Tripleshades Blog | small business website manager

In today’s digital world, having an effective online presence is absolutely crucial for any small business hoping to succeed. But simply launching a website is not enough – you need the expertise of a skilled website manager to truly make your site shine.

A website manager acts as the maestro of your online symphony, optimizing and orchestrating all aspects of your website to create an exceptional user experience. From driving traffic through search engine optimization to boosting conversions with compelling content, a website manager empowers small businesses to thrive in the online space.

Read on as we explore the vital role of website managers in giving small businesses a competitive edge. We’ll dive into the key responsibilities they take on, top skills any excellent manager should have, common challenges they face, and tips for choosing the right manager for your unique needs.

Let’s get started on understanding how the right website manager can elevate your small business to new heights!

Key Takeaways:

A skilled website manager optimizes websites for SEO, user experience, and security.
Excellent communication, creative problem-solving and adaptability are critical skills for website managers.
Setting clear goals, collaborating closely, and tracking metrics lead to an effective website strategy.
Choosing between outsourcing and in-house hiring depends on budget, control needs and other factors.
The right manager maximizes ROI with up-to-date, secure sites and analytics insights.

Responsibilities of a Small Business Website Manager

A small business website manager takes on a wide range of responsibilities to ensure your site delivers maximum value. Let’s explore some of their key duties:

Regularly Update and Maintain the Website

One of the top jobs of a website manager is to consistently update and maintain your site. This includes:

Ensuring all information is accurate and up-to-date
Refreshing product/service pages with new details
Updating contact info, staff bios, and other content

Staying on top of changes is crucial – there’s nothing worse than misleading or outdated info turning away potential customers.

Monitor Traffic and Performance

Savvy website managers rely on analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) like:

Traffic volume
Bounce rates
Conversion rates
SEO rankings

Monitoring these metrics enables data-driven decisions to optimize user experience and SEO.

For example, high bounce rates may indicate content issues to resolve. Drops in organic traffic could mean your SEO needs a boost.

Manage Security

Security is a top priority, so website managers implement vital measures like:

Regular backups to enable restores
Software updates to patch vulnerabilities
Security protocols like SSL certificates

Ongoing vigilance is required to protect your site from cyber threats.

By masterfully juggling these responsibilities and more, a website manager keeps your online presence running smoothly 24/7. Now let’s explore top skills to look for when choosing your website hero!

Choosing the Right Website Manager

Not all website managers are created equal. When researching candidates, look for these vital skills and traits:

Relevant Experience

Ideally, your website manager should have experience in:

Web development – Design, copywriting, programming
Digital marketing – SEO, social media, email
Project management – Timelines, workflows, collaboration

Bonus points if they understand your specific industry!

Strong Communication Skills

Managers must communicate complex technical topics in simple terms. Can they listen actively and translate your vision into reality?

Availability and Responsiveness

Your perfect manager will be available to make updates and optimizations on your schedule. Good communication ensures no balls get dropped.

Budget-Conscious

Make sure to align on rates and scope before kicking off. A budget-savvy manager delivers value without blowing the budget.

Choosing the website manager tailored to your small business needs is key to online success. Now let’s highlight must-have skills for any A+ player.

Skills and Qualities of an Effective Manager

Juggling the wide-ranging responsibilities of website management requires diverse skills. Here are 4 vital competencies top managers demonstrate:

1. Technical Proficiency

Rock-solid technical skills are the foundation of effective website management. Key areas of expertise include:

Web development – Design, coding, content management
SEO – On and off-page optimization best practices
Analytics – Google Analytics, heatmaps, A/B testing
Troubleshooting – Diagnose and resolve technical issues

Managers should also stay up-to-date on emerging technologies to recommend new tools that can benefit your website.

Technical Skill	Importance
Web Development	Critical for design, UX, customization
SEO	Boosts organic rankings and traffic
Analytics	Provides data to optimize website
Troubleshooting	Quickly fixes bugs impacting ROI

Example: An experienced manager may suggest migrating your site to a faster web host to improve page speeds.

2. Communication Skills

Communication is vital for explaining technical concepts clearly and managing collaborators. Key skills include:

Active listening – Ensuring client needs are fully understood
Interpersonal skills – Smooth collaboration across teams
Written communication – Conveying complex topics simply

Managers should tailor communications for diverse audiences like clients, dev teams, and vendors.

Communication Aspect	Why It Matters
Active Listening	Builds trust and meets client needs
Interpersonal Skills	Enables smooth cross-functional work
Written Communication	Explains technical details understandably

Example: A manager may break down Google Analytics data into an executive summary for the CEO.

3. Creative Problem-Solving

When issues inevitably arise, managers rely on creativity to troubleshoot. Key skills include:

Innovative solutions – Thinking outside the box
Audience understanding – Designing optimal user experiences
Data analysis – Leveraging metrics to guide decisions

Creative problem-solvers deliver unique solutions tailored to each client’s needs and goals.

Aspect of Creativity	Application
Innovative Solutions	Overcomes technical challenges
Audience Understanding	Improves UX through design choices
Data Analysis	Optimizes site based on metrics

Example: Slow load times are fixed by selectively compressing images.

4. Adaptability and Flexibility

In the fast-paced digital landscape, managers must adapt quickly to new trends and technologies. Key skills include:

Agility – Swiftly responding to market changes
Openness to new tools – Incorporating cutting-edge solutions
Collaboration – Aligning with organizational goals

Adaptable managers ensure your website keeps up with the latest best practices.

Aspect of Adaptability	Description
Agility	Swiftly responds to new trends
Openness to New Tools	Adds innovations that boost performance
Collaboration	Works cross-functionally to meet business objectives

Example: Implementing AMP to optimize for mobile users.

Managers excelling across these 4 areas deliver immense value through optimized, future-proof websites. Next, let’s review common challenges managers face on the job.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Juggling a website successfully takes skill. Here are 3 frequent pain points managers encounter, along with tactics to overcome them:

Challenge: Keeping Updated

Staying current with the fast-changing digital landscape is an endless struggle. Solutions include:

Maintaining active memberships in industry groups like Search Engine Journal
Reading blogs/forums daily for news on updates
Setting Google Alerts for relevant keywords like “algorithm change”

Challenge: Time Management

With endless tasks vying for attention, focus is difficult. Tactics to stay organized include:

Prioritizing tasks in a project management app
Delegating responsibilities to specialists
Setting aside dedicated time for heads-down work

Challenge: Technical Issues

Even seasoned managers occasionally encounter tricky bugs or site outages. Mitigation strategies include:

Maintaining a knowledge base of common issues
Investing in training like Google Analytics certifications
Identifying expert colleagues or vendors to consult

With diligence and know-how, managers can overcome almost any obstacle. Now let’s explore tips for creating an optimal website strategy.

Developing an Effective Strategy

Crafting a winning website strategy takes careful coordination between the client and the manager. Follow these tips for phenomenal collaboration:

Clearly Define Website Goals

Start by aligning on the purpose of your site. Is the goal to:

Drive sales?
Share knowledge?
Promote services?

With a goal in mind, specific strategies naturally follow.

Schedule Regular Check-ins

Consistent communication ensures everyone is on the same page. Dedicate time for check-ins via:

Weekly video calls to review metrics and outstanding tasks
Monthly in-person meetings to discuss bigger-picture items
As-needed Slack or email conversations for quick questions

Regular touchpoints mean goals stay top of mind.

Be Open to Feedback

Your website manager brings specialized expertise. Be open to their suggestions for optimization.

Constructive feedback results in the best outcome.

Set Metrics and Track Progress

Align on KPIs to gauge success. Examples include:

Increased organic traffic
Higher lead generation
More sales inquiries

Consistently measure metrics to determine if strategies are moving the needle.

Metric	Measures
Organic Traffic	SEO success
Leads Generated	Content quality
Sales Inquiries	Business impact

Tweak underperforming areas based on data.

Stay Ahead of Trends

Your manager should be on top of the latest best practices in:

Web design – Mobile responsiveness, page speed
SEO – Link building outreach, structured data markup
Paid marketing – Retargeting ads, connected TV

This ensures you build on proven strategies.

With aligned goals, seamless collaboration, and the right KPIs, your website is set up for victory. Next, let’s explore two hiring options to consider.

Outsourcing vs. In-House Hiring

When seeking website management talent, you have two primary options:

Outsource to an agency or freelancer
Hire in-house personnel

Let’s compare the pros and cons of each approach:

Outsourcing

Pros

Cost-effective – Avoid employee overhead
Access to talent – Experts across disciplines
Scalability – Add or reduce services as needed

Cons

Less control – More reliance on vendor capabilities
Potential knowledge gaps – An outside team may lack context

In-House

Pros

Deeper institutional knowledge – Understands business intricacies
More control – The internal team focuses solely on your priorities
Better alignment – Ensures website supports broader company goals

Cons

Higher cost – Must fund salaries, benefits, office space
Slower to scale – Adding headcount takes more planning

Assess your budget, control preferences, existing team skills, and other factors to select the best fit.

Either route can work fantastically with the right partner and oversight. Next, let’s review tips to maximize value.

Maximizing ROI

An optimized website management process is invaluable for cost-effective results. Strategies to maximize ROI include:

Maintain a Current, Secure Site

An outdated or vulnerable site damages credibility and risks disaster. Invest in:

Regular content updates – Refresh stale pages
Software patches – Fix security loopholes
Backups – Enable restores after disasters

Implement SEO Best Practices

SEO is a top traffic driver when managed effectively. Optimize with:

Keyword research – Align content with searcher intent
Link building – Earn authoritative backlinks
Page speed optimizations – Faster loads increase rankings

Monitor Performance

Analytics provide the data to guide optimization. Track KPIs like:

Bounce rate – Assess content quality
Traffic source – Determine top channels
Conversion funnel – Identify drop-off points

Website Traffic Sources Report

Channel	Sessions	Bounce Rate
Organic Search	5,000	40%
Direct	2,000	60%
Social Media	1,500	30%

Adjust strategies based on insights.

With the right oversight, your website manager elevates performance and value month after month.

Conclusion

A skilled website manager is invaluable for gaining an exceptional online presence. Like the conductor of a symphony, they harmonize the elements of design, content, SEO, analytics, and technology to delight website visitors.

Choosing a manager aligned with your small business goals – whether outsourced or in-house personnel – is key. Collaboration focused on metrics and constant optimization unlocks immense potential.

With the maestro of website management conducting your online presence, customers can’t help but be drawn to your small business like moths to a flame. A manager maximizes your website’s ROI, empowering sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

In today’s digital-first world, a stunning online presence is mandatory for small business success. Let an experienced website manager compose your website masterpiece so you can focus on what matters most – delighting customers. With the right maestro at your side, prepare for standing ovations from new and returning visitors alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Who can benefit from a small business website manager?

Answer: Small business owners who want to streamline website management.

Question: What does a small business website manager do?

Answer: They handle website updates, security, and optimization.

Question: How much does a small business website manager cost?

Answer: Prices vary, but it can be cheaper than hiring an in-house team.

Question: What if I already have an IT department?

Answer: A website manager can work with your IT team to optimize your site.

Question: How can a website manager improve my SEO?

Answer: By implementing best practices and regularly updating content.

Question: What if I don’t have time to manage my website?

Answer: A website manager can handle everything, freeing up your time.