August. Finally, a bit of breathing space. But while you’re under the beach umbrella – smartphone in hand, iced coffee on the table – there’s a question that will cross your mind sooner or later: is my website really working?
The good news is that August is the perfect time to look into it. You don’t need to do any heavy lifting. You don’t need to call anyone. All it takes is an hour, a smartphone and the will to reach September with something concrete in hand. Here are 5 things you can do now, even on holiday.
1. Read your website as if you were a customer
Open it on your phone – not on the office computer you know by heart. Browse as if you didn’t know who you are and what you do. Ask yourself:
- Do I immediately understand what this company offers?
- Can I easily find a way to contact them?
- Are the photos up to date? Do the texts look as if they were written today or three years ago?
This exercise – as simple as it is powerful – will give you a list of things to fix that is far more useful than any technical analysis. Jot everything down in your phone’s notes.
2. Check that everything works (really)
Sooner or later it happens to everyone: a link that goes nowhere, a contact form that doesn’t send, a page that breaks on mobile. Click on all the main buttons and links. Fill in the contact form and check that you receive the notification. Look at the images – are any missing?
Five minutes that could help you recover enquiries you were losing without knowing it.
3. Get feedback from people who know you
Send the link to your website to two or three people you trust – a long-standing customer, a friend who knows nothing about your sector, a colleague. Ask them just one thing: what don’t you understand, or what would you change?
You don’t need a formal survey. A WhatsApp message is enough. The answers you get are worth their weight in gold, because they come from eyes that aren’t used to your website.
4. Prepare the texts you’ve always put off
You already know what’s missing. That services page you never finished. The “About us” section with three hurried lines. The portfolio stuck at last year. On holiday you don’t have to write everything – but you can make a start. Open your notes, jot down the main points, gather the information you need. When you’re back in September, you’ll already have the material: you won’t have to start from scratch.
If you don’t know where to start, begin with one question: what’s the first thing I want a potential customer to understand as soon as they land on my website? Write it down. Everything else grows from there.
5. Plan what to improve in September
Using what you’ve seen and noted in the previous steps, make a list of priorities. Not everything at once – three concrete things to do by October. For example:
- Update the services page with the new prices
- Add the latest photos of your work to the portfolio
- Improve the contact section with an indication of response times
Having a written plan means that in September you won’t be starting from scratch, wondering where to begin. It will all be there waiting for you.
Getting back into the swing is always quicker than you think. Those who come back with an updated website, texts ready and a clear plan are already a step ahead of competitors who wait until October to get moving. If you’d rather delegate – all or part of it – we at Graphx Studio are here.
Contact us for a free consultation or quote.
