Is your website dead? Is it time for a website redesign? How do you know when it’s time for a website redesign?
Does Your Small Business Need A Website Redesign?
Website Redesign Clue 1: Is Your Website Outdated?
The first quality indicator of whether your site is dated or not is to ask yourself: “has there been any significant website redesign with new graphics, product images, content and programming in the last four or five years?” If you haven’t made additions to the site, refreshed at least some of the graphics and haven’t performed routine maintenance on your website to keep it current, you need to seriously consider a website redesign.
Website Redesign Clue 2: Are You Blasting The Competition, Or Struggling To Keep Up?
In case you haven’t noticed, your customers are becoming increasingly web savvy. It’s vital for website success that your site appears up-to-date, relevant and differentiates your small business from competitors. Unfortunately, the vast majority of small business websites are painfully outdated. Take a look around at competitor’s sites and other sites in related industries. How does your site stack up? If your site doesn’t stand out from the crowd, it’s time to consider a website redesign.
Website Redesign Clue 3: Does Your Website Reflect Your Brand Image And The Aspirations Of Your Customers?
Your website brand is often the first and only chance you’ll have to create a positive first impression of your small business. To connect on a deeper level with customers, your website must play into the emotional needs, aspirations and goals of your customers. An amateur or outdated website is a sure-fire way to deflate your image. So, if your site no longer fits your small business branding, it’s time to consider a website redesign.
Website Redesign Clue 4: Is Your Current Website A “Starter” Site Or Website Template?
If your site was designed using a free or cheap online template, with Microsoft FrontPage or Publisher software, or with clipart graphics, you need a website redesign. It’s time to step up your game and play with the big boys! Many businesses owners that understand the marketing importance of a website start on the cheap with a template, or slop together a FrontPage website to establish their roots online. But these “starter” sites don’t cut it anymore! Advancements in technology and web design standards have made these sites virtually obsolete. So, if you’re still using a starter site, now is the time to take a step forward with a website redesign.
Website Redesign Clue 5: Is Your Website Scalable?
Can you easily make updates to your website, such as adding new content, products, and images? Or, are minor updates becoming massive headaches? If your web designer has to rebuild entire sections of your site for minor updates, it’s time to consider a website redesign. Open Source technologies, such as a Content Management system (CMS) make it easy for you to add new content without having to call your web designer.
Website Redesign Clue 6: Are You Serving Up Stale Bread?
Imagine your reaction if today’s copy of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper only contained the news from last week. Last month? Last year? You’d probably be quick to drop the paper, questioning whether it’s worth your time. The same is true for your website content. If your website content is outdated, chances are it holds less value for your customers and severely under performs in search engines. So if the majority of your content is stale, it’s a good indicator you should consider a website redesign.
Website Redesign Clue 7: Do Visitors Feel Trapped In A Mouse Maze?
No one likes getting lost! Plain and simple, if your customers are complaining that your website is too confusing, or they can’t find what they’re looking for — that’s a big red flag that you need a website redesign. Unlike a face-to-face meeting, if you’ve lost a potential customer on your website, they’ll jump ship and never look back.
Let us have it! We’d like to hear what you have to say. Give us your thoughts on redesigning small business websites in the comments section below. Or, feel free to ask questions to your heart’s content. We’ll try to respond quickly. Thank you for reading!
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