Do you want to know a little web marketing secret?
Websites do age and, in this day and age of rapidly changing web trends, they can become outdated quicker than the bag of chips in your pantry!
This news is hard to bear especially if you have invested big bucks in building a fantastic website just five or 10 years ago.
How do we determine if a website is outdated? Many website details can point to “old age”, but three key factors are true indicators of whether your website is outdated or not. If you answer “no” to all of these, then we’d prescribe a website overhaul.
IS YOUR WEBSITE MOBILE-FRIENDLY?
If your website is “mobile-friendly” (or “responsive”, in geek speak) this means that your website seamlessly morphs to look good (clear, readable, searchable, clickable) on a laptop, on a desktop computer, on a tablet (i.e. iPad, Kindle), and on any variety smartphone. This matters because most Americans own a smartphone and, even way back in 2015, “more Google searches took place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the U.S. and Japan”. A “non-responsive” website is referred to as “static” which means that the website stays the same whether it is viewed on a giant computer monitor or a tiny phone screen (where the words are usually so small, they are not readable unless zoomed in). The bottomline: If your static website is not easily and clearly viewable on a phone or tablet – where most Americans are searching – they are going to pass your website by and go straight to a “responsive” website that is more user-friendly.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR WEBSITE MINIMALISTIC?
Flashy, busy websites are yesterday’s news. The trend for websites in-the-now are for them to be simplified, with a clear message and easy navigation. Simple design begins from the first glance – imagery and text that clearly communicates who you are, what you do and whom you serve. The bottomline: When it comes to website design in 2018, less is truly more.
IS IT EASY TO MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR WEBSITE?
Being able to make changes – easily – to your website is critical. If a price has changed or a product is out of stock or a new service is available, you want your audience to know now! If you’ve got a website provider that makes changes for you – but is unreachable or doesn’t make the edits in a timely manner – or if you login to make your own changes and feel completely overwhelmed, than it is time for an update. Also, Google likes websites that are updated and relevant. Even small changes can mean better SEO from Google. The bottomline: Making changes to your website – whether it is done by you or your website provider – should be a walk in the park, not a run for shelter in a thunderstorm.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When we propose that a website may need some modern day love, we often hear, “Do I really need to update it?” One of the easiest ways to answer this is to do a little self-reflection and ask yourself the following:
- Do my competitors have newer websites than mine?
- If I had a storefront, would I let it look dated?
- How well does my website represent my business?
A dated website can indicate an out-of-date business. With so many choices on the web, a website that doesn’t look current can / will be passed over in one quick click. The bottomline: Your website is a reflection of you / your business / your online reputation so keeping it current is in your best interest.
Wondering if your website is outdated? Our Web Marketing Therapy team is here to help. Contact us today.