How often should your website be updated?

Every business, trade or otherwise, needs a solid website to convert prospective customers into clients. Why? Because it’s one of the most important touchpoints for a customer when comparing you against your competitors before making a decision to pick YOU!

Without a [good] website, people may question your legitimacy as a business. Having a website is an opportunity to make a great first impression and give people comfort that you’re a real business. - Forbes Magazine.

Yet, it’s an area where so many trade businesses fall short. Perhaps you’ve been in business for over a decade, or even just two years, but since your website went live, you’ve made little to no updates.

We’ve all got excuses for why we haven't updated our websites; “I don’t have time…” “It’s expensive to pay a web designer”... “I don’t know what I’d update”.... “Do customers even care?”

Most web developers and SEO experts note that your website should be ideally updated weekly, but monthly is essential. Otherwise, compared to your competitors, you may be falling behind and losing customers based on the quality of your web pages.

So, what should you be updating on your website?

1. General Content

Many websites have a blog or image gallery. Once a month, review these pages, post new content, and ensure it’s date stamped so that customers can see it was recently posted.

By keeping these key sections of your website current, a prospective customer will note that you are dedicated to your business. Keeping updated reviews and ratings from customers is another way to showcase that your business is thriving and trustworthy.

Having a ‘meet the team’ section is a great area to keep updated as well. This is a golden way to build trust with your customers as they can see the tradie who will be attending the job, learn a bit about them, and feel more confident in allowing them into their homes / on-site depending on your work type.

2. Services and Products

As your business grows and changes, your service and products will adapt too. This may not need to be updated monthly but should be reviewed yearly to ensure it’s in keeping with your current offerings.

If you have a unique offering that nobody else does, make sure it’s prominent on your website! Shout why you’re the best choice, and make sure it’s clear for your customers.

3. Branding

If you’ve changed or adapted your branding, you MUST ensure that your website reflects this change. If your colours used to be red, white and orange, but you’ve updated to a modern black, gold and white, then this colour needs to be amended across your website too.

It’s important as a customer may have seen your new branding on social media, or on your trucks in the local area, but the website they found looks NOTHING like what they recognise as “your branding.” They may either think they've found the wrong site or that maybe you’re not as good a tradie as they thought!

This will cost you customers, and damage your reputation, but it’s such an easy fix! Even if your branding change was small, say going from a slightly darker shade of blue to a slightly lighter shade this needs to be updated asap on your website, so it doesn't look like a mistake!

If you feel that your website could use a total refresh, check out our free website building resource, “Website Rules For Tradies” HERE. It has our FIVE website rules, exactly what your website needs to have to look professional, real-world examples, PLUS a checklist you can use to rate your own website!

This guide will not only help you to keep your website looking on-point, but when combined with monthly updates across the three critical sections: content, services & products, and branding, your website will be the envy of your competitors!