Is your website neglected? If you haven’t updated it in six months or more, you need to ask a few questions, give your site some T.L.C., and get it to start working for you again! Here’s a checklist to get you started:

Is your site “static” or “dynamic?” The most important step to take in upgrading your site is to take control of it yourself! Read about the benefits of converting your site from a “static” site that is dependent upon your web designer’s availability and cost and a “dynamic” site that you control yourself. Girl Friday can convert that static site to a WordPress content management (dynamic) sites in no time! It’s sort of like magic, but not really!

What does your landing/home page look like?Does it contain a prominent Call to Action like: “Buy Now!” or “Sign Up” or “Contact Us”? Does the visitor know immediately what you are selling, or what they are supposed to do? If your home page is confusing, you will lose their interest. Consider simplifying your home page with Call to Action buttons, condensed text, andjust one or two clean graphic images.

What are your web traffic statistics? Is your site bringing you new leads/customers/email sign ups? If your site is not hooked up to Google Analytics, you could missing some very valuable information about how, or whether, your website is functioning as a marketing tool that attracts new business. WordPress sites contain a Google Analytics feature, built-in to the admin of your site, that makes it easy to set up and access reporting on your site’s traffic.

How fast does your site load? If you have Flash movies, music, or lots of graphics on your home page, not only do those elements detract from the Search Engine friendliness of your site, but they take a looooong time to load the page. Users will not wait…they want the information they’ve come for, and they want it fast. WordPress sites can contain widgets, or designated areas for your Flash files that do not detract from the site’s SEO.

Speaking of Search Engine Optimization: I seriously hope you haven’t spent thousands of dollars on Search Engine Optimization, Bonky! With a dynamic site that contains a blog, social media, and/or is built on the WordPress platform…you won’t need to buy anything like that! Read about how you can use your WordPress site, in combination with the content on your blog, and/or your social media, to increase your site’s presence in the search engines. You’ll be thanking me, oh yes you will.

The bottom line is this: is your website working for YOU? Are you selling product? Is the site bringing you new customers? If not, consider a Spring Cleaning – an upgrade from static to dynamic, or, at the very least, make adjustments, update your content, refresh your design.