Maybe you think your web design is looking a bit sad and tired or it’s just not doing what you need it to any more, others in your company might think it’s just fine. So here’s some pointers to help you figure out why it could be time for a shiny new site.
You probably won’t get a second chance to make a good first impression on your website visitors. The internet and it’s technologies have moved on leaps and bounds in the last 5 years.
Please consider:
Overall is the web design is outdated, is your homepage static with little information? Does it properly explain your business offering? If there isn’t anything to engage and entice users they are unlikely to explore further. A site that’s informative, visually engaging and easy to navigate will lead to better conversions and a return on your investment.
Is the design clean, attractive and modern or does it say “Hello 1990’s”? A dated looking site can give the impression that your company is behind the times and you may lose out to a competitor whose website looks more professional. Newer designed websites are making better use of the larger width of screens and tend not to have as many boxed elements.
If your site is so old it’s practically in hieroglyphics then it’s highly likely that it’s failing fast on keeping up with the latest technological developments. Here’s some things to think about:
Does your site work well on mobile or tablet devices? Having a responsive web design is absolutely vital today with over 65% of Irish users changing devices while researching online – read our blog article about Responsive Web Design
Do you have a flash element on the website – Flash is an outdated web technology and it can’t be used on most tablets and phones, losing you a huge audience
Your website is slooooow! It takes a long time to load, possibly due to old website software. Nobody likes a slow site and your visitors will bounce off your site for sure rather than wait for it.
Do you have an easy way to edit content yourself or are you relying on your web developer? Having a good content management system (wordpress) means you can keep your content up to date and relevant for your visitors without any techie know-how.
Is your Content Management System (CMS) up to date? Making sure that your CMS is up to date, for example installing the latest version, ensures that hackers can’t find weaknesses or a gap in the security of your software. Thus preventing your content being deleted, passwords changed or obscene content being posted on your website.
The content on your site is as important as the design and build. Ensure that you’ve got engaging and informative text on your site, a few scant words won’t really do anymore – give the search engines something to crawl! Update and add to your content on a regular basis.
Your content should be proactive and include ‘Calls to action’ (eg ‘Get in touch’, ‘Book now’, etc). Way back when it was ok to have fairly passive content that had a little info about who you were – a simple online brochure as such. But now the best practice is to call out to your website visitor – be clear on your business goals and get your website working to help achieve them.
As well as the above, an up to date website will include the following:
A sitemap, legal and cookie policy, all of which are required
Google analytics – make sure you have tracking code on the site. Google analytics is an essential tool for every website owner who wishes to track the performance of your website – track visitors, goals/conversions, measure your advertising return on investment, track social networking sites. Google Webmaster tools provides you with extensive reports about your visibility online.
Dont trust automated “website builders” from companies like Godaddy or WIX. These cookie cutter solutions will not do your business any favors. These user friendly solutions provide an easy user interface for building a bare bones website but they will do nothing to impress your website visitors. You want to convey that your business is a first rate company and you just cant do that with a $10 solution from automated website builders. Your website visitors expect more content and user experience than these cheap companies have available.
Dont trust automated “website builders” from companies like Godaddy or WIX. These cookie cutter solutions will not do your business any favors. These user friendly solutions provide an easy user interface for building a bare bones website but they will do nothing to impress your website visitors. You want to convey that your business is a first rate company and you just cant do that with a $10 solution from automated website builders. Your website visitors expect more content and user experience than these cheap companies have available.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – implemented on the site. This will help get your website found in search engines for keyword phrases links to your business’ products and services. It is something that every website should have.
After reading this you may realise your old site isn’t up to scratch. If you’d like a free website analysis report, just get in touch with Allweb Marketing. We’ll provide expert advice and transform your online presence – you’ll be facing the future with your best foot forward in no time!
