6 Steps to Keep in Mind When Running a Website
You finally got your website up and running, but your work is only just beginning. Regardless of how sharp your website looks, there is always room for improvement. We want your website generate as much traffic as possible for as long as possible, so you can maximize your profit or whatever goals you have for your site. In this article, we offer some tips on how to ensure your site can get even better:
Make Your Site Simple to Read and Navigate
If your customers or readers find your website difficult to navigate, they will not stay long. You need to make sure your layout is not only easy to read but also organized in a logical manner. Consider adding a search function, categories, and/or a site map. If you need help finding a good look for your site, check out our post about WordPress themes.
Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If you want to rank higher in search engines organically (as opposed to paying for ads or being featured in search results), you need to look into SEO techniques. You could hire SEO professionals to comb through your site and make it more visible to search engines, or you can do it on your with SEO software.
Keep External Links to a Minimum
Sure, reciprocal links are great when it comes to helping you generate more traffic to your website. However, too many links may lead to the opposite; generating traffic away from your site. Yes, keep a few links to others on your site but try and keep them to a minimum.
Check for Broken and Irrelevant Links
Even worse than too many links, are broken and irrelevant links. You lose credibility if your links lead nowhere or they have nothing to do with your niche. One of the worst things that can happen to a website is to lose credibility, because once you do, it is hard to get back.
Speed up Your Site
Fair or not, readers and customers are impatient. If your content does not load immediately, chances are, they will move on to another site. You and your web design team need to ensure that your home page shows up immediately when your customers type in your website. Keep your website source code simple and cut down on irrelevant images. Avoid automatically loading music and video; they can be startling and annoying.
Create Relevant Content Consistently
You need to update your content on a regular basis. Otherwise, readers will not return. Add relevant content on a regular basis to keep your readers interested. The key is to plan ahead. Plan out your posts or website additions at least two weeks ahead, so you are never in a rush to post a last minute post of poor quality. Check out the Bluehost blog to find out how to identify your target audience and keep your content relevant and of high quality.
Design a Responsive Website
More and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet. Consequently, your website design needs to be accessible to all devices. Ensure your website is responsive. This ties in with your website being easy to navigate. If your website designed only for desktop computers, readers who are using their smartphones to move on.
Of all the tips we have provided here, this is probably the most paramount. You need to get as many eyes on your site as possible. Ignore smartphone and tablet users at your peril.
Summing Up
We are ecstatic your website is working well for you. Our team wants you to do even better. We created this site just for that purpose. Remember, even after your website is live, you need to keep working to ensure it is doing everything you intended.
The keys to a successful website are simplicity, consistency, and accessibility. Keep these tips in mind if you want your website to work successfully for you.
