You might not want to admit it, but that nagging feeling in the back of your head just won’t go away: your website is awful.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Less than 64% of small businesses even have a website. Many of those that do either don’t track website success or realize that their website needs improvement. That number decreases slightly with increasing business sizes, but the general truth of a potentially ineffective online presence remains true.
Knowing that your website isn’t perfect is one thing. Understanding when it’s time to pull the plug and start from scratch is another. It’s a business investment that’s impossible to ignore – but it also becomes impossible to avoid.
If you come across any of these 5 signs, start thinking about a new website as soon as your budget allows:
1) You’re Too Embarrassed to Leverage It
Be honest. When someone asks for your website, how excited are you to give it to them? When you navigate around yourself, how easily can you find the things you’re looking for? Is the content something you can be proud of?
Great websites become showcase pieces. You want to share them every chance you get. If that isn’t the case, ask yourself why. Whether it has horrible user experience or the content hasn’t been updated in a few years, it might be time to think about a new website.
2) Your Site Isn’t Responsive
Great websites are like good conversations. They adjust to the flow of things, while both parties feel seamless enjoyment. Does your site do that? Or does it simply refuse to respond to your audience’s needs and preferences?
Especially in the new year, your website needs to account for your audience’s screen size. After all, more than half of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices.
That means your site needs responsive design that shifts with your audience’s screens. It also means you need fast-loading pages that are easy to navigate and don’t induce immediate frustration. If you can’t deliver on any of those, you might just need to cut the cord.
3) You Can’t Use Your Website as a Marketing Tool
A business website is at the core of modern marketing. It serves as a hub for everything you do, from social media to email. Everything on your website should support your digital promotions and vice versa.
Just as importantly, it can’t just act as a traffic driver. Great websites turn traffic into leads and leads into sales. They build through the entire sales cycle, helping you grow brand awareness and your customer base alike.
Sound familiar? Great. You’re on the right track. But if your website can’t accomplish that, and doesn’t actively help your marketing efforts, start looking into a new one as soon as you can.
4) Your Website Doesn’t Rank for Any Keywords
Do you know about search engine optimization? If so, you probably realize it’s absolutely crucial for marketing success. Google, the world’s most popular website, is the starting point for countless customer searches. Can your website rank highly enough for them to find you?
For too many businesses, the answer is no. They’re not ranking for any keyword worth mentioning, especially those their customer base is searching for when looking for solutions to their problems.
A blog post or two won’t change that. Most likely, you need a comprehensive overhaul designed specifically to help your audience find your business.
5) Your Business Is Moving Faster Than Your Website
2007 called. It wants its website back. (Alright, maybe your website isn’t quite that old.) But even anything approaching 5 years or more is probably way behind the curve. Think about what’s happened:
Even beyond all of that, your business has probably changed a bit in the last few years. New products, new brand, new team, new mission statement — whatever it might be, you need to make sure your website reflects it.
Ready to Start Turning Your Website Around?
You might feel like this blog post is a personal attack on you — sorry about that. But think about why that might be. Maybe, just maybe, we’ve struck a nerve?
Joking aside, updating your website is never a bad idea. It’s just too important for your audience and the entirety of your marketing efforts. But if any of the above is true for your business, try to prioritize a comprehensive update to your online presence. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. If you need a new website, let’s talk. We’re here to help you build the right site, from the moment you realize you need it to those final touches before you can finally leverage it for business growth again.
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