Internet use has become an integral part of today’s society and both businesses and consumers have grown to rely the web. Americans now spend as much time surfing the net as they do sitting in front of their TV screens. A survey from 2014 found that 87% of Americans use the Internet on a regular basis, up from a measly 14% in 1995. As people have become increasingly time-efficient, the Internet has become the most convenient way for people to find information about products and their companies. Using the YellowPages to find out a companies contact information can take up to a few minutes, while typing a Search into Google only takes a few seconds and, while this may not seem like much of a time difference, it is actually large enough for almost all users to choose the Internet. Aside from the convenience factor, websites establish company credibility and without a website your company may not seem very reliable. With the up rise of the Internet it has become crucial for your company to not only have a website, but to have an effective one!
Having an effective and interactive website can be just as important as having one at all! It is important you always keep your website up to date and informative and sometimes it can be hard to tell when it is time for a makeover. Here are a few signs that it may be time to redesign your website:
Remember: Millions of results pop up on search engines. So users are provided with many options and if your website just isn’t doing it for them then its on to the next!
Outdated
Is your website simply too old? If the images are fuzzy or the text can’t be read users are likely to exit the site immediately. Many factors can make your website appear old and it is very important that users do not get this first impression. The layout, colors, images, font, and links all need to be up to date. If a user feels that the site looks “old” they will immediately get the impression that the site hasn’t been updated in a while and therefore isn’t creditable. There’s no point wasting your time and money operating an old-looking site when users will immediately leave your page and click on a competitor’s site that likely will have a more hip layout. Additionally, if you company hasn’t already they should begin using social media and make sure their site is mobile-friendly. 17% of Internet traffic now comes from mobile devices!
Functionality
Another factor that can immediately make or break your site is whether or not it is functional. Internet users can become increasingly impatient and are looking for immediate answers. If your site appears to be too confusing and users cannot find what they are looking for right away, they are likely to leave. You don’t want to loose potential customers just because your “contact us” button is too small or in a strange place. If your site is taking too long to load (generally, anything more than 5 seconds is frustrating for a user) it is definitely time to work with a web design company to solve this problem. It could be as simple as using less custom fonts or reducing the amount of visuals. Additionally, your website must demonstrate a purpose. Just like the mission statement of your company, important content must be made clear and be easy to find.
Lack of Traffic
This can be one of the most frustrating problems that companies face with their websites. You could have an amazing site that is up to date and functional, but if it doesn’t generate traffic, what’s the point? It is essential that your site pops up on search engines and if it doesn’t, this is probably why your website is lacking viewers. If this is the case your company should consider using or increasing its inbound marketing. By using blogs, landing pages, and call to actions your company is bound to increase it’s keywords usage and show up more often on search engines. Make it a goal to become search engine friendly!
