5 Signs It’s Time to Update Your Website

Your website is an integral part of your business. It may have been state-of-the-art when it was built, but web technology changes so quickly that your website might not be as current as you think. Is it time for a website upgrade or redesign?

Here are some tips to help you decide if it’s time to update your site:

It doesn’t work on mobile devices

On today’s mobile browsers any site will at least show up. But is your site actually usable on a small screen? Is the text readable? Do the forms work? If you can’t answer yes (or you have no idea if your online contact form works with a smart phone), it’s time to take action.

There are several ways to update your site for mobile, but not all are as effective. The best method at the moment is responsive design – but even responsive design best practices have changed during the last few years. Don’t lose out on mobile users! Make sure your site has the technical and practical updates to work effectively on mobile devices.

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Responsive web design means your website will work perfectly on any device!

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Your content is old

When your business changes, your website needs to reflect that. Users can tell when your site isn’t current, and it will influence their impression of your company.

For example, it’s great that your business is “getting ready” to open a new location, except that you opened it three years ago. If the content on your site has not grown with your business, it reflects poorly.

Keep your users informed by updating your content frequently. Not only is current content good for customer perceptions, but it keeps search engines happy as well. Google helps determine rankings by checking for new, relevant, and fresh content on sites.

It doesn’t have social media links

Social media accounts are a great way to market your business. If you already are using Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus to connect with your customers, you’re on the right track.

But a good web marketing strategy means integrating all of your online content. Make it easy for users to find your social media by linking to it on your main site.

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Social media can boost your business and integrate your online marketing strategies!

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The graphics are stale

It’s impossible to keep up with every cool graphic trend in web design. If you tried, your site would never be finished. Avoid trend hopping with a strong design that can stand the test of time, but meets the needs and expectations of your website visitors.

Trends come and go, but there are some styles that are pretty much gone for good – splash pages (that say “enter here”), flash animation, anything that blinks on and off. Just as old content will be off-putting to many users, so will annoying, outdated graphics.

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Please, make it stop.

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Search engines aren’t finding it

Just as graphics need to be refreshed, so does the optimization of your site. Maybe your site used to rank well and doesn’t anymore due to Google’s algorithm changes.

SEO is a constantly ongoing and evolving process. Sometimes an existing site can be better optimized with a refresh or update, but sometimes it’s best to create a fresh website design.

 

The internet is constantly evolving – is your website keeping up?

If you’re not sure if your pages need a facelift, have our SEO and Website Experts from Automated Marketing Group perform a free marketing evaluation for you. Call 303-703-8000 or fill out our contact form!

 

Originally published Nov. 12, 2013