The analogy of a website as an organic, living entity frequently surfaces in discussions about digital presence. Just last week, we explored this concept once more, likening your site to a thriving plant. However, recognizing that not everyone has a green thumb, it’s time to shift our perspective to something more universally relatable. If you’ve ever found yourself unable to keep even the hardiest cactus alive, this article promises insights tailored for you. Today, we delve into the critical subject of website efficiency, a cornerstone for ensuring your digital ecosystem not only survives but flourishes.
Neural Pathways and Your Brain
Psychology has always been of interest to me. I’ve always wanted to know why people did what they did. As a marketer, this information is invaluable to me and my clients-the ability to understand how people tick is gold in this industry.
To me, neurology is just a step away, and just as fascinating a science. How does a brain form? What causes you to do on a physical level? Turns out that it’s a pretty complicated process.
The human brain, according to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, has something like 86 billion neurons. It has approximately 100 – 500 trillion synapses. Those synapses are part of the neural pathways – the conduits for communication between neurons. The synapses can be used to either reduce or decrease activity in the target area (for example, starting to tap your foot and stopping).
Growing up, synapses and neural pathways are constantly forming, but once you get to a certain age (about 25), they start to settle in and stagnate. It’s about this time that people start looking at questions like, “How can I create new neural pathways?”
The really fascinating thing is that the best way to keep your mind active is simply to… keep your mind active. Forcing yourself to learn new things, like learning a new language or how to play the piano, can help your brain build new neural pathways, keeping it somewhat young and healthy. In other words, to continually feed those pathways new information.
Repetition and practice can also strengthen those neural pathways. This helps you build good habits-by forcing yourself to do the same thing at the same time, or the same way, and so on.
3 Tips for Keeping Your Website’s “Brain” Healthy
The notion of treating your website like a living, breathing entity equipped with a “brain” is more apt than you might initially think. There’s no need for a leap of imagination here. In a manner strikingly similar to the neural pathways in your brain, your website communicates across the vast expanse of the internet, sending and receiving information to and from various destinations—be it social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, seed sites, or advertisements.
Just as the human brain relies on efficiency and connectivity to function optimally, so too does your website’s “neural network.” This complex web of interactions and transmissions is the backbone of website efficiency, ensuring that your content reaches its intended audience with precision and speed. However, without proper care and updates, your website, much like your brain, can become outdated and inflexible, struggling to adapt to new technologies or user expectations.
Maintaining the health of your website’s “brain” is essential for keeping it vibrant, responsive, and efficient. This involves regular updates, optimizing for speed and mobile usage, and ensuring that content is fresh and relevant. By doing so, you create a seamless and engaging user experience, encouraging visitors to return. So, how exactly do you nurture a healthy and efficient website akin to fostering a well-exercised, sharp mind? Let’s explore some key strategies to boost your site’s performance and keep it agile in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
A few tips to consider:
Don’t give up.
It takes approximately 66 days to create a brand-new habit, no matter how good it is. So, when you start a new blog, for instance, or a new Facebook account, you have to remember what’s happening on the other side of the coin.
While you’re writing your blog post and trying to get into that habit, someone is coming into contact with your blog. However, they don’t know when you post – so they have to learn that. Then, they don’t know if you post regularly. Once they know that, they still have to develop the habit of looking over your blog when it comes out.
Point is, it takes time to grow an audience. Don’t give up quickly.
Make new connections and prioritize website efficiency.
Continuously seek avenues to enhance your site’s growth and efficiency. Familiar sources for traffic and backlinks can unexpectedly become obsolete, leading to a decline in your website’s health. The disappearance of companies and the closure of websites can result in you grappling with numerous inactive links, impacting your site’s efficiency and SEO strength.
While rapid expansion carries its own set of challenges, stagnation poses a significant threat to your website’s vitality and relevance. Each opportunity to broaden your network or optimize your site should be evaluated with precision—balancing the risks of swift growth against the dangers of sluggish progress. Embracing new connections not only revitalizes your network but also safeguards your website’s efficiency, ensuring it remains resilient and adaptive in the face of change. This proactive approach to growth and efficiency is essential for maintaining a robust, effective online presence.
Be repetitive and consistent.
A friend of mine kept losing her keys, so she set her mind to put them in the same place, every time she came home, as soon as she came home. It took her over a month, but she’s almost got that habit formed.
For your website, make sure that your new connections are regularly managed. If you post, post on set days each week. If you have social accounts, try to post at regular intervals. Test in the beginning, but once you think you have a good time ironed out, stick to it.
Conclusion
Creating new neural pathways isn’t easy, and it takes time. Your website is no different. It takes time to grow and flourish. But a well-managed website is one that grows with purpose and goals – not one that grows willy-nilly with no direction.
If you feel like your website may have stagnated, stop and take stock. Answer the 5 journalist questions of “who, what, when, where, why, how”.
- Who are my target audience?
- What do they need?
- When are they looking for it?
- Where are they looking for it?
- Why are they looking for it?
- How am I going to give them what they need?
In your quest for growth, actively seeking out new connections is crucial—not just for personal development but also for enhancing your website’s efficiency. These connections, once established, require consistent nurturing and strategic enhancement.
By applying a thoughtful mix of TLC and foresight, you’ll witness both your website and, metaphorically, your brain expand significantly. Prioritizing website efficiency through continuous improvement and optimization not only ensures your digital presence is robust and dynamic but also keeps you ahead in the digital race. So, invest the effort in fostering these connections and watch as your website transforms, becoming more efficient, responsive, and ultimately successful.
