Your Do-It-Yourself Website Refresh List

Give Your Website Some Attention so You Don't Miss Out on Business.

Every now and then, it's important to remove any cobwebs from your business's existing systems, including your website. Once the design is set up and the marketing copy is written for the website, it can be tempting to “set it and forget it.”

When websites sit for too long, you can run into issues like broken links, incorrect data, and website copy that hasn’t evolved with your business. 

A broken laptop screen and keyboard

Now is a great time to brew a cup of tea and sit down for a date with your website. Follow the tips below to help you give your website a little refresh to ensure the best possible experience for your site visitors.

1. Click every link on each page of your website. Yes, every link. Using a right-click to open links in a new tab will help speed up this process. 

  • Does the link take you to the right place?
  • Do all the buttons work? (Those are links too.)
  • Do you have any forms on your website? Do you get a confirmation message after you fill out a test form and submit it?
  • Does the submitted form give you a notification as the business owner that someone is trying to contact you?


If you run into issues with your links, write them down as you go so that you have a comprehensive to-do list by the end of your self-audit.

2. Read every word on your website aloud. Trust me, you will catch many more errors this way.

  • Do the words make sense?
  • Is there a way you can convey the same idea(s) more concisely to hold your potential customers’ attention longer?
  • Do your eyes glaze over when you read through your webpage? If so, your clients’ do too. Big chunks of words don’t stand out enough to hold people’s attention, especially when you are competing with so many other businesses for attention:
  • Try breaking text up into more headers and body paragraphs. 
  • Bold or italicize important points. (Don’t use underline for emphasis, only use it for hyperlinks. This makes your website more ADA-friendly.)
  • Create shorter paragraphs with white space in between to let the text breathe and make it easier on the eyes. 
  • Break your points down into bulleted lists. 
  • Try using a sans-serif font. (The fonts without feet, like Arial.) These are easier for neurodiverse people to read.
  • Use left-aligned text, especially for anything longer than a handful of words.

3. Does the copy still feel true to your voice and values?

As we evolve as humans and business owners, our values evolve as well. Your company’s core values help distinguish you from other businesses offering similar services, and they serve as an important decision-making tool for your business. (Yes, even if you are a solo-preneur.)

Take some time to capture or revisit the core values of your company. (Looking for some inspiration? Check out this list of values from Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead program.)

  • What is most important to you?
  • What are you known and respected for?
  • What are you willing to lose business over?


Review your website copy through the lens of core values and make sure that the words written on the page align with the values your company holds most dear.

4. Is the copy speaking directly to your target market?

Sometimes business owners feel resistance to the idea of narrowing their focus to a target market, but putting your energy into nurturing your ideal clients will save headaches for both you and your customers, and help your company grab the attention of the kind of people you most want to attract.

Is your website speaking directly to your ideal client, or is the language watered down because you’re afraid of losing customers? If you’re trying to attract everyone, your message will be diluted and you’ll miss the people you’re really trying to reach.

Is there anywhere that your website can more boldly proclaim who your target market is so that when those people are looking for you, they know they’re in the right place?

An entrepreneur speaks with a client who is her target market
  • Does your language speak to your target market?
  • Do the images on your website reflect your target market? (Or, more specifically - your target market’s aspirational identity?)
  • Are you speaking to the specific problem that your target market is looking to solve?

Turning this cleanup into an annual ritual will help ensure that your website - the “shop window” of your business - is clear and user-friendly, and a solid reflection of who you and your business really are. You can get a printable copy of this checklist here.

If your tune-up turns into a breakdown, be sure to reach out for help. My best wish for you this year is that you get to spend your time on the things you’re passionate about and share your gifts with the world!

Warmly,

Nikki Shaheed signature

2 Comments

  1. Carrie Kenner on January 7, 2025 at 10:32 pm

    Nikki, this is sooooo good! Not only is it helpful, but it is beautiful. You do such a brilliant job of walking your talk: demonstrating your values, clarity, and skills in this tutorial. Thank you!

    Reply
    • admin on January 8, 2025 at 3:35 pm

      Thank you very much, Carrie! I hope the visual layout will inspire entrepreneurs to get creative with the way they share information and ultimately attract more of the people they want to work with. There are so many people doing good work out there – may their businesses shine!

      Reply

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