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SEO

7 Indicators You Need a Website Update


What Are the Signs You Need a Website Update?

You may need a website update if:

  • Your website no longer shows up on the first page of the search engine results.
  • Landing on your website feels like you have stepped into a time machine and you are in the “Old West.”
  • Clients can’t view your website content on mobile.
  • Your website is not user-friendly and doesn’t have ways for people to connect with you.

Problems such as these indicate that we need to run an analysis on the website and consider redesigning the dated website and its content.

On average we recommend updating a corporate website every three years. While that is a guideline, it is not a hard-and-fast rule. Review our seven reasons for a website update and compare your website against them to learn whether it’s time to polish up the exterior or turn the website in for new model.

In this graphic is a sample of Olympic Internal Medicine before we redesigned it in October 2017.

Security

It may not be the most interesting point, but it’s certainly the most important reason for a website update. Websites get hacked on a daily basis. Internet security is constantly changing, and you may think ‘it won’t happen to me.’ It will. Weak sites can be exploited for a number of reasons. They can be used for spamming or advertising things you wouldn’t necessarily want to advertise on your website. Updating PHP and the scripts you use should be paramount.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engines favor websites that are updated on a regular basis.  A website update benefits your website security and ranking. Google searches for relevant content – and fresh relevant content is smiled upon. Having content that is considered useful to Google helps them find you through the billions of websites it indexes for every search. Common sense will tell you that if your website remains static for a period of time, you lose the interest of your visitors. Think of Google as a visitor, an important visitor, so when you are updating your website, keep Google and ‘search terms’ you want to fall under in your mind.

Responsive Web Design

This is an example of a mobile responsive website, showing how it looks on the various screen sizes.

Websites are quite different now than they were a few years ago. With the advancement of technology, the likelihood that your website will be viewed on a desktop computer is falling, while use of mobile apps and tablets are rising. The most basic factors such as screen resolution and navigation differ on each device. If your website is not optimized for these devices there is a strong possibility that your website may not even display. A website update will solve these issues.

First Impression

For many people websites are the first impression a potential customer will have of your business. Gone are the days when we regularly pick up the phone to businesses and ask about products or recommendations, or even ask about credibility. Visitors like to do online research to see whether you are worth contacting. A website buzzing with activity is the main goal, providing many ways to get in touch or simply developing a community of customers out of it. Word of mouth is bigger and better than it has ever been, and it’s growing. With the help of social media and websites like Twitter and Facebook – customers talk and recommend freely.

Industry Leader

Regular website design updates show you are a leader in your industry. If you’ve ever navigated to a site that is visually outdated, then you know it doesn’t foster any confidence in that business. Having up-to-date website design gives consumers confidence that you are also up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry.

A beautifully designed website for Dallas Vitality 360.

Improved User Experience

Making your website design easy to navigate will keep consumers coming back. Websites that are confusing and difficult to use lose customers. Consumers often have many options for purchasing a virtually identical product or service. If your site is difficult to navigate, or it looks dated, they will go someplace else that’s easier.

Improved Technology

New Technology allows for faster, more secure and better website design. Your website needs to stay current with advanced technology. More and more web searches are done on phones and other new devices, and it’s becoming more and more important to have tablet compatible and mobile compatible websites.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND REVIEW OF YOUR WEBSITE