The Ins and Outs of Website Management: A Must-Know Guide

You've built a successful SaaS product. Your business is thriving. But is your website keeping up? 
Even flourishing SaaS businesses can overlook website management, typically due to time constraints, shifting focus, or underestimating its importance. Your website's success is synonymous with the success of your SaaS business. And that's where RCCO comes in.
RCCO is your trusted partner that helps you navigate the ins and outs of effective website management. With our specialised SaaS website design services, we fuel your business growth and ensure that your website stands out in the crowded digital space.
In this blog, you’ll learn about essential website management practices and techniques to keep your website fresh, engaging, and responsive. We’ll also discuss how RCCO's expertise can make your SaaS business thrive.

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What is Website Management?

Website management is a continuous process of monitoring, updating and maintaining a website to ensure optimal performance, security and user experience. It's an ongoing commitment that contributes to a site's success by keeping it relevant, engaging, and functional. 

The focus of website management goes beyond the look. It also takes into account the entire functionality and user interaction.

Here’s how website management differs from website redesign and website development:

Website redesign

Website redesign is overhauling the existing layout, visuals, and sometimes the entire website structure. 

The goal is to enhance the user experience, improve aesthetics and align the site with current trends or new brand identity. While a website redesign focuses on appearance and user interface, it should be part of a website management strategy to ensure consistent website performance.

Website development

Website development involves creating a website from scratch or adding new functionalities to an existing site. It encompasses coding, programming and integrating various elements to make the site functional and interactive. 
The goal of website development is to build a fully-functioning site that meets a business's specific needs and objectives. It's a foundational step, with website management ensuring the adaptability and long-term control of the site.

Why is Website Management a Game Changer?

Website management is a vital element in the growth of a SaaS business, critical to keeping business competitive and your operations smooth. 

Jordan Richard, CEO, explains the benefits. “It is crucial for SaaS companies to invest in a website that is not only well designed for the user, but also designed for easy website management. When investing in a well built site, SaaS brands can grow their content at speed, enabling them to gain marketing traction and in turn more leads.” 

Let's look at the aspects that make it a game-changer:

1. Change is the only constant

81% of people think less of a brand with an outdated website. With rapid advancements in technology, user behaviour shifts, and market trends, you need to be ready to adapt your website. 
Website management ensures your site is always in tune with the current environment. This ongoing alignment enhances user engagement and keeps your SaaS offerings relevant.

2. Be future-ready

Being future-ready is not a buzzword; it's a lesson learned from the past. Remember when mobile browsing became more popular than desktop browsing or when voice search became a new frontier? It caught many businesses off guard. Being future-ready means learning from these shifts and anticipating what's next. 
Website management is the tool that prepares your site to:

• Embrace new technologies
• Follow emerging standards
• Meet unforeseen demands 

It's an essential strategy that enables you to pivot as technology and trends evolve. 
A proactive approach is an investment in resilience and innovation. It positions your SaaS business to adapt to changes and enjoy continuous growth.

3. Keep the business running smoothly

The stakes are high in the demanding world of SaaS, where customers expect nothing short of perfection. A well-managed website can make the difference in success.

Regular updates, security checks, and performance optimisations are vital wheels that keep your site running. 

Operational efficiency is key to breaking even and achieving profitability. A streamlined website contributes to operational efficiency. It also reduces unexpected costs related to emergencies or site breakdowns.

With diligent website management, you offer uninterrupted service. This leads to satisfied customers and smooth business operations. You can reinforce trust and build lasting relationships with your clients. The result is a strong foundation for your business that paves the way for growth and stability.

4. Natural selection; websites need to evolve too

SaaS-based solutions are projected to make up 85% of business applications by 2025. Your website must evolve, adapt, and innovate in this crowded online market to stand out.

Website management is the process that enables this evolution. It allows your site to grow, adapt to changes, and maintain a competitive edge in the SaaS market. It's more than keeping up; it's about leading the way, setting trends, and differentiating your offerings in the SaaS market.

4 Signs That You Need Website Management

If your business website is doing well, you might assume you don't need website management. But certain signs showcase the need for professional website management. 

Recognising the signs that you need professional website management can save time, enhance performance, and ensure the success of your SaaS website. Here are key indicators that your website may need management:

1. Not generating enough traffic

If your website isn't attracting enough visitors, it may be time for professional management. Some of the causes of less traffic on your website may include:

• Poor SEO practices
• Algorithm changes
• Technical issues like 404 errors, slow loading speeds, etc. 
• Poor information architecture

These reasons can limit your customer reach and potential growth, as you will not reach your target audience. 
Studies show consistent content updates can increase traffic by up to 55%. Website management services can help keep your content fresh and engaging.

2. Too many downtimes

Frequent downtime can cause a significant loss of revenue and customer trust. This may result from hosting issues, server overloads, or software conflicts. For a SaaS website, downtime means lost opportunities and frustrated users. 
Statistics reveal that a single hour of downtime can cost over $100,000 for large businesses. Efficient website management ensures stability and minimises downtime, preserving your reputation and bottom line.

3. Performance and front-end issues

Slow loading times, broken links, or an unresponsive design can discourage users. Such issues can stem from outdated code, large media files, or compatibility problems. Performance issues can reduce user satisfaction and conversion rates.
A website that loads in one second converts visitors into customers three times faster than a website that takes five seconds to load. Thus, proper website management optimises performance and enhances the user experience.

4. Not having enough time

Managing a business website requires time and expertise. Balancing this with core business functions can be overwhelming. Lack of time leads to neglect, affecting updates, security, and functionality. 

This neglect can translate to lost customers and revenue for SaaS businesses. Delegating website management to professionals frees up valuable time and allows you to focus on key business areas. 

These signs are not challenges but critical indicators for website management. Recognising them ensures your business website remains competitive, user-friendly, and aligned with your business goals.

Manage Your Website in 8 Steps

Managing your SaaS website is a systematic process that requires attention, strategy, and ongoing effort. Here’s a roadmap to guide you through it. Following these steps ensures your website is efficient, secure, and primed for growth:

1. Identify available resources

Managing a business website starts with identifying available resources. This step involves assessing the elements required for effective operation and growth. This includes:

• Workforce: You must match the skills and fill the gaps 
• Budget considerations: They ensure that finances align with ongoing needs and future scaling
• Evaluating website management tools and technologies: They must match the website's goals
  

This first step sets the stage for all that follows and provides a roadmap for later stages. You create a strategy that brings resources and goals together. It's the starting point for successful website management.

Actionable Insights

• Assess current team skills and gaps
• Set a realistic budget for website maintenance
• Evaluate the tools and technologies you'll need
• Create a list of best practices to follow

Things to Consider

• Future growth and scalability
• Integration with existing systems
• Outsourcing needs, if any

2. Choose desired content management system

A Content Management System (CMS) is a platform that helps create, manage, and change website content. It's the backbone of many modern websites, offering an interface that doesn't require technical skills. 

CMS provides a structured system that allows many users to collaborate. They can add, edit, or delete content with ease. 

Different CMS platforms offer various features, flexibility, and support. Choosing the right one can align with your website's functionality and design needs. This decision can impact how you can update and maintain your site.

Actionable Insights

• Compare different content management system options
• Consider ease of use, flexibility, and support

Things to Consider

• Integration capabilities
• Cost of ownership
• Long-term support and community

3. Create content

Creating content is the heart of your website. Focus on delivering value to your visitors. Content can include text, images, videos, infographics, and more, all tailored to engage your audience and convey your message. It's not just about creating content; it's about crafting quality content that resonates with your users.
Here's what it involves:

• A comprehensive understanding of your target audience
• Defining the message
• Choosing the right format
• Implementing SEO best practices
• Creating content with consistency

Content creation is not a one-time task. It requires continuous efforts to keep it fresh and aligned with changing needs and trends. Doing so engages your visitors while enhancing your site's ranking and visibility. It's an ongoing process that requires strategy, creativity, and attention to detail.

Actionable Insights

• Plan a content calendar
• Ensure consistent quality and tone
• Perform keyword research for targeted content
• Analyse competitors for better insights

Things to Consider

• Search engine optimisation
• Regular content updates
• Visual elements like images and videos

4. Backup your website

Backing up your website is like having an insurance policy for your online presence. It means making regular copies of your website's content, data, and related files and storing them safely. If something goes wrong, like a server crash or a security breach, you have a backup that can restore your website to its previous state.

The backup process involves:

• Choosing the right method for backup 
• Selecting the frequency
• Picking a storage solution
• Testing the backups

Backing up your website is essential to website management because it safeguards your investment and keeps your online business resilient.

Actionable Insights

• Schedule automatic backups
• Store backups in secure locations

Things to Consider

• Frequency of backups
• Restoration process
• Compliance with regulations

5. Ensure your website’s security

Ensuring your website's security is paramount in the world of online business. A secure website safeguards sensitive information, builds trust with visitors and complies with legal and regulatory requirements.

When it comes to securing your website, you can take several measures. Implementing secure socket layer (SSL) encryption helps protect data transmission between your site and the users. Regular updates to your CMS, plugins, and themes can keep potential vulnerabilities at bay.

Security also involves monitoring for suspicious activities and potential breaches. Tools that provide real-time alerts can be valuable to your defence strategy.

It's worth noting that website security is an ongoing commitment. Regular audits and assessments can help identify areas needing attention or improvement. Partnering with security professionals can provide that extra layer of protection.

Actionable Insights

• Implement strong passwords and authentication
• Regularly update and patch systems

Things to Consider

• Security certifications and standards
• Regular security audits
• User privacy concerns

6. Monitor traffic regularly

Monitoring traffic is a vital aspect of website management that offers insights into how visitors interact with your site. This task involves monitoring the number of visitors, the pages they visit, how long they stay, and where they come from.

Tracking these metrics lets you understand what draws people to your website and keeps them engaged. For example, if a page has a high bounce rate, you might need to redesign or restructure it. 

Regular traffic monitoring allows for agile responses to changes and trends. It can shape the website's content and design to meet the needs and interests of its audience.

Actionable Insights

• Use website analytics tools to track user behaviour
• Identify trends and areas for improvement

Things to Consider

• Real-time monitoring
• User experience feedback
• Seasonal or event-based traffic changes

7. Redesign your website

Redesigning your website is more than an aesthetic update. It's a thoughtful process of aligning your site's appearance, functionality, and user experience with your business goals and the latest trends. It involves assessing the current design's effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement or innovation.

You may decide to redesign due to various factors, such as a shift in business focus, branding, changes in user behaviour, or expectations. 

Redesigning involves:

• Improving navigation.
• Enhancing responsiveness for mobile devices.
• Optimising load times.
• Reworking the content strategy.

It's about creating a cohesive, engaging user experience that aligns with your brand's image and objectives.

Engaging professionals in design, development, and user experience can help ensure the redesign refreshes the look and elevates your website's performance and effectiveness. It's a strategic investment that can provide substantial returns when done right. 

Actionable Insights

• Review and update design on a regular basis
• Ensure alignment with brand identity

Things to Consider

• User experience
• Mobile responsiveness
• SEO considerations

8. Market your website

Marketing your website is essential for reaching your target audience and achieving your business goals. It's not enough to have a well-designed and functional site; people need to find it, engage with it, and take desired actions.

Some key aspects of marketing your website:

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Social Media Marketing
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• Online advertising
• Analytics and performance tracking
• Collaboration and partnerships
• User Experience (UX) focus
• Compliance and accessibility
• Customer testimonials and reviews

You can create marketing strategies for your website in-house or engage a professional marketing agency. But, it’s crucial to build a comprehensive marketing plan that aligns with your business objectives for success.

Actionable Insights

• Implement SEO strategies
• Engage in social media marketing
• Develop a content marketing strategy
• Encourage customers to leave reviews and testimonials

Things to Consider

• Target audience
• Marketing budget
• Measuring ROI

Taking charge of your website is empowering. These eight steps will not only make your website better but also enhance your SaaS offerings. Go ahead, manage your website well, and watch your business soar.

Need more help?

Meticulous planning and management can help your SaaS website reach its full potential. Every planned step contributes to your site's optimal performance and growth. 

But it may become daunting to navigate these complex processes. 

“While it is important for you to gain control of your website, there are some things that are better left with experts in web design and development. There are more specialist tasks that would be much faster and easier to complete when handled by a specialist agency. We offer a monthly support package with flexible rollover of hours across the year, so that clients can simply request help when they need something more complex and we provide the service with speed and a simple yearly contract (reducing admin and sign-offs).”

At RCCO, we understand the ins and outs of website management. Our Website Design services offer tailored solutions that align with your unique business needs. 

With a blend of expertise, innovation, and a client-centred approach, we're committed to your success.

Want to know more about how we can assist you? Discover more about us and see what sets us apart. Let RCCO be your trusted partner in guiding you towards a brighter digital future.