Polish your DIY website annually with a few quick touch-ups.
It's one of those things so many people put off, but I promise, if you already maintain your own website and feel like it could use a little oomph, there are some easy things you can do on your own to elevate it. Little effort, big sparkle.
Think about it like planning your home for guests: we keep house, we style our space, and we make sure guests have what they need to be comfortable. All of these things together make our homes, and our websites, inviting and help us feel proud of what we've created.
There are so many things we can do together to make your site work harder for you but, in the meantime, these quick steps will get your site ready for visitors. Here's your to-do list*:
❑ Update the copyright date. While websites are generally protected by copyright inherently, it can deter infringement and shows your site is current.
❑ Update your prices. Make sure they're accurate and, even better, make sure they reflect the value of your products and services.
❑ Check your contact details and contact forms. Take it a step further by confirming the accuracy of search engine listings.
❑ Fix any faulty links (if you have many, use a tool like this one.)
❑ Adjust slightly any pure black (#000000) and pure white (#FFFFFF). This helps with legibility and accessibility but also enhances the look.
❑ Check for white space. If you're wary of making design changes, an easy fix is breaking up long paragraphs of text with line breaks.
❑ Check the resolution of your images and graphics to make sure they look great on all devices. Feeling inspired? Refresh the imagery (just make sure to stay on brand.)
❑ Give your home page a quick journalism check: who, what, where, when, why and how.
❑ Add new testimonials and if applicable, update your portfolio.
Taking the time to make these small adjustments now means you can saunter into the new year knowing that things are just a little better. (And send me a question if you get stuck.)
*Or my to-do list, if you'd like help.
