Step 6: Ongoing Maintenance
You should now have a good idea of the steps you need to take to set up your own website. However, you also need to keep on top of the maintainence of your site; there could be disastrous consequences if you fail to do so. The following are points to remember throughout the life of your website.
1. Re-register Your Domain Names
When you purchase a domain name, you will have to re-register the name at least yearly – otherwise the domain name will be made available for others to buy. When you purchase a domain name, you can register it for from 1 to 10 years. The recommended term is at least 2 years. Consult your domain name vendor for more details.
2. Don’t Let Your Web Hosting Expire
Web hosting companies charge either by the month or by the year. You should constantly be aware of your expiration date to ensure that you extend your web hosting in good time. Most web hosting companies will send you a reminder when your expiration date gets close.
3. Update Your Website Regularly
Never let your website become stale. You should regularly add/update content to keep your website fresh – failing to do so will reflect badly on the image of your business.
Java Script can be used to automatically display the current date on your web pages which is always a good feature and makes your website look up-to-date. However, you should still make an effort to update your content regularly.
4. Maintain a Good Relationship with Your Web Designer
If you decide to outsource your web design to a web design company (ahem!), you should make regular contact with the designer(s) to build a good relationship and to come up with new ways to further enhance your website.
Try to make contact at least once a week – even if it just a chit-chat call (relationship building).
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