Does your website bring you confidence? I mean, confidence that makes you sleep well at night, knowing that people are thinking about your business? Does it look good, work well, and accurately reflect your company? Is it doing everything it possibly could to turn curious visitors into converted customers?
If there’s any doubt in your mind, read on. You know there are people out there that need your service. To help them find you, it might be time for a website redesign.
9 Reasons Why It Might Be Time For A Website Redesign
#1 It’s Not Optimized for Mobile
If you’ve left the house in the past decade, you may have noticed that humans have developed a real affinity for spending time on their cell phones. Up to 70% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. They’re not just browsing memes and indulging in celebrity gossip, they’re also buying things and researching important decisions.
Sure, your website will load on a mobile device, but is it optimized for the mobile experience? Your website must have a responsive design that displays and functions flawlessly on mobile devices. Otherwise it’s ‘hasta la vista, baby’, as users (and search engines!) turn their attention elsewhere.
#2 People Aren’t Finding You on Search Engines
As we detailed in a recent blog post, search engine optimization is a complex and evolving science. Your website should be designed to rank highly and present nicely on search engine results pages. Doing this successfully involves a holistic approach, from the front page to deep behind the scenes. Spend the time to keep search engines like Google and Bing happy and they will reward you. Failing to focus on SEO will leave you with a potentially great website that never gets found.
#3 Your Website Simply Doesn’t Look Good Anymore
Every person is inherently beautiful. Websites? That’s not a given. A website should be like a big, warm hug, welcoming people with the immediate promise of relevance, credibility, and modern sophistication. Does your website stack up well against your competition? Technology is constantly changing as are the needs of online visitors, so you need to make sure that you’re providing them what they are looking for. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
#4 Bounce Rates are High and Conversions Low
People should be spending a substantial amount of time on your website and taking the desired action while they’re at it. If analytics tell you that people are leaving quickly, before they buy, download, sign-up, or otherwise convert, then Houston, we have a problem. Is your hero section not reassuring or clear? Are your calls to action confusing or unconvincing? For the sake of your bottom line, it may be time to get to the bottom of this troubling trend.
#5 Navigation and User Experience Are a Problem
A good corn maze is one where people get lost. A good website is one where they don’t. Visit your own website, pretend you know nothing, and interact with it. Is the content presented in a manner where you can find what you are looking for without thinking too hard or does it take 5 clicks to find the information that you are seeking? All aspects of the site should be intuitive, consistent, and reassuring. If user experience is suffering, it’s time to act.
#6 Your Website Doesn’t Reflect Your Current Messaging, Offerings, or Strategy
Like any good business owner, you are constantly updating your business in response to changing circumstances. Perhaps the recent Pandemic has forced how you are interacting with your consumers. You have altered your sales pitch to reflect new needs, while tweaking your offerings, messaging, and look to remain current and reach your target audience. Unfortunately, your website is still yapping about something that excited you five years ago. Time for an overhaul!
#7 Your Website is Difficult to Update
Perhaps the reason that your content is so dated is that updating it requires a computer science degree. Fortunately, technology has continued to evolve and professional well-designed websites built using a content management system like WordPress simplifies the process, even for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy.
#8 It Just Doesn’t Work That Well
The habits of online visitors have changed. Websites that don’t load quickly will annoy humans (and search engines). The same can be said of websites that have dead links or other broken elements that don’t load properly. A website is like a car, it must be well-maintained, or you’ll find yourself stranded on the side of the highway (or information superhighway). If your website is not top-level, the obvious inference is that your company is not either!
#9 Your Competitor’s Website Just Seems Better or Newer
Has your competitor recently updated their website? Be honest, is it better than yours? If that’s true, this must be rectified pronto regardless of the type of website you have. If e-commerce is your business model, then your website is literally the key to your business’ survival. Even brick and mortar companies or other organizations are absolutely reliant upon their website to convey important information and make a positive first impression. If you suspect that your website isn’t up to snuff, you’re probably right and it’s time to do something about it.
Getting Started
Peak Ed Designs builds websites that are visually appealing, functionally fine-tuned, and optimized to achieve your business goals. We also prioritize education, providing you the capability to make updates. In addition, our maintenance packages ensure that your well-oiled machine keeps that new-car smell for the long-term.
I want a website that allows me to sleep well at night!