What’s the best way to make changes to my website?

May 22, 2011 by Bert Verbeeke

Do you find that you don’t have the time or expertise to make ongoing changes and updates to your website?  Many small businesses face this challenge and there are a few ways to handle this…

Solution 1: Don't do it

You could just not make any updates or changes at all.  It might not seem like a big deal if your information is a bit old, but the fact is that there are numerous advantages to having new content on your website.  New information on your website gives people a reason to come back to your site.  The more times customers visit your site, the more effective your branding is going to be which will ultimately play a role in the customers decision.  Also, one of the factors that Google uses in ranking websites is new content.  So, updating your website means you will have a better chance of getting found.

Solution 2: Do it poorly

Ok, so you definitely want to make some changes and decide to have a try doing it yourself.  If you’re a web programmer that’s great, but for most business owners they don’t have time to tinker with their website, or don’t quite know what they are doing and run the risk of hindering the professional image presented on their website.  If you paid to have a nice website made the last thing you want to do is add to it in a way that devalues the existing design and professionalism of your site.  It’s almost better to stick with Solution 1 and not change anything.

Solution 3: Get a friend to do it

There are lots of web savvy people out there, and chances are you know one.  Maybe you have a friend or family member who is willing to make a quick change to your site.  Free help is great and maybe you even offer to pay them a little or treat them to dinner afterwards.  However, favors only go so far and if your website changes are ongoing, time-sensitive, or time-intensive then it is probably wise to think of another solution.

Solution 4: Have a web company do it

Yes it cost money, but what you get in return is consist, quality work, done in a timely fashion and without much headache for you.  As with many professional services, work is often charged by the hour and you can either pay as you go or buy coupons of time.  Here at Global Nomad we’ve recently adopted a coupon system to serve as an easy solution for people needing updates or changes to their websites.  Whether you end up paying by the hour or buying coupons, it would be wise to check with your web development company first to get a feel for how much time is involved for certain activities, that way you can know what to expect and budget for it.