Launching a website or e-shop is a big milestone, but not the finish line. A website is a living system: it runs on a server, uses libraries that keep evolving, and is used by visitors and search engines alike. Without care it gradually ages, slows down and the risk of security problems grows.
Updates and security
The framework, libraries and server software receive regular fixes, many of them security-related. Postponed updates pile up and every later upgrade becomes harder. It pays to update continuously and test everything before release, ideally with automated tests.
Backups that can be restored
A backup only makes sense if you can actually restore the website from it. Back up the database and uploaded files, store them outside the server the website runs on and test a restore from time to time. Only then do you know an outage or a mistake won’t catch you off guard.
Error and uptime monitoring
It is best to learn about an error before your customer does. Error tracking tools capture a problem the moment it happens, including the details needed to fix it. Uptime monitoring alerts you when the website stops responding. The developer can then react straight away, not after a complaint.
Speed and search engines
Website speed affects both visitor satisfaction and search rankings. Images, scripts and content added over time can slow it down, so it is good to measure performance regularly, for example with PageSpeed Insights. Google Search Console shows how people search for you and whether Google has run into any errors.
Growth based on data
After launch you finally have real data on how people use the website. Traffic analytics show where visitors come from, where they leave and which pages bring in enquiries. You can build further improvements on that: adjust the copy, simplify a form or add content people are looking for.
Who will look after the website
Agree in advance who will handle maintenance and how quickly problems are resolved. Ideally, the website is looked after by the team that built it and knows its code. We provide long-term support for the websites and applications we develop, so you don’t have to worry about technical details and can focus on your business.