Most things can benefit from a makeover at some point in time. You wouldn’t wear the same clothes to work for years on end, and you probably don’t own a home with green furniture and red shag carpet. It makes us feel good when we take the time to update things. It also shows the rest of the world that we care. The things that don’t matter and cannot be made over are usually just tossed away in exchange for a newer, better version.
It’s not just material things that need makeovers, however. Your website can also benefit from some revamping. When you think about what your website does for your business, it’s not something that can afford to be ignored. Your website basically tells the world that you exist. It allows you to connect with people near and far, build relationships, sell products and be an industry leader. Don’t take any chances with a website that is old or outdated.
The thing is, how do you know when your website has hit its prime? Your yucky yellow countertops, ripped bellbottoms or Beastie Boys CDs may scream “Get rid of me!” Your website is a little harder to understand. Some websites are arguably boring to look at, but yours may possess all the obvious goods even though it could still use a refresh.
Let’s take a look at five classic signs that your website could benefit from a makeover.
1. It’s not optimized for conversions.
The purpose of having a website is to convert visitors into leads. If your website isn’t doing that, it’s not doing its job. An updated website is optimized to generate leads and help win customers. Is your website doing a sufficient job of driving visitors through the funnel? Is it grabbing their attention, keeping them on your website and getting them to convert by signing up for a newsletter or free trial?
Here are some of the ingredients that should be included in an effective website.
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Catchy call-to-actions
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Optimized landing pages
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Conversion-oriented content
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Attractive headlines
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Clear and concise contact forms
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Enhanced user experience
If your website still looks like a colorful brochure but doesn’t do an efficient job of moving visitors through the funnel, it’s time for a makeover. The cost that you put into a new site will be well worth the return on investment.
2. The homepage is cluttered.
Just a few years ago, an ideal homepage had a very different look than it does today. Usually, homepages contained a lot of information, images and places to click, with the purpose of giving visitors a lot to enjoy. What many webmasters found, however, was that visitors just ended up confused or overwhelmed. Informational overload would result in high bounce rates.
Today, the ideal homepage is clean, uncluttered and minimal. It’s easy to navigate and visually appealing. If your homepage looks more like the earlier example, then it’s time to give it some TLC. Remove unnecessary links, trim content to a bare necessity and stick to fast-loading, high-quality images. Users should be able to find what they’re looking for without being distracted.
3. It lacks in the latest web development.
Unless you’re a web design expert, it’s hard to know if your website possess the latest advancements. However, if you don’t take the time to check out the latest updates in the web design world, your website will always be one step behind the competition. To see where your website falls, have a web design agency give your website a look. They will be able to tell you exactly how you can benefit from a new design and whether your website takes advantage of the newest advances.
For example, the best websites in 2016 will have website animations, short videos and colorful content to engage visitors. Websites are moving away from Flash, though, because users have to keep installing the latest version of the program in order to view Flash sites appropriately. A better option is HTML5, which allows users to view engaging content with no effort.
It’s also important that your website is properly updated depending on the type of platform it was built on such as WordPress or CMS. If you don’t have the latest software installed, you’ll once again be lagging behind your competitors. New software not only runs cleaner and faster but also protects from spam, viruses and security breaches.
4. It doesn’t benefit your social presence.
Having a social presence is just as important as having a website. It proves your existence and helps you develop positive relationships with your customers. Hopefully you’ve taken the time to establish a presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and maybe Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest, depending on your audience. You can get more from these channels with an optimized website.
An optimized website is integrated with your social channels so that users can easily share content on social media, which boosts SEO and creates a brand footprint. Plus, you can happily refer users to your website when you have something to be proud of. Your audience can successfully move from your social media profiles to your website and back again to interact with your brand.
5. It’s not optimized for mobile devices.
By now, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your website needs to be optimized for mobile devices. Still, some websites continue to scrape on by without providing their visitors with a fully optimized experience. I know I’ve landed on a few myself, and it’s pretty annoying to say the least. Images that won’t load. Content that is not formatted correctly. Links that are hard to click. The list goes on.
The easiest way to optimize your website is to have a responsive design. Responsive web pages adjust to whatever screen they are being viewed on, providing all users with a seamless experience. Optimized websites are engaging for users, and they get them to stay on the site longer, which improves conversion rates. Plus, happy customers are more likely to return or tell their friends.
If you’re not sure about the mobile friendliness of your website, run your pages through the quick Mobile Friendly Test from Google. If you don’t get good feedback, you have some work cut out for you. A website makeover will do the trick, luckily, so you can get back on the playing field plus enjoy more conversions, better SEO and higher conversion rates.
Your website is crucial to your online existence. Don’t give it the cold shoulder. Instead, treat it as a living, breathing entity that needs to be nourished and looked after from time to time. Learn more about giving your website a fresh start by scheduling a consultation with SEMGeeks.
