I can’t believe it’s the new year already! This is the time of year many business owners are making goals, updating their processes, and reevaluating their business. I know I am!
This time of year is when you should be reevaluating your website and brand. It may not be necessary to rebrand, but a website refresh is a good task to perform yearly. Even when you have your website professionally done, regular maintenance is key to keeping it up to date and performing its best!
Some ways you can instantly refresh your website include:
Update your portfolio: This is easy to forget but simply filling your portfolio with new content is a great way to refresh your website. Update one gallery, or all of them.
Update your headshots: Find a photographer that does mini brand sessions or have a friend update your headshots or branding images for you. Investing in a branding photo session is always worth it, if you can! Having a variety of images of not just headshots but action shots of you working (or pretending to work!) add a new level of professionalism to your website.
Update general imagery around your website like your hero images, blog sidebar, contact page, and more.
Are buttons the same color? Is spacing between headers/subheaders/body consistent? I often see these inconsistencies when a template has been altered a lot. Go through and check all of the details – they seem small but they’re important when it comes to good web design!
Are you headers, subheaders, and body copy a consistent style? Ditch long lines of text with script fonts (short words or phrases only), and make sure you don’t have paragraphs with all caps. This ensures that your important information is as easy to read as possible.
Go through your website and update with new testimonials. Don’t have any new ones? Feel free to ask past clients by sending out a questionnaire with a few pointed questions to help you get a quality review.
Some questions I like to ask are:
How was your experience working with me?
Would you recommend me to friends or peers?
What feedback would you like to provide?
Blogging can feel overwhelming when you have a million other things to do and it’s often a low priority for small business owners but it’s wonderful for sharing your work, educating your audience, and it’s fantastic for SEO.
I like to batch my blogging. Set aside a few hours for a day and make a list of ideas then just do it! You’ll be glad you did.
Make sure you change info like your copyright year, your years in business, or any contact info that may have changed.
Remember: Check both desktop AND mobile. It’s sooooo easy to forget about the mobile version of your website but make sure you check both versions of your web design.
You don’t always need a full redesign or rebrand to breathe new life into your website – making these updates can make a huge difference.
If you *really* don’t love your website and feel like you need a full rebrand – I’d love to chat with you! Reach out here.
Lyra Studios creates purposeful brands for women in business so they can be recognized in luxury markets and build connection at every touchpoint. If you’re ready to ditch the DIY cycle and create a brand that will help your business grow, get in touch and let’s get started.