Maintenance Phase

Technical updates, ongoing content work, and user testing

Launching a website does not mean it’s complete. A website needs constant updating and improvement to make sure it’s meeting users’ needs and achieving the goals of the organization. User feedback — from surveys, task-based tests, and other usability measures — will provide insight into how the new designs are performing, as well as some careful attention to the website analytics.

It’s important to make sure there are staff members in place who can regularly dedicate time to making content updates, writing and producing media for news feeds or other regular communications, and providing technical support to monitor system performance and ensure the site remains up-to-date and secure.

As you find elements that need improvement, you’ll move them through the same phases the website went through, to make sure all pieces of the site support the project goals and are useful to users.

Objectives

In the maintenance phase, your goals are to continuously make sure your site is:

• optimized for performance
• up-to-date with new browser requirements, software and security updates, and responsive device display requirements
• communicating current and accurate information on all pages
• easy for users to navigate and find what they are looking for, and allows them to complete their tasks successfully
• supporting your organizational goals

The Team

This small team is made up of dedicated staff who specialize in website support and communications, along with the person responsible for the site within the unit, with support from the Web Initiatives team and subject matter experts as needed.

Timeline

Indefinite. As long as the site exists, it should be reviewed and maintained constantly.

Outputs

• results from user testing
• analytics reports
• performance test data