Before I go any further, let me clarify that title.
I wish I had a magic “fresh content” solution for website owners but alas, I do not.
Just because I work with WordPress websites every day does not make it any easier for me to keep my own website updated with fresh content. In fact, because I am so busy updating client sites, it’s really hard to sit down and create fresh content for my own site. As a small business owner myself, I know it’s hard.
But it is important. And it does make a difference.
Last month, for example, I started looking at the top five pages visited on a few sites. One client wondered why a certain page was not in the top five, so we added some fresh content to that page. Sure enough, when I checked Google Analytics at the end of the month, that page had jumped to the second most visited page on the website.
This showed me that creating fresh content does not have to mean writing an in-depth technical blog post on a topic that no one else has ever considered. Good luck with that!
Instead, fresh content can mean simply adding some new product images or photos of your staff or store. Then add a few paragraphs to tell your readers what’s been happening.
Here are 6 tips from my own experience for adding fresh content to your website
1. Introduce a new product or service – no matter how small
New product announcements are an obvious choice, but what if you’ve just tweaked the product or service a bit? What if you’ve found a new way of doing business that helps you serve your customers better? Well, let people know! Write a brief blog post describing the changes.
2. Translate short social media posts into a longer blog post
Many people are becoming comfortable sending out quick messages on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Every now and then, set aside some time to revisit these posts. You might find, with just a little extra thought, that you could actually write a nice blog post on your own website.
3. Set aside a block of time every week for your website
I know, I know, it’s really hard! Especially when you get busy with customers or client projects. I struggle with the same thing. And that’s why I’m writing this: it’s not for you; it’s for me!
My justification for not honouring my weekly space for blogging is that client projects must come first. That’s the work that helps put food on the table, so that gets priority. While that’s true, in most cases a client project (or responding to an email) is just a distraction for me. Sometimes there are emergencies, but usually they can wait for a couple of hours until I’m finished with my blog post.
4. Carry a journal or notebook
If you have a journal with you (or in my case an iPad mini with Evernote!), you can quickly jot down thoughts that can later be used for a blog post. It really is much easier than sitting down in front of a blank screen, wondering what to write about.
5. Review your work experiences over the past week
When you sit for a few moments and reflect on what’s been happening in your business, or how you responded to work demands, you might find something interesting to write about. If it affected you, writing about it might help someone else.
6. Be Accountable
Tell people you publish something every week, or every month, or whatever. Once you commit to it and say it out loud (or in writing), you are more inclined to follow through.
So press on (I say to myself!). Keep reflecting, keep writing, and pass along some of that fresh content. It might seem small, but even small things can be a big help.
How do you create fresh content for your website? Pass along your tips in the comments below.
About Steady Digital
We provide a WordPress maintenance plan to ease concerns like:
- Is my website performing at peak performance so visitors get the best experience possible?
- Do I have regular backups of my website in case something happens to my web server?
- What if my website gets hacked?
- How can I get up-to-date, professional training so I can use my website better?
- Who can I trust to do the updates that are beyond my technical or creative abilities?
Tired of trying to maintain your own website? A WordPress maintenance plan might be the solution for you.
