page SEO

Optimize your website to rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.

• Target Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords throughout your site, focusing on titles, headings, and meta descriptions.
• Image Alt Text: Ensure that all images have descriptive alt text for accessibility and SEO.
• Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your website to improve user navigation and SEO.

Email Marketing

Capture leads and keep your audience engaged through email marketing efforts.

• Opt-in Forms: Include newsletter subscription forms on key pages with a compelling headline and button text.
• CRM Integration: Ensure your website integrates with email platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot.
• Tags & Segmentation: Organize new subscribers using tags for better targeting in your email campaigns.

Tracking & Analytics

Track user behavior on your site to gain valuable insights.

• Google Analytics: Implement tracking to monitor your website traffic, user behavior, and conversions.
• Facebook Pixel: If you're running social media ads, use the Facebook pixel to track conversions and retarget visitors.
• Live Chat: Install live chat scripts to engage visitors in real-time and answer questions instantly.

eCommerce (for Online Shops)

For businesses running an online store, proper setup and content are critical to a smooth customer experience.

• Product Information: Ensure each product has a unique title, SKU, category, description, image, price, and any necessary specifications (e.g., weight for shipping).
• Shipping Methods & Costs: Display shipping options and fees transparently.
• Payment Methods: Offer multiple payment options (e.g., credit card, PayPal, Payfast) and ensure secure checkout.
• Coupons & Discounts: Create promotional codes or discounts to encourage sales.

Legal Content

Protect your business and comply with online regulations.

• Privacy Policy: Outline how user data is collected, stored, and used on your site.
• Terms and Conditions: Provide terms of use for your website or online store.
• Custom Copyright: Ensure your website includes a copyright notice to protect your content.

---

By following this comprehensive checklist, you can ensure that your website is not only visually appealing but also functional, user-friendly, and optimized for SEO. Whether you’re launching a basic website or an online shop, focusing on high-quality content will improve user engagement and help grow your business.

For professional web design and content assistance, DesignHog offers full website solutions. Contact us today to request a free quote and get started!