Rest, reset, and ready to go
October was a month of rest and reset for me. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is step back, breathe, and look at what needs a refresh, including your own website.
Now November is here, and it’s time to gear up for the holiday season. Whether you sell handmade goods, run a local shop, or share your expertise online, the next few weeks are when customers come looking. The good news? You can get your WordPress site ready yourself, one simple step at a time.
Your do-it-yourself WordPress holiday checklist
Grab a cup of coffee and work through these in an afternoon:
- Back up your site first. Before you change anything, make a fresh backup. Many hosts, including GoDaddy, offer backups in your hosting dashboard, or you can use a backup plugin.
- Update WordPress, your theme and your plugins. In your dashboard, go to Dashboard > Updates. Update one thing at a time and check your site after each, so you know exactly what caused a problem if one pops up.
- Delete plugins you don’t use. Go to Plugins, deactivate anything you no longer need, then delete it. Fewer plugins means a faster, safer site.
- Post your holiday hours. Edit your homepage or contact page and add your holiday schedule. Update your Google Business Profile too.
- Add a holiday banner or announcement. Many themes let you add one under Appearance > Customize. You can also add a simple block at the top of your homepage with your sale or seasonal news.
- Check your renewal dates. Log in to your domain and hosting account and confirm your domain and SSL certificate won’t expire during the holidays.
- Test everything on your phone. Click your menu, buttons, contact form and shop links the way a customer would. Fix any links that go nowhere.
Holiday tips for online sellers
If you sell on Etsy, eBay or Facebook, your website can work right alongside your shop:
- Link to your shop from your website. Add a clear “Shop Now” button on your homepage that goes straight to your Etsy, eBay or Facebook store.
- Post your shipping cutoff dates. Let customers know the last day to order for Christmas delivery, on your website and in your shop.
- Make a simple gift guide. Write a blog post with your favorite products for different people on a shopping list, and link each one to your shop.
- Plan your holiday social posts now. Write a few posts ahead of time for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, so you’re not scrambling that week.
- Keep your photos fresh. Swap in a few seasonal product photos on your site and shop. A little holiday sparkle goes a long way.
You’ve got this
You don’t have to be a tech expert to keep your website in great shape. A little time this month means a smoother, busier holiday season. And if you get stuck or want someone to walk you through it, that’s what I’m here for. I build websites and teach you how to run them yourself.
Contact me and let’s get your site ready for the holidays. Happy selling!