1. Research takes time, and there isn’t always something tangible to show for it. When we scope something for a client project, it might take five hours just to work out that it can’t actually be done in the way the project was envisaged, or with the existing technology platform. Correction – it can’t be done cost-effectively – as they say in the business, anything can be done if you throw enough time and money at it.

2. That when we ask for feedback, information or content from them, the faster they respond with the information we require, the faster and more cost-effectively their project will get done. Dragging the chain in responding may mean you miss the window of time booked in for you, and when the person working on it comes back to it, they will require a bit of additional time to get into the swing of the work again. Allowing them to continue focusing on the project by responding quickly means everyone will be happier.

3. Understand that not everything has to be absolutely perfect to go live. This is not a print run of 5,000 copies that can’t be changed, this is the internet, which means many things can be updated quickly and easily. (Note: On the other side of this coin is the client is who incredibly vague about everything because they think they have forever to get it right … then when the project is finally nearly ready to go live, they sit down and seriously review it and request major functionality, design or structural changes that effectively are the equivalent of rebuilding the entire site.)

4. That we are not mind-readers. The clearer and more detailed a client’s brief, the more closely the outcome will match their expectations.

5. That saying they want their new site to look like Amazon.com or Zappos.com or Apple.com – but they have a budget of less than $20,000 … means we will never meet their expectations. If you really want your site to look like or have that level of functionality, ask us to give you an estimate of what it might have cost to design, build and populate – then decide what your budget is. We are not just making numbers up when we give you a quote, honestly.

6. That if they trust that we have their best interests at heart, we really will try and do the best job possible, within the realms of time and budget. And if we make additional recommendations or ask for variations on the contract, that’s because we think those things will more closely meet your expectations and objectives – not because we are cold-heartedly trying to extract more cash from you.

What do you think? Do these points ring true with you? If you are a client, does this help you understand what might help your project run more smoothly?

• Are all your social media icons up to date? Do you have all the necessary “follow us on” buttons, and do you also have all the up dated sharing tools on your blog posts. If not, you can add the individual buttons, or if you are running a blog, you may wish to update or find a new social media sharing plugin.
• If you run a hospitality business like a restaurant, cafe, bar or accommodation provider, you may wish to explore the new “save to foursquare” button, which enables people who like the sound of your place to add it to their To Do list on Foursquare. This also great for sites or blogs that regularly publish reviews or articles about locations and different establishments. Once the location has been added to a Foursquare To Do list, that person will get “buzzed” by Foursquare when they are in the neighbourhood, making it easy to keep track of all those places you were meaning to check out.
• Go through your site and ensure any relevant date references are updated and accurate. For example, if your About Us says your company has been in business for 12 years, update to 13 years, to keep it fresh and current.
• Review your whole site as objectively as you can – does it show all your current products and services, for example? And are there any pages that could do with some new images or a bit of a design overhaul?
• Have a look at your Google Analytics to determine the most popular pages and ensure the content on these is absolutely up to date, as well as being a good fit with your current business objectives.
• Do the same for your Social Media accounts – do you need to install a fresh Facebook landing page? Time for a new custom Twitter or YouTube Channel background? Time to customise your company LinkedIn profile perhaps if you haven’t already got that in place?
• Once you have reviewed, refreshed and updated your site and your other online channels, you are ready to face the year confident that your site and your content can be easily shared, helping to maintain and build your business reputation and supporting your marketing objectives.

Go for it!!

I would also like to make the point that if one of the reasons your site is not being regularly updated is because you have to get your web company to do it for you, or your staff find it difficult to use the CMS behind your site – then it is time for a change.

Get training for your staff

or

Have your site shifted to a user friendly CMS (Joomla is one good option to check out).

Don’t let the construction of your site stop you from keeping it fresh.

Ten more reasons to update your website content.

Some reasons to add to the existing list.

1. A good website should be dynamic. And that means plenty of new stuff, and plenty of interaction – make this a place readers WANT to return to.
2. Your site content, perhaps especially your home page, should always look fresh and relevant. Dated material is obvious to readers very quickly.
3. Good intentions are not enough! Starting off adding new material (with dates on it, like press releases or newsletters) is only a good idea if you keep it going. Seeing a site with the most recent release or newsletter dating back to the previous year, or even earlier is NOT a good look.
4. Your products and services are constantly changing, and your site needs to reflect that. Even when you are super busy, make sure it is someone’s role in the company to be updating what’s new on your site.
5. Relevant social media “conversations”. Fresh, interesting content on your site gives you something to talk about in the world of Facebook (business and fan pages), Twitter, LinkedIn and anywhere else you and your audiences like to hang out and share.
6. Keep your business on its toes. If you don’t have new and interesting things to share with the world via your website – why not? Have you stopped growing, researching, developing, responding, innovating? Is your business in a rut – or does it just look that way?
7. The world around you is changing – fast, even if you’re not. Make sure you regularly check the language on your site to make sure it is still relevant to your audiences. Perhaps your audience has changed, but the jargon or terminology on your site hasn’t. Running a regular check for your key audiences is a great way to help ensure you stay in touch.
8. Communication is a constantly evolving process. And that’s what your website is – a primary communication tool. Don’t forget that.
9. Refresh your window display. If you were a retailer, how often would you change your window display? Once a week, once a month, every season? Change your site frontage just as often. Show the passers-by that this shop window is loved and attended to.
10. Reflect your marketing activities. If you are actively marketing online, make sure your site is perfectly tuned to your marketing campaigns. Create special landing pages for your adwords to get the flow going with potential customers who are interested enough to click through to your site – reward their interest by taking the time to give them what they are looking for. Don’t assume that what is already on the page is enough.

Would love your own comments about why you think a site should – or should not, be updated.

Till next time

Karen