Owning a website has become a necessity in an era where new businesses are opening up around every corner. Surprisingly, it’s not just enough to have a website; your website must be up-to-date and enticing. A stale website will only serve to push potential customers away.
The good news is there are several ways to update your website without breaking the bank. Here are some budget-friendly ways to update your website:
Make Use Of Free Or Low-cost Templates
While having a business website is paramount, the initial development cost can be pretty high. This is what scares away upcoming businesses, especially as they lack the budget for one. If you’re unsure how much you need, a web design calculator can be a helpful tool in estimating the costs.
Once you know your budget, look for free or low-cost templates. Many template providers offer a wide range of choices that can be easily customized to fit your business’s needs. However, when picking your template, make sure it’s responsive and mobile-friendly. Also, ensure that it’s compatible with the Content Management System (CMS) you intend to use.
Use Social Media To Your Advantage
Technically, your website is supposed to be the face of your business on the internet. However, social media has become such an integral part of people’s lives that it would be a mistake not to use it to your advantage. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow you to interact with potential and current customers. You can use these platforms to drive traffic to your website or even make sales. Additionally, social media is a great way to gather customer feedback which can be used to improve your products or services.
So, if you aren’t already using social media, now would be a great time to start.
Add New Content Regularly
It’s no hidden secret; content is king! Therefore, blogging should be a crucial part of your website strategy. There are things you should know before starting a blog, such as what topics to write about, which platform to use, and how often to post. However, once you have these things figured out, regularly adding new content will be a breeze.
Not only does blogging allow you to share your thoughts and ideas with the world, but it’s also a great way to drive traffic to your website.
Make Use Of Plugins And Extensions
One fantastic thing about using a CMS such as WordPress is the wide range of available plugins and extensions. They can be used to implement new features to your website or improve its performance. There are plugins and extensions for almost everything, so no matter what you want to do, chances are there is a plugin or extension to help you do it.
Therefore, you must research and see which plugins and extensions would be most beneficial for your website. Once you have found them, installing them should be a breeze.
Update Your Images
Images are worth a thousand words, and this is especially true when it comes to website design. People are visual beings and often make judgments about your business based on the images they see on your website.
Therefore, it’s essential to use high-quality images that accurately represent your brand. If you don’t have professional photos, you can use several free stock image websites, such as Unsplash and Pexels. Additionally, you can hire a freelance photographer to take some pictures for you.
Optimize Your Website For Search Engines
If you want new visitors to find your website, you must ensure it’s optimized for search engines. When people search online, they usually start with a search engine, such as Google.
If your website isn’t optimized for search engines, chances are it will not appear in the search results. This means that potential customers will never even know your website exists. Luckily, there are several things you can do to optimize your website for search engines.
One of the ways to do this is to choose the right keywords. People will use these words or phrases when searching for something online. Once you’ve chosen your keywords, use them throughout your website, including your title tags, meta descriptions, and headings.
As mentioned earlier, creating quality content plays a role in SEO. Your content should be relevant to your keywords and provide value to your readers. Additionally, you should use social media to promote your content and get more people to visit your website.
Make Use Of Pop-Ups And Chatbots
Last but not least, pop-ups and chatbots can be a great way to interact with potential and current customers. Pop-ups can capture email addresses for your newsletter or promote special offers. Chatbots, on the other hand, can be used to answer questions or provide customer support.
Pop-ups and chatbots can be easily added to most websites and are relatively inexpensive. However, it’s important to note that pop-ups can be annoying, so use them sparingly and ensure they are relevant to your target audience.
Conclusion
Designing a website is one thing, but keeping it up-to-date is another. If you want your website to be successful, you need to regularly update it with new content, images, and features. Luckily, the abovementioned tricks will help you do that without breaking the bank. While they may not be the comprehensive guide to website design, they should be enough to get you started.
So, what are you waiting for? Start updating your website today!
