Spring is a great time to organize and manage your business’s digital footprint, from decluttering digital accounts and files to securing systems by updating software for better efficiency and cybersecurity.

“A digital audit is more than just a routine check-up; it's a critical process that can significantly impact your business's success,” says a post by On-Target, a marketing and advertising agency based in Houston. 

“Maintaining a strong and effective online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Regular audits of your website and digital elements are essential to ensure that your brand remains competitive, relevant, and engaging,” the company advises on its website.

Here are a few best practices and strategies recommended by IT and marketing professionals on how to do a digital cleanup at your business this spring.

Audit Digital Files and Documents

This includes deleting old, duplicate or unnecessary documents, and implementing  consistent file naming and folder structure.

Also, manage your company’s cloud storage. For example, limit auto-backups and remove unneeded files from cloud services — this will save costs and reduce clutter. 

Refresh Your Website Content

Part of your spring cleanup should include updating content on your website. 

Fix any broken links and ensure its mobile responsiveness.

Also, refresh any outdated graphics, photos, and calls-to-action, and review website content to remove dated and irrelevant blog posts, and other content that no longer aligns with your company’s current brand messaging.

Review Social Media Profiles

Do an audit on your social media business profiles across platforms to check for inconsistencies and inaccurate information.

For example, make sure your company information is up to date in your page bios, as well as your contact details. Look for any social media profiles your business is no longer using and deactivate them. Also, review administrative access to your pages.

“Your digital footprint encompasses both active content, such as social media posts and comments, and passive data such as browsing history and online purchases,” explains Ally Gatien, a digital strategist at the online marketing agency Social Firm.

“Every interaction, comment, and piece of content associated with your brand contributes to your online presence,” says the post on the company’s website.

Customer reviews also need to be looked at as part of your digital marketing audit. “They can significantly impact your brand’s reputation,” Gatien writes. “Implementing a solid review management strategy is essential.”

In addition to Google and Yelp, she advises businesses should monitor reviews across all other platforms, including industry-specific sites.

Clean Up Your Email Inbox

Make your inbox more manageable by deleting or archiving old messages, setting up labels and filters to be more organized, and turn off non-essential email notifications.

“It might seem harmless, but digital clutter can chip away at your operations, acting like the sand in the gears of your business moving forward,” notes a post by PC Corp, which provides managed IT services, IT procurement and cybersecurity, on the company’s website.

Also, if you subscribe to newsletters, review which ones you want to keep and unsubscribe to the others.

“Without a proactive approach to addressing the ongoing arrival of messages, it’s easy to feel buried before the workday even begins by the pages of non-urgent unread threads or the newsletters you’re saving to read ‘one day,’” says the PC Corp post.

“You might end up replying late to a client, losing track of a key task, or spending too much time digging for an attachment you swear was in there somewhere.”

Update and Remove Unused Software

Check for software updates on all devices at your company, including phones and computers, and uninstall apps and software that are not being used.

“If your devices have a backlog of unused or outdated applications, these apps are likely taking up valuable storage and dragging your device’s performance,” explains PC Corp.

“Not only does the clutter on your desktop and Start Menu disrupt your workflow, but you may also be leaving security gaps that cybercriminals can exploit if these programs are unpatched and unmanaged.”

Reduce Cyber Risks by Organizing Your Digital Data

“An organization's digital footprint, which comprises all the data the organization disseminates online, creates a sizable attack surface for cybercriminals,” explains Aaron Menders, CEO of PrivacyHawk.

So, by getting digitally organized, companies can effectively reduce online footprint, thereby shrinking their attack surface and mitigating the risk of cyber threats.

“Only collect and store data that is absolutely necessary for your business operations. The less data you have, the less attractive you are to hackers,” he writes in a Forbes Technology Council post.