The idea of upgrading or redesigning your website can be a bit overwhelming. Especially in terms of downtime and the costs involved. But, if your site isn’t reaching an audience and generating leads or sales, it’s time to bite the bullet and get started on an upgrade. Web design advances and changes every few years and your site needs to keep up with the times. The average lifespan of a website is three to seven years. But old-age isn’t the only thing that keeps your site from producing. Several more reasons why it might be time to redesign your website are outlined below.
As consumers continue to shop online to get great deals and bargains, digital marketing becomes an invaluable component of your business marketing strategy. But, if your website isn’t ranking, those shoppers won’t find you, and this hurts your bottom line. So, what are some things you need to do to draw those busy clickers to your website? Take a look at your site through the eyes of a prospective buyer before you answer the following questions.
Does Your Website Represent Your Brand and Values?
When your website is state-of-the-art, mobile compatible, and user-friendly it sends a message about your company. It will leave a strong impression that your company is forward-thinking, customer-oriented, and dedicated to excellence in business. Did you know it takes only ten seconds for a website visitor to decide what they expect from your business? Once they leave, they probably won’t return. Your site has to capture their interest right away and be user-friendly so they don’t get lost or confused when navigating through the pages.
Are You Competitive in Your Market?
One way to determine how your site is performing is to visit your key competitor’s websites and compare them with your site. If your site is lagging behind in current design trends, it’s time to upgrade. Of course, the lifecycle of a website differs from industry to industry. For example, an information-sharing, technical, or manufacturing site doesn’t need to make a change right away. But, a consumer-focused site needs to stay current with the latest design trends to keep their brand fresh so consumers want to come back.
Is Your Website Easy to Navigate?
If your website is well-organized and the content is well-written and easy to understand, users won’t be so quick to hit the back button. Also, the calls to action should be clear and easy to find. A user-friendly site will make it easy for the visitor to know where they are on the site and where they want to go next. The site should have a variety of information about your brand so the visitor can find what they want to know. You also need to know if your site is mobile-friendly. In fact, mobile-friendliness is becoming a requirement with Google’s recent algorithm updates. This means an older website may not support a smooth transition to mobile. This is a significant reason for a redesign of your site.
Have You Ramped-Up Your Marketing Strategies?
If your existing website doesn’t have the technology to serve as a foundation for a new digital marketing strategy, it’s a good idea to contact a professional web design company to find out what you need to do. They can advise you on what your site needs and can do the upgrades or redesigns for you. Sometimes adding new products or services to your site can be like opening a can of worms. Your best solution is to let the professionals take care of the conversion.
At Web Content Development, we can help get your site ranking and generate feedback from customers. We are a full-service digital marketing agency and can design a well-optimized website that will effectively represent and promote your brand.