Site Management
The Main Reason Why Websites Get Abandoned
"We built it but never update it" — Does this sound familiar?
Abandoned Websites Are Common
News section showing "Last updated: 3 years ago." Staff photos featuring employees who left long ago. Company address still showing the old office location.
These 'abandoned websites' are actually quite common. You probably intended to update regularly when it was built, but years pass without a single update. Why does this happen?
The Main Cause: High Barriers to Updates
The biggest reason websites get abandoned isn't technical problems or lack of time.
The main cause is the psychological barrier of 'it's too much hassle to update.'
Log into the CMS, open the admin panel, remember where to edit, resize images, check the preview... These small inconveniences accumulate and push updates to 'later.'
When 'later' keeps getting postponed, it becomes 'I'm scared to touch it after so long' or 'I forgot how to do it.' At that point, nobody can make updates anymore.
Factors That Accelerate Abandonment
No Assigned Person
'Someone will do it' means nobody does it. Without a clear responsible person and routine, updates keep getting postponed.
Update Process Too Complex
Only the development agency understands the system. No manual exists. As a result, every update requires outsourcing, costing time and money.
Can't See the Value of Updates
No visible response to updates. Nobody checks analytics. Without seeing the impact, motivation stays low.
Perfectionism
'I don't want to do a half-hearted update' 'If I'm going to do it, I'll do it right' — This perfectionism ultimately results in doing nothing.
How to Prevent Abandonment
What you need to prevent abandonment isn't 'willpower' or 'mindset change.'
What matters is creating systems that lower the barriers to updates.
Specific Measures
- Clearly assign an update person and set update frequency (weekly, monthly, etc.)
- Simplify update tasks to be 'completable in 15 minutes'
- Create an update manual so anyone can handle it
- Make 'small updates' a habit rather than 'perfect updates'
- Check analytics regularly to visualize the impact
- Review site structure for easier updates (rebuild if necessary)
'Ease of Updates' Is Part of Site Design
Whether you consider 'who will update and how' at the design stage makes a huge difference in subsequent operations.
Incorporating 'sustainable systems' into the design, not just focusing on design and features — that's the key to preventing abandoned websites.
Considering Site Management Improvements?
If you want to revive an abandoned website or rebuild it for easier updates, feel free to contact us.