Top 5 Website Maintenance Mistakes Businesses Make
Imagine your website is like your physical storefront. If the lights are flickering, the door sticks, or the signage is out of date, customers might turn away before they even step inside. Your website works the same way. It needs regular upkeep to make a good impression and keep people coming back. Here are the 5 most common website maintenance mistakes we see businesses make and what you can do to stay ahead, even if you’re not a tech expert.
Ways on how a bad website can drive customers away.
1. Thinking “If It’s Working, Leave It Alone”
Many business owners think a website is something you set up once and forget. But even if it looks fine, problems can build up behind the scenes causing issues down the line.
Why It’s a Problem:
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Software and tools your website uses can become outdated.
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Outdated websites are more vulnerable to hacking.
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Over time, broken links or missing features can frustrate visitors.
Here are three ways to check your website. Why websites need updates.
2. Not Backing Up Your Website”
If your website went offline tomorrow, how quickly could you get it back up? Without a backup, you might be starting from scratch. Mistakes, hacks, or glitches happen, backups are your safety net.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Ask your web provider if you have automatic backups in place.
- Make sure those backups are stored somewhere safe not just on the same server.
- It’s like having an extra copy of your work just in case.
3. Letting Your Website Get Slow
If your website takes too long to load, most visitors will leave before they even see what you offer. A slow website can feel like walking into a store where no one’s ready to help.
What Slows Things Down:
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Large images or videos that aren’t optimized.
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Too many apps, tools, or plugins.
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Not having your site cleaned up regularly.
Ask your web team to review your site speed every so often, it makes a difference.
4. Not Testing If Things Are Still Working
Over time, forms break, links lead to the wrong place, and buttons stop working. Most business owners don’t realize it until a customer points it out or leaves.
What You Can Do:
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Visit your website like a customer would: fill out a form, click your phone number, test checkout.
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Do this regularly, especially after updates.
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Set reminders to check each month or quarter.
5. Forgetting About Mobile Users
Over half of all web traffic comes from phones. If your website doesn’t work well on mobile (text too small, menus hard to tap, pages too slow) you’re losing visitors.
Quick Mobile Tips:
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Open your website on your phone and see how easy it is to use.
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Make sure buttons are big enough and pages load fast.
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A mobile-friendly site helps customers and boosts your Google ranking too.
Final Thoughts
Your website doesn’t have to be perfect but it does need regular attention. Avoiding these common mistakes helps you show up professionally, give customers a smooth experience, and avoid major issues down the road.
Need Help Keeping Your Website In Shape?
At Sentree, we help businesses stay on top of website updates, security, speed, and functionality without the stress.
Questions? Email us at marketing@sentree.io.
For more information on Sentree Managed Hosting, visit our Hosting Plans Page.