A 5-Step Rehab Program for Your Dormant Website

Just because your website has been dormant for so long doesn’t mean that it can’t be revived and revamped. Reviving your old website can seem scary, so much so that some people freeze at the thought of having to sort out their “old online mess”. But it’s actually a totally manageable (and even fun) task. The secret is in getting yourself in the right state of mind and having a plan that you feel good about.

The following steps will help you wrap your head around this project and ensure you’re on track.

1. Redefine your goal

Sometimes we start a project with a very different goal in mind, only to find a little bit later down the line that the goal is no longer relevant.

Before you simply start rearranging and updating your website, take a moment to ask yourself what it is exactly that you want to get out of it. Defining your website’s goal is key to getting the most out of it. Be honest with yourself and totally clear before moving forward. This is an important step in the right direction.

2. Simplify

Less is still more, so don’t go into this as if you’re preparing for battle. Break everything down to the bare minimum – there’s no need for extra elements and pages.

Make a checklist of all the important content items you need on your website. For example:

• my business’s name and logo
  
  
• a short (but sweet) ‘About’ section
  
  
• services/products page
  
  
• important contact details including: phone number, physical address and email address

This is just an idea how simple your website can be to start. You may even consider going with a single-page website.

3. Brush off the notion of a “perfect” website

There is no such thing as one perfect anything for everyone. The same rule applies to websites. If you keep aiming for perfection, you’re aiming arm will get very tired and your website will never be finished.

Today, many new business owners start out by first building and publishing the smallest viable website, making additions and updates as they go along.

4. Get feedback

A pair of fresh eyes are often necessary in the website creation process. If you’ve been spending a good amount of time working on your website, it can be tough to see it objectively. So share your website with friends before it goes live.

5. Get help

Sometimes we just don’t have the time or energy to finish something we start. But unlike the laundry or that scrapbook, there are professionals that are more than happy to help you not only finish your website, but give it the wow factor. Before you know it, your website will be up and running, looking just the way you wanted.

SOURCE: Wix