An In-Depth Website Redesign Guide for Business Owners
As 2024 sits on the horizon, every business owner knows that a website should be a lot more than just an online address; it’s the virtual embodiment of your brand.
Let me share with you not just 10, but 15 signs that your website is pleading for a makeover. As an expert resource for digital marketing, we are here to get you thinking about gaps in your website strategy, and offer actionable insights you can implement quite easily.
Mobile Incompatibility:
If your site is a square peg in a round hole on mobile devices, you’re not just missing out on traffic; you’re sending a message that you’re behind the times.
Actionable Insight: Opt for a responsive design that adapts seamlessly to any device size – that means mobile phones and large screens.
Outdated Design:
An old design can silently repel visitors. Does your site look like a relic from the early 2000s?
Actionable Insight: Embrace modern design trends that reflect your brand’s current ethos AND looks better than your competitors.
Snail-Pace Loading:
A website that loads slower than a leisurely stroll is a no-go. Speed is of the essence in retaining visitor attention.
Actionable Insight: Optimize images, leverage caching, and consider a more efficient hosting solution. We know this sounds technical. Bottom line is make sure pages load fast.
Lack of Accessibility:
Excluding a section of your audience due to accessibility issues is not just bad for business; it’s ethically questionable.
Actionable Insight: Implement accessibility standards to make your site user-friendly for everyone. This means that people with visual impairment can “read” your website content with their content reading devices.
Stale Content:
If your website content hasn’t kept up with your business’s evolution, it’s not telling the right story.
Actionable Insight: Regularly update your content to reflect your latest offerings and achievements. And, tell a better story than your competition.
Poor Social Media Integration:
In this social media-dominated era, a website disconnected from these platforms is like an island in the digital ocean.
Actionable Insight: Integrate social sharing tools and link to your active social media profiles.
Vulnerability to Cyber Threats:
An unsecured website is a ticking time bomb, risking your reputation and customer trust.
Actionable Insight: Regularly update security protocols and educate your team on best practices. WordPress sites get hacked daily. Talk to us about your WordPress site security even if you don’t work with us to redesign your website. We do some nifty things to lock down the WordPress sites that we host.
Confusing Navigation:
A maze-like website frustrates visitors and sends them straight to your competitors.
Actionable Insight: Streamline your site’s navigation to ensure it’s intuitive and user-friendly so that first time visitors don’t get confused figuring out what you do and why they should hire you or buy from you.
Invisible to Search Engines:
If your website is playing hide-and-seek with search engines, you’re losing out on critical traffic.
Actionable Insight: Invest in a solid SEO strategy that aligns with the latest best practices so that you can get your site ranked on the first page of Google or Bing.
Website Envy:
Admiring competitors’ websites more than your own? That’s a clear sign you need to step up.
Actionable Insight: Seek inspiration but also innovate to set your website apart.
No Clear Call-to-Action:
If your website doesn’t guide visitors towards taking action, it’s like a salesperson who forgets to ask for the sale.
Actionable Insight: Incorporate clear, compelling calls-to-action throughout your site. We love vanity phone numbers even though you don’t technically need them anymore. But they sure are memorable.
Lack of Personalized Experience:
In today’s world, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it. Personalization is key.
Actionable Insight: Use data-driven insights to tailor the user experience to different audience segments. If you don’t understand what data driven insights are, that just means you should make decisions NOT just on gut instinct but based on history you can measure and assess.
Neglecting Analytics:
Not using analytics is like driving blindfolded. You need to know how visitors interact with your site.
Actionable Insight: Regularly review Google website analytics to understand visitor behavior and make informed updates.
Inefficient Content Management System:
Struggling to update your website? An outdated CMS can be a major roadblock.
Actionable Insight: Migrate to a user-friendly CMS that empowers you to make quick and easy updates. We tend to use WordPress because if we get divorced almost any direction you turn, you can find a developer or agency to help you with your site. We encourage flexibility.
Failing to Showcase Company Culture:
Your website should be a window into your company’s soul, showcasing your culture and values.
Actional Insight: Include elements like team bios, company stories, and core values to connect with visitors on a deeper level. And don’t forget reviews and testimonials.
Embracing change and updating your website is not just about keeping up with trends; it’s about respecting your audience and showing that you value their experience. Let’s not just chase the competition; let’s set the pace.
Your website is your digital handshake, your brand ambassador, and in many ways, the heart of your business.
Treat it with the care it deserves.
