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7 questions to decide if I should update my website

Step by Step Marketing for Small Businesses

7 Questions to decide if I should update my website design

Savvy business owners like you are constantly thinking about how to improve all aspects of your business.  This means they you are always wondering if you should update your website.  So how do you know when the want becomes a need.  I will explain how to decide when the time is right to actually take the leap and make the changes that will affect your online business.
Like everything else, the internet continues to change at an alarming rate.  If we don’t keep up, we, and our business will get left behind.  It is so easy for people to go to the next website or the next store to fill their needs and in a matter of seconds you have lost your customer.  In such a competitive environment, how can we make the most of our website?

Most people believe you will need to hire a website design team in order to evaluate your site, an evaluation that will take many meetings and a sizable expense in itself.  This is not true.  Much of the time it is as simple as putting yourself into your customer’s shoes.  Looking at your site in their eyes can take you along way toward making this decision.
So let’s get into it.  The first question you want to ask yourself is the following:

1. does your website design look dated? Does it need a fresh look?

You have visited many websites yourself.  Does your site look fresh and clean and up to date?  We all know when we open a site and it just looks AWESOME.  It makes us feel like we are dealing with a professional company.  It looks clean and current and organized.  We feel like all the information we need to make an informed decision is on that site.  We feel good about being there and we remember it when we leave.  I bet we can all name 3 sites right now that fit that description.  Is our site one of those?  Be honest with yourself.  This is your livelihood we are talking about. Does your site feel professional?  Do you feel that you already know about your company just by the information on the site or do you still have questions?
I visited several architectural sites recently.  Some sites showed their design teams, projects and “personality” of the company.  They were professionally organized and gave me a feeling of confidence about their company.  Then I opened others.  Their “about” page told me nothing about the people I would be dealing with.   Their sites were obviously over 10 years old and told me nothing about them.  I moved on in a matter of seconds.

2. Do you need an upgrade or rebuild to stay competitive in your market?

This question ties in nicely with the first question, but still has its own importance.  The first question you need to ask is if your site works on mobile devices.  If it doesn’t, then there is no question.  You site needs to be rebuilt.  If you site is mobile friendly, then step one is done.  Now the question is does it need an upgrade or a complete rebuild?
Do you look at the site and see little things that need updating or is the entire site old and static? Again, lets think about all those other sites we looked at.  How does ours compare?  Is it as nice or does it fall short?  If it falls short, then a complete change is probably needed.  If it just needs a little TLC, then let’s look at the details and make the changes.  Remember, your customers check out lots of websites and if yours is not competitive and unique, then you don’t have the advantage.

3. Are you launching a new product or service?

Launching new products and services is a great time to update a site.  It creates a great opportunity to show off a new look.  This can be a minor rebranding or a major change, but either way it’s a great way to show off how your company is staying current.
Don’t let these opportunities go to waste.  Any time you have a specific reason to get in front of your customers is a great time to update your assets.  New products bring a surge or visitors to your site.  If your site is inviting and current, your customers will spend more time on it which translates into more sales.

4. Does your site jive with your audience?

Remember how we have been researching our competitors and seeing how our site compares?  This is a more subjective question.  This is especially important if your company fill a niche market.  Niche products and services usually attract unique customers.  Unique customers always have a certain style they like and expect.  Does your site “jive” with what they expect to see?
If we go in the other direction, where your customers are high end corporate clients, they don’t want to see an eclectic site, they want something more professional.  Either way, if you know your customers, then your site should reflect this.  Does it?

5. Do you need to add new functionality?

Do you need to add new functionality to your site?  Do you need to add an online store, links to videos, or new products?  These kinds of additions are a must.  This is an easy question to answer.  It has nothing to do with the cost of adding the functionality, but the profit to be made by adding the extra features.
Adding additional functionality is always a good way to add value to your site, making it easier for customers to find value on your site.

6. Would it spice up your marketing?

Hopefully you are seeing how so many of these tips integrate with each other.  Add a new product, new functionality or make yourself more competitive?  They all work together.  By doing this it can also help your marketing.  If you write lots of great content, sending people to your site, and then your site undersells your content marketing, then maybe spicing up your site would help.

7. Is your site difficult to use or navigate?

I don’t know how to stress the importance of this last tip.  This is crucial.  If your site is hard to get around, then there is nothing you can do to help your customers with any other change to your site. If a customer can’t find what they want they will leave and never come back.  A good rule of thumb is if you can’t find almost anything on your site in 3 clicks or less, then you need a change. Good navigation and a simple and clean organization is one of the most important things you can have on your site.  Make sure your site is well organized, period!

Conclusion

Make a goal to review your site this week and see how it holds up.  Be honest with yourself and make a change if it needs one.  If your site is in good shape, then congratulations, at least until next year when trends will change once again
Want some help?  We would be happy to perform a free web stimulator on your site, looking for these 7 tips as well as others.  Good luck and thanks for reading

Related Posts:

The pursuit of more (on our website)
How to edit your Website’s “noise”
No website can serve 2 masters

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