Three Ways to Refresh Your Website in 2016

Don’t let your blog become blah. Discover a few simple ways to breathe new life into your website.

January 13, 2016

Andrea Zoellner

The new year is a great time to hit refresh and set new goals. If your website looks and feels a little stale, now is the time to make a change! Here are three quick ways to freshen up your personal or business website:

Take Inventory

Is your content still accurate? Do you need to update your photos? Are the important links working? Take a step back to think about your site’s purpose and audience. Have your personal or business goals changed since you launched it? Make a list of what needs to be fixed and set a timeline to get it done. Take a look at your most popular posts to know what’s working and target those posts and pages first.

In 2012, three friends — Jeri, Erin, and Allysa — founded a full-service event and styling company, bon évé Events. After refocusing their company’s priorities and goals, they recently relaunched their website. Their rebrand includes a new name (My Simple Soirée), a logo, and WordPress.com website.

 

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Refocusing our business meant an extensive rebrand and rename. This can be challenging for a small business as your brand and name are your lifeline. WordPress.com made it easy to implement the changes we needed for social media first impression.

— My Simple Soirée

Evaluate your website in light of your objectives and make the most of what WordPress.com has to offer, from uploading a new site logo or custom header image to exploring our Premium and Business plans to unlock more space for media, design customization, and eCommerce integration. 

Boost Your Brand

Every website can benefit from custom branding, from hobby blogs to eCommerce websites. Create a cohesive brand experience by aligning all the elements that identify and set your website apart: domain name, website name, and logo. 

Premium and Business plans to unlock more space for media, design customization, and eCommerce integration. 

Boost Your Brand


Premium and Business plans to unlock more space for media, design customization, and eCommerce integration. 

Boost Your Brand

Adding a logo to your website is an achievable first step to branding your site. In your menu, click on Customize to launch your Customizer, and click on Site Title, Tagline, and Logo. Here, you can upload a new image or select one from your Media Library.

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Click the Save & Publish button at the top right of the Customizer to activate your new logo.

In a few clicks, you can take your website to the next level with a custom logo. (And if you switch to and from any logo-supported theme, your logo will still be there!)

Textile artist Krista blogs at Looming Jane. She has a custom logo at the top of her website — a stylish cursive display of her brand and shop name. While each theme’s default fonts are carefully selected, you can transform the look of a theme by swapping out the Header Text with your own designs.

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Add Fresh Content

The best way to have a vibrant and active website is to publish new content regularly. If you feel stuck, look to Automattician Andrea Badgley, who has developed a great strategy to help you meet your blogging goals this year.

In her post Publish in 10 Minutes Per Day, she shares her secret sauce for blogging regularly. It has two ingredients: carve out 10 minutes per day and keep topics on hand.

Giving yourself meaningful topics to write about and then carving out the time to write will get you not only practicing, but will get you publishing again. It will make your blog active and will bring visitors to your site.

— Andrea Badgley

Committing to a blogging schedule can be a challenge, so a New Year’s resolution is the perfect motivation to kickstart a new routine. Make your resolutions a reality by investing in your WordPress.com website.

Planning on Turning Your Website into a Lean Mean Marketing Machine?

Consider upgrading to a WordPress.com Premium or Business plan to unlock features like advanced customization, more space for your photos and videos, and stellar customer support.

Our Premium and Business plans also include a custom domain and access to premium themes. Try it out for 30 days.

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55 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. Paul Bowler Jan 13th at 6:20 pm

    Some great hints and tips here. This is my 3rd year of blogging now, did tidy up the menus and links ect on my site before Christmas, just to make some sections less cluttered. Might think about some of the other options you mention here as well, certainly something to look into. Cheers for the great post!

    Liked by 4 people

  2. seabornen Jan 13th at 6:24 pm

    Great article Andrea, thanks!

    Liked by 4 people

  3. paxgirl Jan 13th at 6:34 pm

    I appreciate these suggestions, especially since you linked to the sites. I’ve had my blog for a few years; I am going to read all about the “Carve out 10 Minutes a Day”ideas on Andrea’s site. I’m happy that WordPress has such a generous and sharing community.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Philip Philip Jan 13th at 8:02 pm

    Nice and great post. Actually this is my 2nd month on WordPress.com. It has redefined me and my life. I’ve tried to rebrand and publish every single time I have the chance of doing so. It’s so encouraging, thanks y’all who have visited….

    Liked by 3 people

  5. youngentrepreneurweekly Jan 13th at 8:24 pm

    Thanks for the read! Enjoyed your tips and the link you provided! Good stuff

    Liked by 1 person

  6. AubreyL Jan 13th at 8:56 pm

    I really like all these suggestions. I’m currently going through the whole rebranding thing, just for my blog and myself as a writer and this is a great reference for me. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 4 people

  7. TSBogdan Jan 13th at 9:23 pm

    My blogs are fine. I need to refresh myself! It is more difficult!

    Liked by 5 people

  8. mamandanslezef Jan 13th at 9:51 pm

    Good advice to start 2016. I was inspired and gave a new look to my brand. The redesign is still under process but I’m HAPPY; -)

    Liked by 5 people

  9. Alen Jan 13th at 10:09 pm

    Good pieces of advice from WordPress. It’s been almost 2 months since I’ve started my blog. Hope after some time the number of followers and visitors will increase.

    Liked by 4 people

  10. Superstache Jan 13th at 11:22 pm

    My blog is only two months old, but I definitely would like to compose more posts. Any other recommendations for content? I have a hard enough time posting once a week. I can’t imagine every other day. thanks for the information.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Grace Blake Jan 14th at 12:08 am

    This is a very inspiring piece. I went and looked at Andrea Badgley’s site, and found her advice on writing for 10 minutes a day really helpful. Thank you!

    Liked by 3 people

  12. TheFootballMisfit Jan 14th at 12:19 am

    Great advice been writing my football blogs for about 6 months and it definitely needs refreshment. We take this advice on board

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Miss Melon-Soda Jan 14th at 1:00 am

    Thank you for sharing!
    My blog is really just starting out, but these are great tips to keep in mind as I evolve my layout and content. . . !

    Kristy ww

    Liked by 2 people

  14. impossiblebebong Jan 14th at 2:49 am

    We’re about to launch our small online business off the ground. This is helpful.

    Like

  15. weirdmaggie Jan 14th at 3:01 am

    Thanks for the article! I have just started a blog today and cannot figure out how to get it out there. I’ve had 0 views so far. I’m looking for new and intelligent people to have conversations with, and ways to express myself. Can you guys tell me how I can get my blog read and publicized? Check it out and comment please! My hopes were to write daily if I can obtain some followers. Thanks!

    Liked by 5 people

  16. expatmomdiaires Jan 14th at 3:07 am

    Wow! I so need this! Thank you for sharing. It was easy to read and something doable. Hope I’ll be able to write again soon.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Stacey Ann Jan 14th at 3:31 am

    Great tips & yes adding new content regularly definitely helps to stimulate your audience and keep interest! Adding new regular features can help too! I’ve just added some recently, feel free to visit & check’m out! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  18. camsieb Jan 14th at 3:48 am

    Thanks for the tips. I’m going to try some out!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. percyreads Jan 14th at 7:13 am

    Great tips and suggestions !

    Liked by 1 person

  20. vagabondlytravel Jan 14th at 8:55 am

    Good tips. Thanks. We wish a great blogging year to all.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Vagrantgirl Jan 14th at 12:47 pm

    Thanks for the advice. Inspiring for starting a brand new blog at wordpress

    Liked by 2 people

  22. corporateandcurly Jan 14th at 1:23 pm

    i really enjoyed this post! as a blogger newbie i get good feedback. but it’s more awww its cute kinda thing. I’m ready to grow my blog and clean it up. i have my own domain and i see i also need a cleaner better theme.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Irene Jan 14th at 3:20 pm

    Really nice article! Very helpful! 😀

    Like

  24. ismailimail Jan 14th at 3:23 pm

    > Take Inventory

    I have 18,000 plus blog posts. I cannot take inventory even if I try. WordPress does not make it easy for me to update posts in bulk, particularly when I change themes and the older posts do not sync well with one design feature or another. Just giving you a feedback. Many of your themes (particularly the demos) are geared towards new users. They are made as if the blogger is going to compose new posts going forward. Most themes do not account for bloggers with old posts. You guys should concentrate on old bloggers as well. Again, this is just a feedback.

    Liked by 4 people

  25. Maurica Michelle Jan 14th at 3:27 pm

    Great read! My blog is definitely in need of a refresh!

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Jim Bouldin Jan 14th at 5:23 pm

    I appreciate that you opened with topics like accuracy of content and making sure of working links. For those of us with primarily science-oriented blogs, that stuff comes first, and “branding” and site appearance and all that kind of thing is largely to completely irrelevant.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Jeremy Atkins Jan 14th at 5:41 pm

    These are great suggestions! As a new blogger I’m always looking for ways to improve. Thank you!

    Liked by 3 people

  28. robshurtleff Jan 14th at 10:50 pm

    If a website is somewhat static (that is not a lot of new information on a regular basis), how often in your opinion should the site be republished simply to refresh the search engines that the website is still current? I would say at least annually if not more often. Thoughts?

    Liked by 4 people

  29. bolaakinfe Jan 14th at 11:01 pm

    Its nice having someone like you to set a light in our paths. Very helpful. Thanks.

    Liked by 4 people

  30. Jean Jan 15th at 12:57 am

    Is there a tool for automatic checking of dead links in one’s own blog?

    Wow. Writing a blog post in 10 minutes. Don’t think I do that beyond 1 paragraph of 5 sentences. Maybe a 5 min. poem. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Suvarna... Jan 15th at 6:29 am

    I am a new blogger but enjoyed your helpful tips…. these suggestions are amazing, especially since you linked to the sites as well….

    Liked by 3 people

  32. writingmylifenme Jan 15th at 9:01 am

    This has really helped me alot, thanks for the great advice

    Liked by 3 people

  33. Metro Square Jan 15th at 11:10 am

    Awesome tips for me and all bloggers, good job.

    Liked by 3 people

  34. preshylala Jan 15th at 5:16 pm

    Great suggestions. Just started my blog recently and I’ve been sorta stuck as to what to write and what not. But this really helped. Thanks

    Liked by 3 people

  35. SienaR Jan 16th at 4:08 am

    All the tips are so helpful! I have 4 posts up and still no views on my blog, and really need the boost! I’d say my posts and ideas are alright if somebody was willing to take a look and write down some suggestions! Thanks in advance!!

    Liked by 4 people

  36. SpiritualMentorAnnaSimon Jan 16th at 5:47 am

    I am a spiritual teacher & author was lead to blog and in 4 days of me blogging and refreshing I have obtain new clients and students . So yes it’s a lot of work but in the end it be all worth it . Thank you for the great read👼🏻

    Liked by 4 people

  37. Clarissa Jan 16th at 6:27 pm

    I just updated the color scheme of my blog. I love the layout and crispness of the Magazine theme but was bored with the appearance, sometimes just adding pops of color is all it takes to update the feel and keep it interesting!

    I’ve been very happy with WordPress.com and at some point this year I might try the Premium upgrade; )

    Liked by 3 people

  38. Big sister xx Jan 16th at 7:25 pm

    Thanks, I’m a new blogger… actually I just wrote my first post recently I’d love it if you would check it out anyone? I’ll try some of these tips thanks, for the inspiration xx

    Liked by 3 people

  39. Philip Philip Jan 16th at 8:48 pm

    Hey!!! My site is just a year old and it’s absolutely improving that’s cool… thanks to the WordPress blog posts…

    Liked by 2 people

  40. Xceptional43 Jan 16th at 10:43 pm

    Great tips.
    I plan to get super serious with my blog this year.
    And hopefully at the end of 2016 when I take stock, I must have made tremendous growth.
    Thanks for the tips.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Chandan Sinha Jan 17th at 12:29 am

    Well the first two is done..third one is in process 🙂 Hope I boost up the viewership of my blog this year.

    Like

  42. David Alexian Jan 17th at 2:39 am

    Great information. I will take note of these points…Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Lacey Parrett Jan 17th at 2:55 am

    amazing advice!! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Used Car Tips (@anusedcartips) Jan 18th at 7:02 am

    Yes, I agree refresh website in 2016. Thanks for the tips

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Emmanuel Benson Jan 18th at 2:46 pm

    Great article. But with all the interesting themes available on wordpress.com, it’s always a bit confusing to choose the one best for my site…

    Like

  46. SpiritualMentorAnnaSimon Jan 18th at 3:31 pm

    Thank you for your blog post I will keep that in mind and do other blogs to feature other off the subject of my main blog 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  47. ramyakatnam Jan 20th at 9:32 am

    Great article.I recently started my blog.I hope the tips will be useful

    Liked by 2 people

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