It’s been a while since we have revisited our website and it’s crazy how much can change in the digital world over the course of a year. Over the last month we have been working on a new site that is sure to dazzle and we can’t wait to share it with you! It inspired us to offer up some tips of the trade on why to update your site and what kind of value it brings to your business.
So without further ado:
Top 5 Reasons to Update Your Site THIS YEAR!
5. Are You Mobile Ready? 
This is really the first thing to ask yourself about your site. If you are not optimized for mobile, you are really missing out. 80% of people 18-34 own a smart phone (Pew Research Center). They are using it for all kinds of things, especially online shopping. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce has continually been commanding retail market share steadily since 2005. having a website that is both computer-friendly and touch-friendly is more of a necessity than a trend.
4. Do You Have a Content Management System (CMS)?
Are you still paying someone to update your website? Content Management Systems are easy to use, fairly inexpensive, and make a huge difference in your ability to stay relevant online. There are lots of options, but using something like WordPress on the back end and creating a customized front end for your clients to view is a pretty smooth way to transition. The only programming skill you’ll need to change texts, images and other media files, or to add new pages and/or articles to your web site is knowing how to work with a simple text editor (It looks pretty similar to Microsoft Word.) A website is no longer just static words and graphics. It should feature blogs, photo galleries and social media integration.
3. How’s That Design & Layout?
Can your readers find the information they are looking for? Is your layout cluttered and confusing? Does your site look old and tired? 78% of wealthy shoppers will research a luxury product online before buying and nearly every affluent shopper (98%) will do research of some kind. (Google Think Insight Survey) A website should be easy to use and easy to navigate. When people visit your site, they see it as a reflection of your organization. If your site looks professional and is loaded with useful information readers will see you as an authority and expert. Likewise if the site looks poorly designed and structured and/or out-of-date they’ll make the same assumptions about your company. Additionally, the more difficult it is for people to find what they are looking for, the less likely they are to stay on your site. The website should highlight your product and/or service, and the layout should be consistent. Proper site planning and wire framing are tools used to make sure that all your information both looks good and is easy to navigate.
2. Are You Findable?
How does your website rank in search engines? Do you need to include new keywords? Does your website have a high bounce rate? Does your website contain unstructured links or even broken links? A site redesign can help you attract more visitors in a number of ways. Applying modern Search Enigine Optimization (SEO) and strategic internet marketing techniques can help rank your site higher in the search engine result pages. Building search engine links into a new site is much more effective than trying to increase your rankings once a site has been built.
1. Who’s Your Target?
Does your website compete with your competitor’s websites? Do you want to attract a new audience? Does your website provide a strong brand image? Is your website able to grow with your business? Are you going to re-brand your products or the company as a whole? With clear and firm goals and an understanding of your visitors, you can make well-informed decisions on how the site should look, work and feel. Going through the branding process and incorporating that strategy into your site is essential when re-positioning to attract a new or different target market successfully.
Have some website questions or needs? We’re happy to help! Contact us at hello@heynowmedia.com
