Websites that Wow

06 Jun Websites that Wow

Whether you are a freelance photographer, small business owner, or financial consultant, you know that having a great website that looks good, is easy to navigate and written with your target market in mind is essential to your success. But knowing how and when to relaunch your website might be another matter entirely.

When developed the right way, your website can give you an edge in your field, allow for greater engagement, and is a simple way to broaden your business’s reach. But an outdated design can hurt your search rankings and turn away customers, sometimes within seconds of them logging on. It’s important that your website represents your brand, and a redesign could be just the thing you need to keep your clients coming back. Here are five signs that it’s time to give your website a much-needed refresh.

Your clients aren’t satisfied. Some business owners believe that so long as their website is still producing results, there’s no need to bother with a redesign. But remember: your website isn’t about you, it’s a way for your clients to engage with you. If your website currently lacks interest, is hard to navigate, or not all the tabs are fully-functional, then chances are good that first-time users won’t be coming back.

Your content is not up to date. Clients may go online to search for everything from product reviews to operating hours, and trust that your website’s content is both current and accurate. Your site should reflect the state of your business now, not how it was ten years ago. If your website has old dates for events, incorrect locations, or old blog posts which discuss irrelevant topics, it’s time to hit the backspace button and revamp your content.

Your website is not visually appealing. You may be tempted to show off your company’s creative genius with a bright color palette, lots of moving graphics, and a complicated layout, but while your website should be engaging, it should also be usable. Scan for any design flaws, like hidden tabs, inconsistent branding, and a missing mission statement on your home page. Compare your current site to the ones you frequently visit and see if your visuals match up. If not, it’s time for a new design.

Users experience technical difficulties. We live in a smartphone society, so if your website isn’t optimized for mobile phones, you risk frustrating your clients and seeing a drop in your bottom line. A loading time of over five seconds is often perceived as too long to wait, and could be caused by anything from large graphics to a poorly-performing host. Correcting these errors is sure to give your clients a better experience.

Your SEO is struggling. If your website hasn’t been updated in a while, it’s probably not rising to the top of anyone’s Google search. Updating your website is a great way to boost your search engine rank, especially if you incorporate keywords. If you don’t already have a blog, now is the perfect time to start one.

Refreshing your website involves much trial and error, and is usually seen as a huge undertaking — but it doesn’t have to be. Whether your website simply needs a new color scheme or a full overhaul, our talented team at SmartMarketing has the knowledge and experience to help you design, launch, and maintain a website that works as hard for your business as you do.