In today’s digital age, your website serves as the virtual face of your business. It’s often the first point of contact for potential customers and plays a crucial role in establishing your online presence. However, just like any other aspect of your business, your website isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it asset. To stay competitive and effectively reach your target audience, there will come a time when you need to consider building a new website. In this blog post, we’ll outline seven signs that indicate it might be time to refresh your online presence.
Outdated Design: One of the most noticeable signs that it’s time for a new website is an outdated design. Trends in web design evolve rapidly, and an old-fashioned website can make your business appear less credible and relevant. If your site’s design looks like it’s stuck in the early 2000s, it’s time for a modern overhaul.
Poor User Experience: Your website should be user-friendly and intuitive. If visitors find it difficult to navigate, slow to load, or if it lacks mobile responsiveness, you’re likely losing potential customers. Today, a significant portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so ensuring a seamless experience across all platforms is crucial. If you like your website, but it is not a responsive design, let us know, as we can convert your site to a mobile friendly site.
Low Search Engine Rankings: Search engines like Google reward websites with high-quality content and a user-friendly experience. If your website consistently ranks poorly in search engine results pages (SERPs), it’s a clear sign that your site may need an overhaul. A new website with improved SEO can help you climb the rankings and attract more organic traffic.
High Bounce Rate: A high bounce rate indicates that visitors are leaving your website shortly after arriving. This could be due to irrelevant content, slow loading times, or a lack of engagement. A new website with compelling content and a clear call to action can help reduce bounce rates and keep visitors engaged.
Security Concerns: As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, it’s essential to keep your website secure. An outdated website with vulnerabilities can be an easy target for hackers. Regular updates and a secure platform are crucial to protect your business and your users’ data. We also recommend that you use a top notch hosting company who can help you ward off attacks. And if you are using a content management system, like WordPress, this becomes even more important. At RooSites, we use thetop WordPress, hosting company in the world, and as such our security is bolstered.
Limited Functionality: As your business grows, your website’s functionality needs may change. If your current website can’t support the features and integrations necessary for your business to thrive online, it’s time to invest in a new website. Whether it’s e-commerce capabilities, customer portals, or advanced analytics, your website should evolve with your business.
Brand Evolution: Businesses grow, rebrand, and evolve over time. If your website no longer accurately reflects your brand identity or business goals, it’s time for a makeover. A new website can align with your current branding and messaging, ensuring consistency across all your online and offline marketing efforts.
In conclusion, your website is a dynamic tool that should adapt and grow with your business. Ignoring the signs that it’s time for a new website can result in missed opportunities and a loss of credibility. Regularly assessing your website’s performance and staying attuned to changes in technology and design trends will help you make informed decisions about when to invest in a new website. Remember, your website is a reflection of your business, and a well-maintained, user-friendly site can be a powerful asset in your digital marketing arsenal. If you aren’t sure whether it’s time to invest in a new website, please contact us for a consultation.
I recently had a problem with a technology provider I do business with on a regular basis. I won’t mention their name, as I have been very impressed with their support over the last year and a half and I am not looking to harm their business or even leave them. I am just using a recent incident to make a point.
I ran into a problem where they had outages happening all the time. I went through all the normal channels, online chat, phone call, and emails.
At one point one of their managers sent me a nice note that they were looking into the problem, but then made the mistake of telling me that it might be time to upgrade my account at a cost that would be three times my current rate each month. The problem is, I had just upgraded my account within the last six months and was told this would handle my needs for myself and up to 50 accounts. (I only had 34 active accounts when the outage happened).
So this is when I came to think about this subject. I was having a terrible time with this company and rather than fix it, they tried to upsell me. Now don’t get me wrong, upselling as part of doing business. Companies want you to spend more money. I understand that, but as a small business myself, you need to watch your bills closely. Now, there are times your clients and customers need to upgrade in order to fulfill their needs properly. But, the time to try to get them to switch is not when you’re in the middle of an outage you can’t explain and when the customer is only using about 60% of resources in their account.
You learn a lot of lessons when you’re in the middle of a crisis, and how to handle things. Whenever I have downtime for any of my clients, I always put myself in their shoes and I never try and upsell them during an outage. Now there have been times where a client needs to upgrade their server as an example. Usually this is when they are getting a ton of traffic and need to be moved to their own dedicated accounts. But I always wait until things are back to normal and then recommend some options.
Bottom line: while up selling is a part of business, always wait for an opportune time. This is not when your clients or customers are unhappy with your service in the middle of an outage. Always think before you send that email, how would I feel when I received this note? Most people would be pissed to say the least as their sites are down and they are losing business. This is a good way to lose clients/customers.
