Launching a new website is exciting for any organization. After months of planning, preparation and hard work, your new site experience is ready for all of your users to enjoy. But here’s the truth that many organizations overlook: launch day is actually the first day of your project, not the finish line.
Websites are not static; they evolve and change as your organization grows and they need ongoing attention and refinement to remain effective. If you want your website to continue to engage your audience while evolving to meet your ongoing business goals, long-term support should be part of your website strategy from day one.
Support Is More Than Just Bug Fixes and Security Updates
Many people assume website support is just about keeping the lights on with bug fixes and security updates. While these are crucial to the ongoing health of your site, a comprehensive support strategy goes far beyond the basic upkeep required to keep your site online. A successful long-term support strategy should always include:
- Design Revisions: As design trends shift, your website should remain visually appealing and aligned with modern aesthetics.
- Information Architecture Adjustments: Content organization and structure should evolve based on user behavior and your business goals.
- UX and Navigation Enhancements: Making it easier for visitors to find what they need improves conversions and engagement.
- Performance Optimization: Ensuring fast load times and smooth interactions keeps users engaged and prevents bounce rates from climbing.
- Regular testing: Ensuring your site runs smoothly while identifying opportunities for further optimization.
- Conversion Optimization: Regularly check CTAs, forms and other conversion points to make sure they are driving conversions.
- Accessibility compliance is a moving target: Stay current on WCAG requirements and run frequent accessibility checks on your website.
With a well-thought-out support plan, your website remains a valuable asset rather than slowly declining over time.
Consider The “Afters.” Where Will Your Website Be in 12 to 24 Months?
Is it still performing at its peak? Will your content still be relevant and easy to update? Will your navigation still make sense as your organization grows? Without ongoing support, websites can quickly become outdated, difficult to navigate, or misaligned with your current business objectives. If there’s one thing you can count on in the digital world, it’s change. Your website needs ongoing care and support in order to adapt accordingly.
A well-maintained website not only stays fresh and engaging but also avoids the slow decline that plagues many neglected sites. Instead of scrambling to redesign an underperforming site every few years, ongoing support ensures continuous improvement and a fresh experience for users.
The Cost Benefits of Long-Term Support
Long-term website support can significantly extend the lifespan of your site, and reduce the need for costly redesigns every few years (we have one client whose site we’ve been maintaining for 10 years!). Instead of dealing with an expensive overhaul every three years, long-term support allows you to make strategic, iterative improvements over time. This spreads out costs, making it a more budget-friendly strategy while ensuring your website remains competitive and up to date. It also allows for the maintaining strong SEO performance and a positive user experience which means you won’t frustrate potential customers or advocates for your mission due to outdated design or functionality.
Your Website Deserves A Long-Term Strategy
If you’re considering redesigning your website, don’t just focus on launch day, think about what comes after. Partnering with an agency (shameless plug: like us) that offers long-term support ensures your website continues to work for you and remains relevant well into the future. Ongoing support is a cost-effective way for you to stay competitive, maximize your investment, and keep your website thriving—not just surviving.
