9 Website Maintenance Strategies for Freelance Writers

As a freelance writer, your website is more than just an online brochure; it’s your storefront, your portfolio, and often, your first impression. Just like a well-tended garden, your website needs consistent care to flourish and attract the clients you desire. Neglecting it can lead to missed opportunities, frustrated visitors, and a less-than-professional image. Let’s dive into nine crucial website maintenance strategies that will help your online presence shine and keep your freelance writing business thriving.

1. Regular Content Audits: Keeping Your Portfolio Fresh

Why is it important?

Your portfolio is the heart of your freelance writing website. It showcases your skills, versatility, and the value you bring to potential clients. If your portfolio is outdated, filled with irrelevant content, or simply looks stale, it won’t resonate with visitors. Regularly reviewing and updating your work is critical.

What to look for:

• Outdated samples: Are your oldest samples still representative of your current skills? If not, it’s time to remove them or replace them with more relevant pieces.
• Low-quality work: We all have those pieces we aren’t proud of. If something is not your best work, consider removing it or heavily editing it.
• Irrelevant topics: If you’ve shifted your niche, remove or relegate older content to an archive page if you must. You want your portfolio to reflect the type of work you’re aiming for.
• Broken links: Nothing is more frustrating to a visitor than clicking a link that goes nowhere. Check each sample to ensure that links to your work are functioning correctly.
• Formatting issues: Ensure your writing samples are formatted consistently and are easy to read. Broken formatting, different fonts, or inconsistent styling can be distracting.

How to perform an audit:

1. Schedule time: Set aside specific time each month or quarter to go through your portfolio.
2. Categorize: Organize your work into categories (e.g., blog posts, articles, website copy) to make the review easier.
3. Critique with fresh eyes: Look at your portfolio from the perspective of a potential client. Would you be impressed?
4. Make changes: Remove, update, or replace any pieces that don’t meet your current standards.
5. Keep a backlog: Create a running list of portfolio content improvements, ensuring continuous updates.

Benefits:

• Showcase your best work: Attracts clients with your most impressive and relevant writing.
• Maintain professionalism: Shows visitors that you are detail-oriented and serious about your craft.
• Increase client trust: Instills confidence in your abilities by providing relevant and recent content.

2. Plugin and Theme Updates: Maintaining a Secure and Functional Site

Why is it important?

Plugins and themes are essential components of any WordPress or similar CMS website. However, they can also be a major security risk if not properly managed. Outdated plugins and themes are vulnerable to hackers and can cause compatibility issues.

Understanding the risks:

• Security vulnerabilities: Hackers constantly scan for outdated software to exploit.
• Compatibility issues: Outdated plugins or themes may not work well with updated versions of your CMS.
• Performance problems: Old code can slow down your website and affect user experience.
• Lost features: You might miss out on performance enhancements and new features.

How to manage updates:

1. Enable auto-updates (with caution): While automatic updates can be convenient, you should cautiously enable them, test after any updates occur. This will depend on the plugins and themes you are using.
2. Update manually (recommended): If you can’t auto-update, schedule a specific time each week or month to manually check for updates.
3. Test after updating: Ensure your website still functions properly after updating. Check key pages and functionalities.
4. Choose reliable sources: Download plugins and themes from reputable sources only.

Benefits:

• Enhanced security: Protect your website from hacking attempts.
• Improved performance: Faster loading times and fewer errors.
• Better functionality: Access to new features and improvements.
• Long-term website health: Avoid website issues and compatibility problems.

3. Website Backup Strategy: Protection Against Data Loss

Why is it important?

Website data loss can occur due to a variety of reasons: hacking, server errors, accidental deletion, or even a coding mistake. Without a solid backup strategy, you could lose all your hard work.

What to back up:

• Database: Contains all your website’s content, user information, and settings.
• Files: Includes your themes, plugins, images, and other media.

Backup methods:

• Manual backups: Download copies of your database and files to your computer or a hard drive. (Time-consuming, not recommended).
• Hosting backups: Many hosting providers offer automatic backup services. Check your hosting plan to see what they offer.
• Plugin backups: Use a WordPress backup plugin to schedule regular backups and store them in the cloud or external storage. (Recommended)
• Cloud backups: Utilize cloud-based storage solutions to backup your website like Google Drive, Dropbox, or dedicated website backup services.

Best practices:

• Schedule regular backups: Perform backups daily, weekly, or at least monthly.
• Store backups securely: Ensure your backup files are stored safely and independently from your website server.
• Test backups: Regularly verify that your backups can be restored properly.
• Maintain multiple backup copies: Maintain some redundancy so you’re protected against different types of data loss.

Benefits:

• Data security: Protect your website from data loss or corruption.
• Quick recovery: Restore your website quickly if anything goes wrong.
• Peace of mind: Knowing you’re protected gives you peace of mind.

4. SEO Optimization: Making Your Website Discoverable

Why is it important?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is what helps people find your website through search engines like Google. Without proper SEO, your website might be buried deep in search results, making it difficult for potential clients to find you.

Key areas of focus:

• Keyword research: Identify the keywords and phrases people use when searching for freelance writers.
• On-page optimization: Optimize your website content, including titles, headings, descriptions, and image alt text, with relevant keywords.
• Technical SEO: Ensure your website is easily crawled by search engines.
• Mobile optimization: Ensure your website is responsive and user-friendly on all devices.
• Link building: Earn quality backlinks from other websites to improve your website’s authority.
• Content strategy: Produce consistent high-quality content that addresses your audience’s needs.

Practical SEO steps:

1. Use keyword research tools: Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush can help you find relevant keywords.
2. Optimize page titles and descriptions: Use relevant keywords and engaging copy to make your pages stand out in search results.
3. Use header tags effectively: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to structure your content and signal importance to search engines.
4. Optimize images: Use descriptive alt text with your keywords.
5. Speed up your website: Website load speed affects user experience and search engine rankings.
6. Build relevant links: Use guest blogging and other strategies to earn quality backlinks.
7. Monitor your SEO performance: Use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track your keywords, backlinks, and website traffic.

Benefits:

• Improved visibility: Attract more visitors to your website through search engines.
• Increased organic traffic: Obtain free website visitors through SEO.
• Enhanced brand awareness: Build trust and authority in your niche.
• Higher conversion rates: Attract clients who are actively searching for your services.

5. Security Monitoring: Safeguarding Your Website from Threats

Why is it important?

Website security is not a one-time task; it requires ongoing vigilance. A hacked website can result in reputational damage, data loss, and a ruined website.

Essential security practices:

• Strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for your website and hosting account.
• Two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.
• HTTPS protocol: Ensure your website uses HTTPS to encrypt data transmitted between your website and visitors.
• Firewall: Use a firewall to block malicious traffic.
• Malware scanning: Regularly scan your website for malware and viruses.
• Login attempt monitoring: Monitor failed login attempts and take action if necessary.
• User permissions: Give website users only the necessary permissions they need.
• Security plugins: Use security plugins to enhance your site’s protection.
• Educate yourself: Stay informed of common security threats and vulnerabilities and protect against them.

Benefits:

• Protection from hackers: Safeguard your website from unauthorized access.
• Prevent data breaches: Protect your website visitor’s information from being stolen.
• Maintain website reputation: Maintain your professionalism and trust with your clients and visitors.
• Avoid downtime: Minimize business disruption caused by website security issues.

6. Mobile Responsiveness Testing: Ensuring a Seamless User Experience

Why is it important?

Most people access websites using their smartphones and tablets. A website that is not optimized for mobile devices can be difficult to navigate, resulting in a frustrating user experience.

Key considerations:

• Responsive design: Ensure your website automatically adapts to different screen sizes.
• Touch-friendly elements: Buttons and links should be large enough and spaced appropriately for touch navigation.
• Fast loading times: Images should be optimized for mobile, and code should be efficient.
• Simplified navigation: Mobile menus should be easy to use.
• Readable content: Text should be properly sized and formatted for smaller screens.

Testing your mobile responsiveness:

1. Use online tools: Check your website on tools like Google Mobile-Friendly Test.
2. Test on different devices: Check your website on your phone, your friend’s phone, a tablet, etc.
3. Check different browsers: Ensure that your website appears correctly in browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
4. Address issues: Fix any issues with layouts, navigation, or functionality.

Benefits:

• Improved user experience: Make it easy for all users to navigate and access your site.
• Reduced bounce rate: Keep your website visitors engaged.
• Better SEO: Mobile-friendliness is a key ranking factor for search engines.
• Increased reach: Capture a wider audience on different devices.

7. Contact Form Functionality Check: Making it Easy to Connect

Why is it important?

Your contact form is a crucial tool for potential clients to reach out to you. A broken or poorly designed contact form can result in missed opportunities and a poor user experience.

Key areas of testing:

• Submissions: Test if your contact form submits information correctly.
• Notifications: Check if you receive email notifications when someone fills out the form.
• Error messages: Verify if the form displays clear and helpful error messages.
• Spam protection: Use a CAPTCHA or other anti-spam method to block bot submissions.
• Thank you message: Ensure the form displays a confirmation message after submission.
• Form usability: Ensure the form is easy to use and intuitive.

Best practices:

1. Keep it simple: Include only essential fields, such as name, email, and message.
2. Test regularly: Test your contact form each month to ensure it is functioning properly.
3. Use a reliable form plugin: Choose a trusted form plugin or service with a good reputation.
4. Reply quickly: Respond to inquiries promptly and professionally.

Benefits:

• Capture leads: Make it easy for potential clients to contact you.
• Professional image: Enhance your credibility by providing a functioning contact form.
• Avoid missed opportunities: Ensure that you receive all submitted inquiries.

8. Performance Optimization: Ensuring Fast Loading Times

Why is it important?

Slow loading times can significantly impact your website’s performance and user experience. Visitors may abandon your website if it doesn’t load quickly. Search engines also consider website speed a crucial ranking factor.

Key factors for performance optimization:

• Image optimization: Compress images to reduce file size without affecting quality.
• Caching: Implement browser and server caching to store frequently accessed files.
• Minify code: Remove unnecessary characters and comments from CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files.
• Lazy loading: Load images only when they are visible in the viewport.
• Choose a fast hosting provider: Select a hosting provider with reliable servers and optimized infrastructure.
• Reduce HTTP requests: Minimize the number of elements your web pages need to load.

Tools and techniques:

1. Use Google PageSpeed Insights: Analyze your website’s speed and get recommendations for improvement.
2. Use image compression tools: Compress and optimize your images before uploading them to your website.
3. Install a caching plugin: Use a caching plugin to enable browser and server caching.
4. Implement lazy loading: Install a lazy loading plugin to improve page loading speed.
5. Monitor your website speed: Track your website’s loading time and make improvements as needed.

Benefits:

• Improved user experience: Keep visitors engaged with a fast-loading website.
• Lower bounce rate: Reduce website abandonment due to slow loading times.
• Better SEO: Improved search engine rankings.
• Increased conversions: Higher likelihood of visitors becoming clients.

9. Active Website Management: Streamlining Your Efforts

Why is it important?

While managing all these maintenance tasks yourself is possible, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Active Website Management offers a strategic approach to handle the intricate details of your website upkeep, freeing up your time to concentrate on writing. This is where services like Active Website Management come in.

What does Active Website Management offer?

• Regular Updates: They ensure that your plugins, themes, and CMS software are updated promptly and reliably, protecting you against vulnerabilities.
• Backup Automation: They automate the entire backup process, storing your data securely in multiple locations, ensuring you always have a copy for restore.
• Security Monitoring: They actively monitor for security threats, utilizing tools to safeguard your website from malware and unauthorized access.
• Performance Optimization: They handle speed optimization tasks, including image optimization, caching, and code minification.
• Content Review: They review your content to identify and remove outdated samples and optimize your portfolio’s efficacy.
• SEO Guidance: They help implement SEO strategies to enhance your website’s visibility.
• Mobile-Friendly Testing: They verify your site looks and functions perfectly across different mobile platforms.
• Contact Form Checks: They regularly test your contact form to ensure reliability, avoiding missed connection opportunities.

Benefits of using Active Website Management:

• Save time: Delegate website tasks to focus on your writing business.
• Access expertise: Tap into the knowledge of website professionals.
• Maintain consistency: Ensure your website is always up-to-date and running smoothly.
• Improve efficiency: Optimize your website for performance and SEO.
• Reduce stress: Avoid the stress and frustration of website issues and maintenance.

By incorporating these nine website maintenance strategies into your workflow, you can ensure your online presence is professional, functional, and successful. Whether you manage these tasks yourself or choose to partner with a service like Active Website Management, remember that consistent care is key to the success of your freelance writing business.