Forum Moderators: not2easy
The traffic flows nicely and the site is a success.
After about a year, or two in some cases, despite pushing them for new content, they continue to ignore your pleas for an update.
How to refresh the content without apparent cost implications of site redesigns?
I look for free news and information feeds in the first instance. If the free ones don't suit, pitch for some paid ones to be included in the original site.
On some sites I've included a word or phrase-of-the day which rotates to a sequence.
Weather info is another useful addition.
News releases also make useful additions to the site as most people like to see what's new. Make sure it is updated, of course.
Finally, what about special offers? It doesn't take too much time to produce a form-based faciltiy for the site owner to add the special offers.
Obviously, this all depends upon the site and its target audience.
What tips have you got to keep site content alive?
The real danger of news links, press releases, etc., is that you MUST keep them going if you start. Once you include clearly dated content, the site starts to look stale (even to a first-time visitor) if the most recent addition is six months or a year old.
Another thought: set up a cheap content manager using blog or other software that will let anyone who can type add content. The company can then designate some reasonably literate junior staffer to post a weekly article, product use suggestion, etc. - it will keep things fresh without the expense of an outside web designer.
