Launch Your Website series: Part 7 of 7
Launching is the start, not the end. A website is like a shop window: it looks best when someone keeps it fresh. Good news: website maintenance only takes a few minutes a month.
Your simple monthly routine (15 minutes)
- Visit your own site on your phone. Does everything still look right?
- Update anything that changed: prices, hours, new products, holiday closures.
- Test your contact form by sending yourself a message.
- Check your inbox and spam folder for messages from customers.
Your yearly routine
- Check renewal dates for your domain and website plan. Make sure your payment card hasn’t expired.
- Refresh your photos and your About page.
- Look at your visitor numbers (see below) and ask: what’s working?
See who’s visiting
Most website builders have a free Analytics or Stats section. It shows:
- How many people visited
- Which pages they looked at most
- How they found you (Google, Instagram, WhatsApp…)
You don’t need to check it daily. Once a month is plenty.
Easy ways to grow
- Add a blog or news section. Writing short, helpful posts (like “How to store fresh bread”) helps Google find you.
- Ask happy customers for Google reviews. Reviews build trust and help you show up higher.
- Collect emails. Add a simple “Join our newsletter” box and send updates now and then.
Stay safe
- Never share your passwords by email or phone. No real company will ask for them.
- Watch out for scary emails saying your domain is “about to expire” from companies you don’t recognize. Only renew through the place you bought it.
- Using WordPress on your own hosting? Click Update when updates are available, and turn on backups.
You did it
You now understand how websites work and have launched your own. That’s something most people never do. Well done! 🎉
Want a hand with updates, speed or getting found on Google? Wetherby Media offers friendly maintenance and SEO support for small businesses.