Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Website

Spring is here and it’s time to start cleaning. But before you grab the duster, we’re talking about your website. Yes, your website needs some TLC too! We don’t mean a total overhaul of your site’s theme or design. We’re talking about some small changes you can do right now that will make a big difference.

Here are some easy ways to give your website a good spring cleaning that your visitors will appreciate.

Review the Basics

Domain Name and Hosting Plan

Check your domain name and hosting plan and put that information in a secure document. It’s also a good idea to set up calendar alerts and reminders well ahead of expiration dates so you’re not caught off guard.

This might seem like a no-brainer but it can happen to anyone. Even Google isn’t immune to mistakes like this. In 2015, a former employee noticed that the domain Google.com was available and purchased it for a whopping $12! However, Google quickly reclaimed its domain.

Convert Your Site to HTTPS

Does your site have that green padlock in the address bar? If not, it’s time to update your Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Keep in mind that this is a ranking signal for Google. Not only does an SSL/TSL secure your site, but it also safeguards your visitors and gives them peace of mind.

Search Engine Optimization

Run an SEO Audit

Read through your SEO audit carefully, save a copy of it, and make the necessary changes. Refresh meta descriptions to boost your click through rates. While you’re at it, tighten up your page titles, headings, and review keywords. After you’ve swept through your site, run through the audit again to review your progress.

Haven’t done an SEO audit before? Contact us for a free SEO audit.

Google Console

Review your Google Console dashboard to look for crawl errors and site speed issues. Update your sitemap in there as well.

Check Under the Hood

Check for Software Updates

Do you remember the last time you made updates? In addition to updating your site to the latest version, have you checked your plugins as well? Don’t ignore updates. They keep your site in smooth working condition and contain valuable security and stability patches.

Test Usability

A good website is easy to use and functions properly. Test your forms and make sure your links work. Remove any bad links and update internal linking. It’s important to also test your site on mobile to make sure it appears correctly on screens and that menus, links, and forms all fire correctly.

Content Cleanup

Review Content for Style and Consistency

Chances are, many people have written parts of your website. Maybe you’ve had a guest blogger or had different employees write your website over the years. There can be many styles of writing, grammar, and punctuation. Comb through your site copy and make changes for consistency.

Some other ideas to spruce up your content include:

• Refresh headlines
• Add a video
• Refresh CTAs
• Updating news section
• Swap out reviews and testimonials
• Update policies
• Write new case studies

Spruce Up the Look of Your Site

Start by swapping out imagery and updating photos throughout the site. A quick way to instantly change the look of your website is by changing the hero image on your homepage.

Get Started

Check Google Analytics for Hints

Lastly, check your Google Analytics for insights and clues about your site performance. Ask yourself these questions: What pages are popular? What pages are being overlooked? What is my bounce rate? How long are visitors on the page? This is helpful to get started on your spring cleaning.

Looking for more than just a spring cleaning? We can help. Synapse has many years of experience in web development, design, content creation, search engine optimization, and more. We don’t settle for cookie-cutter sites. We create visually-stunning, functional, and custom websites that tell your brand story.  Contact us today for a strategy session.