Did you know that, according to Sixth City Marketing, 88% of online consumers (HubSpot) are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience? For businesses in Green Bay, WI, maintaining a well-functioning website is crucial to retaining customers and staying competitive.
Today, we’re taking a closer look into a comprehensive website maintenance checklist tailored for Green Bay businesses!
Business Website Upkeep: Security Updates and Performance Checks
A business website needs regular maintenance to stay secure and function properly. To prevent issues, businesses in Green Bay should focus on three key areas:
- Install Security Patches
- Monitor Site Performance
- Run Regular Backups
Install Security Patches
Keeping software updated protects websites from cyber threats. Hackers often target outdated plugins, themes, and core systems to gain access.
Regular updates patch security flaws and reduce risks. Most website platforms allow automatic updates, but it’s best to check manually. If a business relies on a web developer, it should confirm that updates are installed on schedule.
Monitor Site Performance
A website that loads too slowly can drive visitors away. Google reports that a delay of even a few seconds can increase bounce rates.
Running speed tests helps identify problem areas. Large images, excessive plugins, and outdated coding can all slow down a site. Businesses should optimize their pages to ensure smooth performance.
Run Regular Backups
Technical issues and cyberattacks can cause unexpected data loss. Regular backups help recover information without major downtime.
Many hosting providers offer automatic backup services, but businesses should still verify that backups are running properly. Storing copies of website data in multiple locations, such as cloud storage or an external drive, adds an extra layer of protection.
Essential Website Tasks: Content Updates and SEO Optimization
A business website should always have fresh and relevant content. There are three key areas to focus on:
- Update Blog and Page Content
- Check for Broken Links
- Optimize Metadata
Update Blog and Page Content
Search engines reward websites that regularly update their content. Fresh content signals that a business is active and relevant. Blog posts, service pages, and product descriptions should be reviewed and refreshed often.
Adding new blog posts helps attract visitors. Additionally, keeping existing pages up to date provides accurate information.
Check for Broken Links
Broken links can frustrate visitors and lower search rankings. Clicking on a link that leads to an error page can make a site seem unreliable.
Regularly scanning a website for broken links ensures that all pages and resources are accessible. Replacing outdated links with relevant ones helps improve the user experience and supports SEO efforts.
Optimize Metadata
Metadata includes title tags, meta descriptions, and alt text for images. These elements help search engines understand the content of a page.
Well-crafted metadata can improve click-through rates and visibility in search results. Keeping metadata accurate and relevant ensures that each page is properly indexed and easy to find.
Mobile and Browser Compatibility Testing
Most people now browse the internet on mobile devices. A website that isn’t mobile-friendly can appear broken or difficult to use.
Buttons may be too small, text might be hard to read, and images could load incorrectly. Testing a site on different screen sizes helps ensure a consistent experience. Google’s mobile-friendly test can highlight areas that need improvement.
Check Cross-Browser Performance
Not all browsers display websites the same way. A page may work fine in Chrome but have issues in Safari or Firefox.
Testing across different browsers helps catch these problems before visitors experience them. Regular checks ensure that design elements, forms, and interactive features function as expected everywhere.
Fix Display or Navigation Issues
A website should be easy to use. If menus are difficult to click or images don’t load properly, visitors may leave. Testing the site’s navigation and checking for missing content helps improve the user experience.
Security Scans and Compliance Checks
Cyber threats are a constant risk. Hackers look for weaknesses in outdated plugins, themes, and server settings. Running regular security scans helps identify risks before they cause damage.
Many hosting providers offer security tools that scan for malware and suspicious activity. If threats are found, immediate action should be taken to remove them and strengthen defenses.
Check SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate encrypts data transferred between a website and its visitors. This protects sensitive information such as passwords and payment details.
Browsers warn users if a site lacks SSL, which can drive customers away. Checking the certificate’s expiration date and renewing it on time helps maintain trust and security.
Analytics Review and Performance Monitoring
Website analytics show how visitors interact with a site. Reviewing traffic sources helps businesses see whether users are coming from search engines, social media, or direct visits. High engagement means visitors are staying longer, clicking links, and exploring content.
Low engagement could mean the site is confusing or unappealing. Checking metrics like page views and session duration helps businesses in Green Bay, WI, refine their content strategy.
Evaluate Conversion Rates
A business website should do more than attract visitors. It should encourage them to take action. Conversion rates measure how well a site turns visitors into customers.
If people are clicking away without making a purchase or contacting the business, something may be off. Calls to action, contact forms, and checkout processes should be reviewed to see if they are working effectively.
Optimize Website Performance: Identify Areas for Improvement
Analytics can highlight weak spots. If certain pages have high bounce rates, there may be loading issues, confusing layouts, or unappealing content.
Regularly checking these numbers can help a business spot trends before they become bigger problems. Making small adjustments based on performance data keeps a website running smoothly.
Use a Website Maintenance Checklist!
A well-structured website maintenance checklist helps businesses in Green Bay, WI, keep their websites secure, fast, and effective.
At Fire Pixel, we offer website design, hosting, and SEO services in Green Bay, WI, helping businesses build and strengthen their online presence. Our team creates custom websites tailored to each client’s needs. We provide specialized website maintenance, secure hosting, and ethical SEO strategies, including keyword research and content optimization, to drive sustainable growth.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help with your site!