Website Management Made Simple: Tips for Business Owners
- Karen Kleinman
- Sep 5
- 3 min read
By Karen Kleinman
Launching a website is an exciting moment. It’s the online home for your business and often the first impression customers get. But once the site is live, the work isn’t finished. Websites need regular care to stay secure, updated, and easy to use.
As a web developer, I often help business owners with the parts of website management that aren’t always obvious. The good news is that most of these tasks are simple once you know what to look for. Here are a few key areas every business owner should keep in mind.
1. Keep Track of Your Domain
Your domain name is like the street address of your website. You buy and manage it through a company called a registrar (for example, GoDaddy, Wix, or Shock Hosting). The registrar is where you log in to renew your domain and update your contact information. If your hosting plan comes with a free domain, the hosting company is also acting as your registrar.
If a domain isn’t renewed on time, your site can go offline until it’s restored.
Helpful habits:
Turn on auto-renew and domain locking in your registrar account.
Set reminders for renewal dates.
Store your registrar login details in a safe place.
Keeping track of this information can also help prevent scams like domain slamming (fake renewal notices) or domain hijacking. Remember, transferring a domain from your registrar to someone else’s means giving up ownership of it.
2. Organize Your Logins
Websites often require several accounts: one for the domain, one for the hosting company (the company that stores your website and makes it available on the internet), one for the site itself, domain emails, and sometimes more. It’s easy for these to pile up and get confusing.
Helpful habits:
Use a password manager to securely store all credentials.
Avoid sending logins in plain email. Email is not secure, and many services now let you delegate access instead. This means you can invite someone to log in with their own account rather than sharing your password.
Keep a single list of accounts connected to your site. Include the company name, web address, and who has the login. This saves time when changes are needed.
3. Renew Tools and Licenses
Many websites use special tools for things like forms, backups, or security. These can include plugins, themes, or modules, and many require yearly licenses. If the license expires, the tool may stop working or lose access to updates.
Helpful habits:
Keep a list of all paid tools and their renewal dates.
Note who owns each license — many require their own account and login details.
Set auto-renewal or renew early to avoid problems.
4. Stay Current with Updates
Websites are built on software, and software needs updates to stay safe and reliable. For example, WordPress sites need updates to the core program, themes, and plugins.
Helpful habits:
Back up your site before running updates.
Plan a regular time for updates, such as once a month.
Have a plan for restoring your site if something goes wrong.
There are also different ways to back up your website. Many plugins can create backups, but if something breaks and you can’t log in, they may not help. That’s why it’s smart to also have backups at the hosting level. Most hosting companies include backups in their plans or offer them for a small fee. Having this extra safety net makes restoring your site much easier.
5. Plan for Access and Permissions
Sometimes your developer or agency needs to speak directly with your hosting company or registrar. Most providers will only work with the account owner unless permission is given.
Helpful habits:
Add your developer or agency as an authorized contact.
Write down who has permission to make changes.
Plan ahead so help can be given quickly when needed.
Why These Steps Matter
A website is like a piece of equipment for your business. When it’s maintained, it works smoothly and supports your goals. If it’s ignored, it can slow things down or even stop working when you need it most.
By staying organized with domains, logins, updates, and permissions, you ensure your website remains a strong, dependable tool for your business.
Managing a website doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple systems in place, you can avoid stress, save time, and keep your site running smoothly. Think of it as routine care — small steps today that protect your online presence for tomorrow.
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