Think of your website as a potted plant…
Bear with us here for a moment! A great website isn’t a finite, static thing — it’s something that needs consistent, care and attention — just like a potted plant. A little bit of water every now and then, occasional pruning and changing the soil and, once in a while, repotting the whole plant, are all essential for keeping it healthy and happy.
The same applies to a website. It’s not enough to make a beautiful site and then wash your hands of it, simply letting it sit there for years without so much as a second thought.
Get a professional update for your website with WEBPRO.
To stay relevant you must ensure you are up to date with the latest trends in SEO and what online users expect. Not sure whether your site cuts the mustard or has reached the end of its life-cycle and is likely in need of some TLC? Read on for eight red flags that mean it’s probably time to change your website:
Fundamental signs that it’s time for a change…
1. It’s More Than 3–5 Years Old
A website of 3–5 years old is almost certainly in need of a freshen up to ensure it’s still relevant and up-to-date with the latest trends and algorithms.
2. Slow Loading Speed
Navigation taking longer than you’d like? This is likely a sign of a poorly built or maintained website or an issue with your server or hosting provider. This is not only frustrating for your users, it is something which will cause you to be marked down by Google.
3. Design is Inconsistent
There needs to be a clear and consistent theme that unites all elements of your site with the brand it represents. A fresh design plan may be exactly what you need.
4. Competitor Sites Look Trendier
You should always have your finger on the pulse of what’s happening within your market niche. If your competitors have trendier sites than you, it’s time to step things up a notch and be even better to stay in the game.
Other factors that are bad for your site…
1. It’s Not Responsive
With more and more people accessing websites through mobile devices, it’s essential that your site is responsive on phones and tablets. If it’s not, update your site now to reap the benefits.
2. SEO Has Been Left By the Wayside
SEO is one of those niggling things that needs to have continuous care and attention. It might be dull, but updating your SEO strategy will increase traffic and the conversion rate on your site.
3. Content is Irrelevant
If your content refers to services, events and ideas that are outdated, your site won’t resonate with its visitors — or even with Google search. Fresh and relevant content is essential for keeping your site ranking highly — and maximising positive engagement from its visitors.
4. Social Media Isn’t Integrated
Social media integration improves the user experience and smoothly establishes your business as a confident and contemporary brand.
Time for an update?
As you can see, there are lots of things to keep tabs on when maintaining a quality website. If you’re noticing some or all of these issues apply to your current website, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and revisit it. This doesn’t mean you have to start from square one again; a few clever tweaks and updates will have your site looking and functioning perfectly once more.
Find all you need in one convenient place.
WEBPRO offers everything you need to update and optimise your site, and give it the boost it needs. Whether it’s freshening up the content or performing a complete redesign with a semi-bespoke template or a completely custom designed website, we’ll be with you at every stage to create a business website that you can be proud of.
