Digital Spring Cleaning Checklist
At the turn of the new year, we gave you five tips for starting a new project — but sometimes, all you need is to is bring out the cloth and polish what you already have to give it a nice new shine!
With Spring nearly upon us, why not take some time to revisit your website and other online accounts and tidy up a bit? We’ve compiled some basic things you can focus on in your cleaning, which you can read below.
BUT FIRST: BACKUP!
One advantage of digital Spring cleaning is that you can easily make copies of what you have before you begin. Anything you have published or in progress — your images & graphics, your content, even your website itself — all of these can and should be backed up on a regular basis, but especially when you plan to make changes. On the off chance that something should happen, something gets accidentally changed or deleted, you can rest easy and restore the older/correct version.
If you’re a little lost, we have some backup tips for you to start. Now, onto that cleanup!
YOUR WEBSITE
Since your website is the main attraction of your online presence, you want to do the most to keep it feeling fresh and active for your potential customers. There are plenty of simple changes you can make to rejuvenate your website without breaking the bank.
Content
The first thing you can do is make sure the most important information on your website, such as contact info and services, is up to date. If you have testimonials or a portfolio section, add new clients and work you’ve done, but avoid removing previous entries!
Images & Graphics
Similarly, try changing up some of the images or graphics on your website! Replace outdated pictures with new ones (and check out our Easy Photography Tips & Tricks to help you get the most out of your images) or swap out your custom icons for a new set with an updated style.
Plugins
There are plenty of reasons to update your plugins, including security and support. Before you doing so, it’s especially important that you backup your website. New versions of plugins can sometimes contain bugs that make your site function improperly. If you run into issues or would like our help from the start, feel free to reach out to us!
Accessibility
If your website is not already compliant with current accessibility standards, you can still take some small steps to increase the overall usability of your site. Check to see that your images have alt text and your links are a little more descriptive than “click here” or “learn more”. For more examples of small actions you can take, read our accessibility tips!
Bonus: Check Your Analytics!
Review your analytics and determine where your visitors are coming from, which pages are most visited, and which pages could use some love. Use this data to drive the decisions you make for future improvements.
For more tips on refreshing your website, check out our Five Simple Ways to Update Your Site Without Starting from Scratch.
YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
When a potential customer moves between your social channels and your website, maintaining a unified look creates trust and increases your chances of conversion. All your regular social media channels deserve an inspection every now and then to determine if they still align with your online (and offline) goals.
Graphics
Ensure that your banner images are seasonally appropriate, profile pictures represent your brand, and the graphics you post match the overall look and tone of your website.
Profile Information
Like the contact info on your website, you want to make sure all your profile information is up to date — and that it’s easy for anyone who sees your social media pages to find your site’s URL!
Pinned Posts/Tweets
Do you have an old pinned post or tweet on your page? Swap it with a new one! If you don’t have a pinned post or tweet, maybe now is the time to create one. These are a useful way to keep important information at the top of your page that can also be liked or shared by others.
Related Reading: How To Pin A Tweet and Why You Absolutely Should
Even reviewing just a few of these aspects of your website and social media accounts and making small changes now can go a long way toward rejuvenating your online presence for months to come. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help. Happy Spring cleaning!