What do I mean by "your website is not a chair?" A website is a dynamic object; a system characterized by constant change, activity, or progress. You don’t just shop around, pick one you like, and sit on it for twenty years. Think of your website as a living thing; it can thrive or it can get sick. Envisioning it this way will put you in the right frame of mind as you search for a web designer. Don’t be fooled by companies that promise to build you a fast, cheap website and then leave you hanging with no maintenance or backup support. Here are some of the reasons I think you need to keep your website healthy.
The Constantly Changing Internet
The Internet is virtually alive; it is constantly changing and upgrading, and people find new and unique ways to hack and fiddle with these changes. If you want to have a successful website experience, you’ll need to stay on top of the changes or find someone who can. The developers who created the programs and extensions on your site debug and secure them about every ninety days. If you are not diligent about keeping up with these updates, you leave yourself vulnerable to a variety of different problems. Even the most basic website can have five to ten programs and extensions that require frequent monitoring.
I Need A Makeover
Your website is a reflection of you and your business. If you change, your site should, too. Frequent updates and maintenance keeps you relevant in the eyes of search engines (and real-life customers) and can keep your ranking from dropping below the first page of search results.
I Want More
Keep your customers coming back to your site with a monthly newsletter, weekly coupons, or occasional reviews of your amazing products. By enticing your customers to return, you engage them in a conversation that will greatly increase your chance of a sale or maybe a visit to your physical store. Do not underestimate the value of updating your site's content.
If you are trying to run a business, then you should be focused on that. Hiring someone whose priority is to maintain your site will give you peace of mind and save you a ton of time and money. Find someone who can give prompt, reliable fixes within a reasonable amount of time. You may think, “I could save myself a lot of money if I just maintain it myself.” But if something goes wrong (and crashes do happen), the downtime could end up costing you thousands of dollars to fix.
At CloseCreative.com we offer several different packages that clearly define the turn-around time for updates and backups. Always, check these are clear when you hire someone to maintain your site.