A question that comes up a lot when talking to small business owners goes something like this, “So I have a website. My sister-in-law built it a few years ago. Should I be doing anything more with it?”
The challenge is that there can be a lot of different answers in terms of “what more you could be doing,” but the answer is that you should be doing things generally with your website all the time. Think of it like an asset you have to manage, like a car or a piece of equipment that you use in your business. The reason is… your website is really one of the most critical assets of your business in terms of marketing.
If you need a website for your business. Please call us.
So, there is the obvious, “Man; my site looks like it was made in the early 2000s. I should update it. But… it’s fine for now.” OK. First thing, don’t think that way. Your website is probably the first thing a potential customer sees, even if their best friend is referring them. They will check you out online before they call or show up.
Most studies show that 76% of consumers visit the website before contacting the company directly. Oh yeah, and most of those will check it out on their phone. Did your sister-in-law make your site responsive and mobile-ready? Uhhhh. (Call us).
Here are four excellent and practical reasons to keep your website up to date:
- Your site needs fresh, relevant content: If it looks like it was designed in 2005, that is one thing, but setting aesthetics aside for a moment, updating your content is essential to providing a good experience for your visitors. For example, they might overlook your neon color scheme but will be put off if your site promotes a special from a year ago or has a blog post on the home page from 2017. Also, Google will be disappointed with you and will not serve up your site when people search.
- Improve security: Regularly maintaining your site will help to address any security vulnerabilities that may have been discovered. As websites get older, they, like people, can become more vulnerable to malware, hackers, and viruses. Why would they target your silly website? Because they can and they will. You have to keep your web software up to date, and the site scanned. This effort will keep your site and your visitors safe.
- Enhance user experience: This is an important one. It is number three, but only because you may not see it yourself. Users are constantly changing how they interact with technology; some are “scrollers,” some only personally surf on their phone, some have zero patience for your slow-loading site, or your navigation is an IQ test to see if the user can find what they need. All are bad for users, Google ranking, and your organization.
- Stay ahead of the competition: Finally, regularly updating your website can help you stay ahead of the competition. By staying current with the latest trends and best practices in website design and development, you can ensure that your site remains competitive and relevant in your industry.
Let me sum it up. Regularly updating your website is crucial for maintaining an effective online presence and staying ahead of the competition. It can help keep your content fresh and relevant, improve security, enhance user experience, and improve your website’s search engine rankings.
If you would like the team here at Haggerty Digital to take a look “under the hood” and give you an idea of what’s up let us know by scheduling a time to get together. My calendar link is below.
