Is your site starting to struggle online?
In some ways, it isn’t surprising. After all, there are now 1.5 billion websites on the internet- a number that’s only going up.
Getting ahead of that competition is by no means straight-forward. Staying ahead of it is even harder.
It’s all too easy for your hard-earned progress to start to slip away. Heck, all it takes is one Google update and your rankings can slide overnight. Your traffic and leads go with it.
Thankfully, there are ways to avoid such a fate. A website update can help to turn the tables and restore order. Everything from refreshing the layout and altering the aesthetics to a total restructuring of the site can make a mighty difference.
But how do you know when it’s time to take such steps? We can help.
Keep reading for 7 key indicators your site needs an update
1. It’s Losing Its Looks
We know, we know:
You should never judge a book by its cover.
But, let’s face it, everybody does anyway! People are naturally judgmental. We make snap judgments all the time based on nothing but appearance.
And that’s worth considering for your website.
It’s true that looks aren’t everything. The functionality of the site is vital too. However, the visual appeal makes an undeniable difference in all manner of ways.
An outdated aesthetic can make your business seem unprofessional or behind the times. Conversely, a fresh, sleek, and beautiful website design inspires confidence and facilitates trust.
2. It’s Slowing Down
Speed is of the essence in the world of websites.
The faster your website operates, the better. Why?
Because of the user experience. Google wants to provide its users with the best experience possible. Slow sites jeopardize that because nobody wants to wait for a page to load! Users click back and search elsewhere instead.
A slow-running site can, eventually, expect to suffer in SERPs. Fast-running websites will be prioritized, which will hinder your ability to earn traffic.
Remember, any user that clicks away from your site is problematic too. It represents a lost opportunity to generate a lead, or even make a sale.
Keep tabs on the speed of your website. Whenever you notice pages taking an age to load (anything over 3 to 5 seconds can spell trouble), consider investing in an update.
3. Your Content’s Out of Date
Trust is a vital component to success online these days.
Success with digital marketing (including content marketing) is somewhat reliant on it.
Consumers are more discerning than they once were. They don’t want to be sold to; they want a personal experience that delivers value to their lives. They want to see the people behind a brand before they buy from it.
Earn their trust first, then they’ll buy from you. Not the other way around.
It’s your job to have a website full of content that cultivates it.
And a central aspect of that is having relevant content that’s up to date. Outdated information such as incorrect facts, figures, and locations is bad news. Deliver false information and it’ll be hard to win back a user’s trust.
Endeavor to update your website and content at regular intervals- especially on high-traffic pages that generate lots of value to your business.
4. There’s a Security Issue
The security of your website is of paramount importance.
The entire business could be in trouble if you suffer a cyberattack of any kind. You’ve got valuable customer data on hand. If that gets hacked, then you’re in for trouble.
Then there’s the financial side of the matter. One ransomware attack can set your business back hundreds of thousands of dollars. That financial burden can cripple a business’ operations.
Make sure your website is secure at all times.
Hire an IT expert to assess current levels of security. If there’s any room for improvement, then act immediately to rectify the issue.
5. It Doesn’t Work Across All Devices
This point is of enormous importance.
Your website must function perfectly across every device. Be it a desktop, tablet or a mobile, your site must load, display and operate as intended.
Any hiccups or issues is a big problem.
At the very least, make sure it’s mobile-friendly. People now consume most content on their smartphones. If your business website doesn’t function on mobile, then you lose out on that potential traffic.
More to the point, Google actively prioritizes mobile content in search results. Any site that doesn’t operate on mobile faces an uphill battle for rankings.
6. The Navigation Is Unintuitive
We can’t overstate the importance of the user experience on your website.
It must be a joy to spend time on! Users should arrive on-site in an instant, have swift access to their answers, and face no issues as they peruse the pages.
The website’s navigation is a key part of this too. A site that’s intuitive to navigate provides a much better user experience. People can get where they need to go without needing an instruction manual to do it!
Assess how easy your site is to navigate around. How straightforward is it to complete the actions you want people to make? If there’s room for improvement, then it’s time for an update.
7. It’s Been a While
When was the last time you updated your website?
It might have been years since you last went in and took a look.
If that’s the case, then it’s almost certainly time to upgrade your website. Remember, the online world moves at insane speeds! The ‘right things’ for 2015 may no longer cut it in 2020.
Everything from your SEO to the copy itself might be outdated and in need of new life. Fail to stay on top of current trends and it’s a matter of time before your site starts to suffer.
Time for Your Website Update
The internet’s a competitive place.
To stay on top, it’s crucial that you take steps that keep your site firing on all cylinders.
Hopefully, this post will help you know if it’s high time for a website update! Search ‘websites’ now to read more articles like this.
