Website management is the process of maintaining and developing a website so that it is secure, attractive, fully functional and up-to-date. This process applies to the site’s design, structure, content, features and marketing1.
Website management is important because a website that is poorly managed tends to be slow, clunky, outdated or even unsecure. This can affect the user experience, the content freshness, the technical performance, the security and the brand reputation of your business1.
In this article, you will learn how to manage your website in six steps:
- Choose a content management platform: A content management platform (CMP) is a software that allows you to create and edit your website content without coding. Some popular CMPs are WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and Shopify1.
- Back up your website data: Backing up your website data means making a copy of your site files and database and storing them in a safe location. This can help you restore your site in case of data loss, technical issues or security breaches. You can use various website backup solutions, such as Dropmysite.com, SOS Online Backup or iDrive2. You can also use Plesk hosting platform or WP Toolkit to back up your entire server or individual websites2.
- Stay on top of landing page performance: Landing pages are the first pages visitors see when they click on your ads or links. They should be fast, attractive and relevant to your offer. You can use website performance testing tools, such as GTmetrix, Pingdom or Google PageSpeed Insights, to measure and improve your landing page speed, structure and accessibility2.
- Update your website content regularly: Updating your website content means adding new information, images, videos or products to your site. This can help you keep your site fresh and relevant for your audience and search engines. You can use content management tools, such as CoSchedule, Buffer or Hootsuite, to plan and schedule your content updates across your site and social media channels2.
- Monitor and fix technical issues: Technical issues are problems that affect the functionality or availability of your website. They can include broken links, loading errors, compatibility issues or hacking attempts. You can use website monitoring tools, such as Uptime Robot, Site24x7 or Pingdom, to check your site status and performance and get alerts when something goes wrong2. You can also use website security tools, such as Sucuri, Wordfence or Cloudflare, to protect your site from malware, spam and cyberattacks2.
- Analyze and optimize your website traffic: Analyzing your website traffic means collecting and interpreting data about your visitors’ behavior and preferences on your site. This can help you understand what works and what doesn’t on your site and how to improve it. You can use website analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, Hotjar or Crazy Egg, to track and visualize your website traffic data and insights2.
Website management is a vital process for any business that wants to succeed online. By following these six steps, you can ensure that your website is always secure, attractive, fully functional and up-to-date for your customers.