Copyright 2005 Donna Payne
January -- time for serious housekeeping and a website annual
health checkup! As we make resolutions for ourselves, we can't
leave our website un-healthy a minute longer! You may not even
realize your site is ailing.
Sick websites are just like sick people. They're not as
productive or functioning as they normally are. Broken links and
outdated info compare to a sore throat and nagging cough.
Ignored and left untreated will eventually lead to bigger
problems ahead.
So prepare to take notes while you read this article. Print this
out and grab a pen & paper, I'll wait.
1. Remove outdated events or expired offers. Nothing is more
unprofessional than outdated info. Ie, Sign up for our August
Super Conference. Either revised it, or delete it. As you
prepare for 2006 include your "still on the burner" projects on
your site. Give your visitors something to look forward to.
2. Update client testimonials and completed projects. Let the
world know how busy you've been and what you've been up to. If
you've not been so productive - make it look like you are - new
clients are attracted and want to work with successful
"happening" people.
3. Move a successful product or service to the front page. Make
it a feature product and run a "special" for the month. Then
next month, swap it out for another service or product. Take the
time now to plan your "specials" for the next 6 months, or
better yet - for the whole year!
4. Have your products or services morphed into a life of their
own? What I mean is, look at your navigation - do these
categories still apply? (ie. About us, web development, business
solutions, etc.) Break out an item worthy of standing on it's
own into your navigation menu. Your customers will thank you for
bringing your goodies out of hiding.
5. Got an updated photo of yourself? Or is it time to make an
appointment with the photographer? Enough said... just do it.
6. Check your auto-responders. ALL of them. Test the entire
series by sending to yourself and scouring over each with a fine
tooth comb. Prepare to update your copy.
7. Review your Pricing. Do you have unnecessary services listed
you can delete? A new service you can add? This is also good
time to do a rate change.
8. Revisit your pre-contact Assessments and Questionnaires. Did
you notice questions that went unanswered more often than
others? Perhaps re-wording the question or deleting it all
together would be wise.
9. Double check your contact info. Include your instant message
(IM) id's or modify your business hours. Add your turn around
time for answering inquires, etc.
10. Edit copy on all your web pages but save the homepage for
last. Now stand back, see the big picture and incorporate those
edits into your homepage. Remember, you're going to take your
visitor by the hand and lead them where they are to go.
While you're on a roll - don't forget to take a look at your
System's housekeeping. For example, I revisited a production
checklist I use for one of my major clients. Adding in little
tid-bits of info that I spent way too much useless time
searching for each month will save me thousands of moments of
frustration. Plus, every production based item I need for this
client is right at my fingertips.
WOW, now doesn't that feel better!
While you still have pen in hand, what else can you do to
improve and simplify?
What about being creative - do you spend enough time marketing
to attract clients? Do you spend quality time reflecting on your
business to learn from past mistakes and how to avoid them?
Now that you've created a weekend project, please don't obsess.
Start out spending only 15 minutes with each task. You can do
ANYTHING in 15 minutes.
About the author:
Donna Payne is the Chief Web Goddess of The Web Coach.net, and
is known as the gal to call when you're feeling stuck or
overwhelmed by the internet. To spend more time with Donna and
experience Web technology, Development and Marketing in the most
SIMPLIFED way possible go to
http://thewebcoach.net
