Things to do once your new WordPress website is live.
1) Spread the Word!
When your website goes live, the most important thing to do initially is drive traffic to it. This will help Google index it faster and start improving your SEO rankings immediately.
Here are some ways to consider getting the word out:
- First, create a Gmail account for your business:yourbusinessname@gmail.com – Use this Gmail account for all of your marketing needs. This is an account you can share with any virtual assistants or marketing professionals you hire to help. You can also use this account to access Google Analytics reports.
- Set up Google My Business – Show people you are open for business! https://www.google.com/business/benefits/
- Create a Bing for Business Account – https://www.bingplaces.com/
- Get Listed: https://moz.com/local/overview
- Email Newsletter – If you have a newsletter or email list, be sure to let your clients know that the new site has launched and, even more importantly, how it can help their business or add value to them. Providers include Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Hubspot.
- Social Media – Use your network of Facebook friends, family, or co-workers to get the word out. You’d be surprised how far one post can go when it’s shared and liked. Also, if you’re active on LinkedIn, Instagram, or other socials, share away!!
- Word of Mouth – Word of mouth is still the most powerful referral. If you’re as excited as we are when your site launches, tell those around you! Get their opinion and see what they think about your new online presence. That’s valuable feedback that may come in handy when considering changes and additions to the site moving forward.
2) Ask for Reviews!
Online reviews are more important than ever. Particularly for businesses that are googled and found online, users will look at reviews almost immediately.
There are many different ways and platforms for getting reviews, but here are some we recommend:
- Google Review – This is highly recommended, as Google reviews are generally what will pop up when someone finds your site through an online search. Have your clients Google your business to leave a review or create your own custom link.
- Facebook Reviews – FB reviews are also great and have become a more reputable source of customer reviews. Don’t be afraid to ask your customers to leave a review on your Facebook page and have them share it. Or get their permission for you to share it.
- Testimonials for the website – After your website is live, we recommend gathering as many testimonials as possible to post on it. Even if you don’t currently have any on the site, if you can gather 5-10 good, personalized reviews (usually gathered via email or off of Google or Facebook) we can eventually set up a testimonials page. Users will often look for reviews ON the site as well as on other outlets before making a purchase, calling, or emailing. I recommend putting the best ones on the site. Be sure to use proper attribution when using testimonials that you did not write.
3) Keep Your Website Fresh & Updated!
After your website has been live for about three months, we recommend doing some things to keep it fresh and updated, particularly if you have a site with repeat or recurring visitors.
Here are some suggestions:
- Keep Your Information Updated! –This is important. If information related to services, team members, or business hours changes for your business, be sure to change the website too! There’s nothing worse than having wrong information on a website. Keep your website updated and streamlined for your business.
- Change Out Images – We recommend changing out or updating images at least once a year. For the site visitor, it looks like you’re taking the time to update your site, making it more valuable. Be careful when selecting images and avoid stock photos when possible. Images without clear relevance to the page content are a waste of space. It would be better to have just plain text on a page. If the images you’re using are not clearly related to page content or to the overall theme of your page, then they will only confuse your readers. At best, they’ll be pointless distractions. At worst, they’ll give the wrong impression and leave readers feeling tricked or disappointed. A test of relevance is whether you can come up with a good caption for an image. If you can’t come up with a good caption, you’re probably better off without it.
4) Build Site Content!
A website is viewed by Google and other search engines as being active or abandoned. An active site is driving traffic, getting new and existing users, being updated, posting new blogs and content. If your site is not managed, updated, or cared for, it can significantly impact your search engine rankings.
Here are some options on how to build your website content:
Start Blogging!
Chances are, you have information that people are looking for. A blog post is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge across various subjects, giving your brand more authority. The more pages on your site, the more chances your site will come up in an Internet search. Google often picks up blog posts before major website pages. If you add good, interesting, well-thought-out, and valuable content to your customers, you will drive more traffic. Keep in mind, though, that the quality of the content and the relevancy of the backlinks going to your site are much more important than the amount of content on the site. Use your social media network to share your blog posts.
Blogging Tips
- Articles/posts should be at least 350 words and no more 2000 words.
- Write interesting, readable content. Don’t just write for SEO – keyword stuffing your page. Don’t just post someone else’s content. You can use AI to search for content ideas, but always use your own knowledge and words.
- When using an industry article, summarize the content (don’t duplicate content) and be sure to cite the images and source. Include bulleted lists to make facts easy to scan. Follow a basic writing structure – Introduction, content, and conclusion.
- Offer a call to action at the end – tell the reader what you would like them to do: Leave a comment, buy now, etc.
New Pages
– It’s a good idea to add new pages to your site from time to time. For example, you can expand your service content by creating a page for each service you offer. Google loves seeing that a site is providing more content. If things in your industry change or your services change, be sure to update your site accordingly. Even adjusting content by a few words can show Google that your site is being worked on and has not been abandoned. When major changes are made, you can use your social media network to alert your followers that you have made updates to your website.
5) Protect Your Website!
A large amount of traffic to your site will be spammers, bots, malware, and hackers. It is important to safeguard your website. Websites get hacked all of the time. If your site isn’t protected and secured, it’s only a matter of time before there’s a breach. Updating a website is usually not difficult, and most site owners can maintain their own websites. Just be sure to log in at least once a month to update the software on your website. If you don’t, your website can become vulnerable to hackers!
If you are uncomfortable updating your site or if you simply do not have the time to make the updates, Current Marketing Services can take care of them for you. Get in touch to learn more about ongoing website maintenance.
In summary
A new website isn’t a “set it and forget it” project. It’s a living business tool that needs regular care. Keeping your content fresh and your site well-maintained helps ensure your website continues to support your goals year after year.