When you run a small business, there is a never-ending list of tasks that need to be prioritized. While you’re busy focusing on running your business’s day-to-day aspects, it’s easy to leave some critical items on the back burner.
You might only focus on making sure your website is working and aren’t worried about making it better. As you roll into the new year, it’s finally time to cross some of those tasks off your to-do list.
You know it will help you in the long run to upgrade your mobile website or learn how to use Google Analytics. And now’s the time to arm yourself for the year ahead and commit to those non-urgent but useful tasks you’ve been putting off.
Read on to learn the six essential small business upgrades that you should prioritize now to help your company and website thrive:
- Improve website speed
- Manage your plugins
- Embrace SEO
- Upgrade your mobile website
- Learn how to use analytics
- Update your calls to action
1. Improve Website Speed
Google reports if a user has to wait more than three seconds for your page to load, it increases their bounce rate by 32%. Those seconds might seem negligible, but if your website takes too long to load, you could lose customers.
Run a check on your website speed, and figure out what’s slowing you down. You can use tools like Pingdom or Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
Your website’s speed problems could be caused by:
- Large picture sizes
- Slow web host
- Caching issues
- Messy coding
Once you identify the problem, make sure to change your habits and create standard practices for your website so you don’t have to correct the same mistakes in the future.
2. Maintain Plugin Management
When you’re learning how to use plugins, it can be exciting to see all the potential improvements you can make to your website.
Assess your website and see if you’re using too many plugins. Go through and uninstall the plugins you’ve never touched. Then, set up the plugins you didn’t have time to finish, like that chatbot you know your customers will appreciate.
3. Enhance Your Website and Content SEO
Using search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best things you can do for your website. BrightEdge research reports 68% of trackable website traffic originates from search engines. Social media contributes 5% to traffic, while search contributes 53%.
Getting started with SEO can seem intimidating. But if you don’t know where to start, Bluehost has SEO tools and plans tailored to your website.
4. Upgrade Your Mobile Website
Mobile shopping has been on the rise, and the future looks even more promising.
The World Advertising Research Center predicts 72.6% of internet users will use only mobile phones to access the internet by 2025.
Spend time creating a mobile-friendly website. Look at your theme and plugins on your WordPress website and make sure they’re compatible. Also, adjust your business plan to boost mobile conversions.
5. Learn How To Use Google Analytics
Data-driven decisions make your company stronger. Data arms you with the actual numbers behind your company and how your customers are behaving. Google Analytics is a treasure trove of information.
Whether you make the commitment to take courses in Google Analytics Academy or learn how to better use a handful of metrics for your business, any time you spend learning how to use Google Analytics will help your company grow.
Depending on your goals for the year, take the time to browse your analytics dashboard. Choose the data you most want to focus on and adjust your business plan based on the numbers.
6. Update Your Calls to Action
What do you want users to do when they come to your website? Sign up for your newsletter? Start a free trial? Well, if that’s not blatant on your website, you’re missing an opportunity.
Make sure when people arrive at your website, they know the next step they should take. Use engaging calls to action and make sure the information is up to date. Create useful buttons that will direct customers to your services to increase your rate of conversions.
It’s hard to get motivated for website maintenance. But just think of the amount of growth you can obtain from finally achieving these goals for your website.
Having a robust mobile presence, fast loading website, excellent SEO, data from analytics, organized plugins, and better calls to action will help your website exponentially.
Set aside the time to achieve one, or preferably all, of these goals, and your business will benefit.
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