75% of users admit to making judgements about a company’s credibility based on their website’s design alone. If your website looks like it has not been updated for a period of time, then it’s definitely time to update!
In this digital age, when a consumer has a need for a product or service, they go straight to their computer or smartphone to access a magical directory called “The Internet”.
Consequently, your company’s website is often the first impression the consumer will have of your brand – so you need to make it count!
1. Your website is unresponsive
In 2015, visitors are more likely to be browsing your website on their tablet or smartphone than on their desktop; actually, 3 out of every 5 searches are now done on mobile.
Chances are if your site isn’t responsive, mobile users will skip and try to find something else that will fit on their screen.
If your website isn’t mobile-ready or responsive, Google has made it absolutely clear that it’s a big problem now. Your website should be simple to view and navigate no matter which type of device it is requested on.
2. The technology is outdated
Flash intros may have been cool back in the day, but now they’re the exact opposite! Flash makes your website look dated and drastically slows down its load time and performance. Most importantly, it’s been abandoned by two of the leading tech giants.
Flash is no longer supported on mobile Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad. Even the world’s largest search engine, Google, does not acknowledge it. In summary – it’s time to lose the Flash!
3. Updates are a hassle
If you find yourself having to call your “tech guy” every time you need a simple edit to your website, then it’s time to consider an upgrade.
Older technology breaks and is time-consuming to update; you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops due to an outdated Content Management System (CMS).
If the editor in your CMS is not displaying or functioning properly, this is a sign that the latest updates to web technologies, such as Java, are too advanced for the system currently in place on your website.
If your prehistoric CMS has become a hassle, don’t hesitate to upgrade it ASAP! Today’s Content Management Systems are simple to navigate and manage and make updating your site efficient and easy.
An outdated CMS is a waste of time and resources – you should be able to make the majority of the content updates yourself.
4. Your website looks like it was created in 1998
Website design trends change and your site needs to consistently evolve with them. If you’re still using multiple fonts and animated GIFs, you’re in desperate need of a makeover!
The days of Comic Sans and cheesy images are loooong gone! Your design should help visitors get to know your brand while helping them find the information they’re looking for – not overwhelm them with flashing images and childish fonts!
Today’s websites are sleek with open space, consistent font, and branded colours. If your website’s design is outdated, visitors will assume the same about your business.
5. Your website has too much text
Don’t take this personally, but no one wants to read your website – they want to scan it. Today’s consumer wants to visit a site with bold images and limited text – basically something that gets straight to the point.
So don’t ramble on! If visitors can’t quickly grasp what your brand is about, they’ll move on to a competitor. Your text should be clear, focused, and concise – if it’s not, you need to adapt it to make it work!
6. There’s no mention of Social Media
Everyone and their grandmother has hopped on the Social Media Marketing (SMM) bandwagon, so why hasn’t your website? Not having social share icons is a clear sign that your site is not with the times.
Your site should include social share buttons on every page, and feature icons to your company’s social profiles. Visitors should be able to share content on your site on their own social profiles, as well as visit your company pages, within a few simple clicks.
Any of these sound familiar? If so, it’s time to invest in a new website! In fact, in order to always stay current, we recommend updating your website every 2 years.
At Doodle Pod, our CMS of choice is WordPress; the system is easy to manage and makes website updates easy and efficient.
