Does my website need to be updated?
If you find yourself asking this question then the answer is probably YES! The whole purpose for having a website is to help you meet your business goals, showcase your business, and increase your bottom line. If your website is not doing this then it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Do you recognize any of these 8 signs it’s time for a website redesign?
Your website doesn’t reflect your brand
Do you have a unique brand? A compelling story? A state of the art product? Your first impression nowadays is your web presence. If your website is not conveying who you are and what makes you stand out it’s time for an update. You want a website that draws people in, makes a lasting impression, and shows everyone why they should choose you!
Your website looks outdated
If you have multiple blue hyperlinks, grainy images, and it looks like a long form essay it needs to be revamped! This day and age everything changes so quickly and is made to be bigger and better on a daily basis. An easy question to see if you are up to par is “how long has it been since your last update?” If the answer is over three years… It’s time! The goal is to have an intriguing interface that draws people in and funnels them to your call to action.
Poor Analytics
The numbers don’t lie! If you aren’t getting the traffic and conversion rates that you want from your website it’s time to reevaluate. High bounce rates are another key factor in determining your site’s performance. Sometimes we come across people that don’t know how to check their website analytics or decipher them. This is an even bigger problem! It is difficult to strategize your next steps when you don’t even know where you stand. It’s time to learn or find someone that can help!
Slow Page Loading Speed
When you are navigating through a well designed website it’s a seamless process. You might not even notice the ease in switching quickly from page to page. But, when you are on a website, and it drags at a snail’s pace, and then you make matters worse by constantly hitting refresh… You notice…. and it’s frustrating. You probably have realized from personal experience that you don’t stay on this website for any longer than you need to, and that might be happening with your prospects.
You can’t update content yourself
If you don’t have access to your website’s backend to make minor updates and upload fresh content then you are falling behind. Gone are the days when websites were a one and done process. To stay high in search rankings and get the attention you deserve you have to constantly update your website! This is an important first step in having a successful website.
Confusing website navigation
Us humans need lots of prompting and easy navigation or else we will look elsewhere. Can you remember a time when you were on a website and just had a simple question but it took forever to find the answer? A well designed website will act as a funnel guiding clients fluidly to the call to action. A poorly designed website will have you scrolling through a maze of content trying to find prices or contact information. With short attention spans abounding most users will search elsewhere.
Your website isn’t mobile friendly or responsive
Some people don’t even realize that a website interface needs to specifically be designed for mobile use. You want your website to be accessible, responsive, and properly formatted no matter what device users access it from. This will require a specialist or lots of research to achieve but it is well worth the effort. Since such a high percentage of people use their mobile devices for browsing this is a crucial part of a well designed website.
You aren’t using inbound marketing
You might be asking yourself “what is inbound marketing?” Well it’s the key component in keeping users interactive with your website. It’s creating a user experience that offers knowledge and interactive content designed for your target audience. Some examples of this are blog posts, questionnaires, or a FAQ page tailored specifically to what your audience is searching for. The strategy with this portion is to know your audience, and have answers to their questions before they ask. While this might sound difficult to achieve it has a huge impact on conversions because it shows that you understand your prospects!
How does your website measure up?
Now that you know what to look for it’s time to see how you measure up! If you find that your website is showing many signs that it needs an update, reach out to a specialist to strategize your next steps. It can be daunting but your marketing goals will thank you in the long run.
