If your website is more than 3 years old, it may not be up to current web standards.
Three years. That can be all the time it takes for a website to start showing its age. Sometimes sooner. Even if you still like the look of your website, it is important to make sure your site is up to constantly-changing web standards. And, there are more than just visual/design trend updates to consider. Web standards are constantly changing in order to offer the best user experience, and a lot of that is done behind the scenes.
In this series, we will be looking at some of the top things to consider you must implement when it comes to keeping your website current, offering the best user experience for your visitors, and appealing to search engines so your rank isn’t negatively impacted.
Each blog post will go into more depth about the why behind the reason. But, for the TL;DR club (Too long; didn’t read – aka “ain’t got time for that!”), here’s a summary for ya!
Though this is a more technical series of important behind-the-scenes improvements, your DESIGN is not to be overlooked! You get one chance to make an amazing first impression and your design is what visitors will notice first. (Books are judged by their covers!) If all of your outside marketing efforts are pointing back to your website, you better be sure your design is top-notch! A professionally designed website that’s modern, simple, and engaging, will help you to stand out from your competition as well as build increased trust in your brand. What smart business owner wouldn’t want that?
So, without further ado, here are our 5 top reasons you may need to update your website.
#1 – Security (HTTPS) – Can your website be trusted?
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- Would you want to enter your personal information on a contact form if a website was displaying as not secure?
- Would you click through to visit a website if it was flagged as not being secure?
- Did you know that your site is more susceptible to being exploited if it’s not encrypted?
If you don’t have HTTPS in your URL (https://www.yourwebsite.com) or don’t see the padlock that your site is fully secure, it’s time for a refresh! All of our websites are built with HTTPS encryption at no extra charge, so you are covered and your visitors can feel safe interacting with your website.
#2 – Mobile Responsiveness – Is your website built for mobile use?
Emphasis on mobile responsiveness has increased significantly over the last 5 years. Today there is a difference between mobile responsiveness and mobile usability. All websites should be built for the latter. Did you know you can easily change what content is viewed on mobile vs. desktop? Or that your website can be a better interactive experience on mobile? Learn more about mobile responsiveness, and if your website is not working for 80% of users who use a mobile device to search the internet.
#3 – ADA Compliance/Accessibility – Is your website accessible for everyone?
Why do you need an accessible website? Um, because it’s the right thing to do. This is not a trend, but a necessity.
Because we believe it’s the right thing to do, we build all websites to meet ADA requirements for those with visual and physical impairments. All of our sites going forward include this important feature and meet the WCAG 2.1 Accessibility guidelines. And guess what? We don’t sell it as an extra service, it’s included in the build. Everyone wins. 🙂
#4 – Speed – Does your website fully load in less than 3 seconds?
If you think the amount of time it takes for your site to load isn’t that important. You are wrong. Not only does it deliver a poor user experience, but it is also one of the quickest ways for your visitors to go directly to your competitor. If your home page is not fully loaded within 2-3 SECONDS, your competitor will thank you. Also, Google puts a higher rank on sites that load within 3 seconds. Learn more about what slows your site down and why our sites are lightning-fast.
#5 – Hosting – Is your WebHost proactively staying on top of everything?
If you think you’re saving money by getting web hosting for $8/month, think again. How much money will it cost you when things start slowing down, your site gets hacked, your add-ons become outdated, and things behind-the-scenes just stop playing nice with each other? How much time and frustration will it cost you to dial in or chat with a random support person who knows nothing about you, your business, or your website?
We are proud to offer southwest Michigan-based affordable, premium, managed website hosting that protects your website, time, (and sanity!). AND, we also update content for you. Say what?!? Something you definitely won’t get with any large shared hosting plan! Just send a ticket to our Kalamazoo support team, and we’re on it – updating your website quickly and correctly!
Whew! That. Is. A. Lot! When you value your business and make a large investment in your online presence, your website must keep up with web standards, as well as functionality users have come to expect.
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with these important features for your small business website, let us know if you have any questions! We happily include all of these features in every website we build. As much as we love the creative process of design, we are also passionate about things being technically correct and serving up the best user (and client!) experience. So, if you’re considering a new website or a refresh, we would love to discuss your needs and strategy. If we’re a good fit for working together, you will get a partner who continually helps improve your site and keeps up with web standards, as well as a new online presence that won’t break the bank.
Ready for a free 15 minute consultation?
