How Often Should Websites Be Updated?

How Often Should Websites Be Updated | Updating Website Content

Some website content is continually refreshed, others never get updated. When was the last time you updated yours?

Websites that never get new content quickly look old, and to visitors, it looks like they’re closed for business. Have you ever visited a website with dated pictures, a blog that was last updated a year ago, and obviously old information?

It probably made you think they’d shut down or gave you the impression their service would be equally dated.

On the other hand, brands that invest time and energy on regular fresh content find themselves ranking better on search engines, engage with visitors, and signal to buyers and users that they’re alive and ready to serve.

How Often Should I Update My Website Content?

Take it as a given that contact information and staff bios should be updated immediately whenever changes happen but for everything else, it should be 1-2 times a month at a minimum.

Whether you run a blog or your site is focused on attracting visitors and converting them to customers, you should update your website with a few new posts or some new content every month.

Don’t Forget To Use Great Website Words & Writing

Fresh content boosts SEO and gets your website higher in searches. Web crawlers constantly monitor your index so regular new content will keep the crawlers happy and let search engines know you are active and have something of value to searchers.

Here’s another reason to get your website updated if you need a push:

If your website is continually adding new content and your competitor isn’t, who do you think visitors will be drawn to?

That Sounds Like A Lot Of Work!

It is, but that’s not as overwhelming as you might think. The key is to stick to your business niche because then you can write with authority and build trust with visitors. If you get it right, readers will keep coming back to your site to read more.

And if you write content that is original and engaging, people will start to link to your article and give your site a significant boost.

Here are some tips to keep you going:
  1. Try to write some evergreen content that won’t instantly date.
  2. If your location is key to your business, write about landmarks and places to visit in your area.
  3. If your business responds to changes in the financial market or is in health/medical, address what’s in the news as it will reinforce your reputation as a leader in your field.
  4. Write How-To articles that provide important information that compliment your business and give readers valuable inside knowledge.
  5. If you sell products, write reviews to build trust and explain the benefits.
  6. If your business offers expertise, establish your authority by answering FAQs in-depth or explaining complicated aspects of your field.
  7. Review old content to see if it is still relevant. Perhaps the law changed or new information has rendered it obsolete. Don’t let new visitors read outdated content.
  8. Longer is better when it comes to SEO and web crawlers. Aim for around 500 words on average but longer (1000+) impress search engines!
  9. Don’t stuff in keywords thinking you are being clever. Visitors and web crawlers won’t. Keep them natural and go for quality content because an up-to-date website is about more than SEO.
Take a look at your website with new eyes and build updating it regularly into your schedule. It really is as important as your marketing strategy and will pay dividends with improved reputation and trust.