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Your website is not a complete-it-and-forget-it thing. Your developer/designer is likely maintaining your website on the back end to ensure Its functionality, speed, and user experience. But did you know there are things you can (and should) be doing on a yearly basis to keep your website in tip-top shape?

Below are some things to consider doing (or confirming that your developer/designer are doing) on a yearly basis. They are likely already doing these, but it's good to double check that they are!

1. Ensure the payment for your domain is up to date. You do not want to go through the headache of your domain expiring because your payment was not updated. Take the time once a year to make sure everything is squared away, even if you have auto-renew enabled. Trust us, it’s worth the 5 minutes it takes!
2. Ensure the payment for your host Is up to date. If you have a fully custom site, your developer is already handling this. But Wix, WordPress hosted sites, GoDaddy, Shopify and similar CMS-based sites all require monthly (or annual) payments for their services. To ensure there are no bumps in that service, just like with the domain, take 5 minutes a year to make sure that your payment Is up to date, even if you have it set to automatically renew.
3. Go through each page and make sure your content Is still accurate and relevant. If you have any content that Is outdated or not applicable to your business now, update it or remove it. If you want to be seen as an expert in your field, your website content should reflect current and accurate information.
4. Confirm that your site is still memorable to the average consumer. If it's not, make a major change to the homepage. People will judge your business based on their initial experience with your website, and often judge your entire business based on their first impression of your website. So, make sure that the first impression of your site is a good one that is not outdated!
5. Ensure your SSL Certificate payments are up to date (if applicable). This enables your site to receive and transfer sensitive information securely - and shows up in most browsers URL bar as a padlock, letting your customers know that their information is secure. CMS sites often include them when you use their platforms.

This list is not inclusive and is in addition to the usual updates (adding blog articles, adding sales, content updates) you or your developer/designer make on a weekly or monthly basis.

Depending on the functionality of your website, there may be more things you need to look into on a yearly basis. But ensuring these five Items are completed at least once a year will save you from potential headaches in the future.

If you aren't already working with a developer/designer and would like to chat about how 42 milligrams can help you and your organization, please don't hesitate to contact us today!