Keep Your Website Thriving
Effective auditing and maintenance creates a trustworthy experience for your visitors and saves you time in the long run
Why Website Maintenance Matters
Regular website maintenance isn’t just about fixing broken links—it’s about building trust with your audience, improving user experience, and ensuring your content stays relevant and accessible.
“A well-maintained website is like a well-tended garden—it creates a welcoming space that people want to return to again and again.”
— Yale Digital Experience Team
Your Web Presence
With a strategic approach to maintenance, you can:
- Build lasting trust with your site visitors
- Ensure information remains accurate and up-to-date
- Maintain accessibility for all users
- Improve search engine performance
Your Simple Maintenance Strategy
Website maintenance doesn't have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to create an effective maintenance rhythm that works for your team's capacity:
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Identify Your Priority Content
Not all content needs the same level of attention. Start by identifying your most critical pages—those that receive the most traffic, generate leads, or contain time-sensitive information.
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Build a Realistic Schedule
Create a calendar for content reviews with timeframes ranging from daily checks to annual audits, based on content priority and your team’s capacity.
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Leverage Quality Assurance Tools
Save time and improve results with Yale-provided quality assurance tools that automatically identify issues.
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Document Your Process
Create simple guidelines for your team that outline which content gets reviewed when, by whom, and what specific elements need checking.
Time Sensitive Content
Refer to your Content Audit and Content Matrix to pinpoint time-sensitive content that needs regular updates. S
Pro Tip
Start small with a focused maintenance plan that you can actually sustain, then expand as it becomes part of your routine.
Tools That Make Maintenance Easier
Siteimprove
Insights and Data
This Yale-provided tool automatically monitors your site, flags issues, and helps remediate problems with:
- Quality assurance
- Accessibility compliance
- Search engine optimization
- Performance analytics
Siteimprove generates insights and data that help create better experiences for your website visitors.
Hemingway Editor
Readability
Improve content clarity and readability with this recommended tool that:
- Identifies complex sentences
- Highlights passive voice
- Suggests simpler alternatives
- Helps make content more accessible
Clear, simple language ensures your message reaches the widest possible audience.
Content Audit
A structured approach to evaluating your existing content that helps you:
- Document content inventory
- Assess content effectiveness
- Identify outdated information
- Prioritize maintenance tasks
Use this template to create your maintenance roadmap.
Need Help Getting Started?
The YaleSites team is here to support your digital experience efforts: