By Jordan Richards, above, Founder and CEO, RCCO
Why businesses are taking back control of their websites
Traditionally, businesses have outsourced website build and ongoing management because it’s easier – maximum online presence for minimal work. However, what was an entrenched way of working – outsourcing website management – has started to change in recent years. Businesses want to take back control and bring long-term management of their websites in-house, having realised the benefits this approach can bring.
Does it really matter who manages the website?
In a nutshell, yes it does. There are many reasons why having control of their website has extra benefits for a business.
Why take control of your business’s website?
Moving web design and ongoing management in-house has become more practical in recent times thanks to the improvements in technology. Whereas previously, you needed a professional web developer who could run your website and create what your brand demanded, now there is less need to do this. It is becoming easier, once a website has been professionally built, to transfer web management to in-house thanks to WYSIWYG technology.
WYSIWYG is a system of editing software that allows content to be edited in a way that mirrors the developed appearance effortlessly, without the need to use coded commands. This means it is now far easier for businesses to take on website management than it used to be – with business growth, return on investment and savings, being big incentives to do so.
Grow your website more quickly
When you manage your website rather than outsource it to an external company, it becomes more agile and alive. Your team can update the latest activities, reach out to customers and keep the content fresh by actioning all the web changes themselves – this makes the website more appealing and encourages customers to revisit. It also makes the website harder-hitting from an SEO viewpoint too, aiding natural growth.
Gain investment returns
ROI is important for businesses and controlling website management enables you to be reactive to business changes. Cutting out the third-party go-between part of the process means you can respond quickly and find out what works and how best to grow your website to meet your business goals.
Make business savings
The early days of taking control of your website may mean higher expenditure on staff training and investing in the necessary software, but this will soon pay for itself. You will soon save on long-term outsourcing of website management by doing most of it in-house – the majority of the straightforward tasks such as content updates and new images and activities-related wording can be done by the team, while any supporting agency can still do the bespoke, more technical parts of the website. Reducing ongoing costs is vital for businesses, especially in the current economic climate, another great argument for managing your website in-house.
How best to take control?
Keep it simple
In an ideal world, you’ll have a no-code or low-code website built by an agency with solutions like Webflow to aid in-house management when you want to take back control at a later date. Design the website to be both user-friendly for the customer and your in-house team alike. You could even ask for page templates that can be redesigned with minimum effort and design experience – and have a library that enables you to add pages as and when you want to.
Stay future focused
Think long-term at the time of building your website – your in-house team will change in the future as will your web designer as people move on. Manage the build in such a way that you can train new team members on updating the website, with ease. Ideally, you need a complete and documented training programme made using tools like Tango and Loom, so you can always manage your website, no matter the personnel changes.
Moving your website management in-house is a big step but a step worth taking – you won’t look back, we promise. You will enjoy greater control and cost savings in the long term. For all these reasons and more, RCCO recently created Webflow development company Ramp, to help others to make the step to in-house website management in the best possible way.
Jordan was one of the youngest Google apprentices, starting at just 18 and stayed on for three years to become a creative lead. He has since become founder of digital design agency RCCO, a 20-person team working with tech giants like Google globally, and exciting start-ups with investment. He is also co-founder of WILD, a video production studio working with PureGym and Revolut, and owner of FounderSphere, a community for young entrepreneurs.
