A website is the digital storefront for any business. It is where potential customers will go to learn more about the products and services you provide, as well as your company values and mission. Everything from the copy to the color contributes to the impression that a visitor inevitably develops in just a matter of seconds. If your website simply isn’t hitting the mark, then the visitor may hit the dreaded back button before they even consider scrolling through to the contact information. Or worse, they call only to learn that the information they read is outdated and incorrect. Most businesses simply cannot afford to lose potential customers due to an outdated, ineffective, and unimpressive website. Here are 10 reasons why you may need a new website ASAP:
1) COVID-19
That’s right, the big bad Vid. COVID-19 has changed just about everything in our lives in one way or another. How we shop and do business is no exception. Before COVID, your website may have just been a way to tell people that you exist and how to find your physical location. You may not even have had a website up until now! However, due to state mandates and growing health concerns, more and more businesses are needing to shift to doing business as virtually as possible. In order to keep your business going, you may need a new website with an eCommerce webshop, a no-contact-pickup method, the ability to schedule virtual meetings, or a place to simply let people know that you are still open during these times.
2) Rebranding
DunkinDonuts and Taco Bell did it, so maybe your brand is next. When you rebrand your business with a new logo, you should seriously consider a new website to match. Rebranding is all about keeping up with the times and staying relevant, so make sure your website matches all of your other new marketing materials.
3) Your Current Website is Outdated
Speaking of staying relevant, if your website is outdated…well then it is likely ranking poorly, converting poorly, and doing very little for your bottom line. As quickly as things change in the digital space, businesses should budget to upgrade their website at least every 3-4 years.
4) Your Website Isn’t Intuitive To Use
If customers can’t seem to ever find the information that they need on your website then it isn’t fulfilling its purpose. A well-made website will provide a great user experience where customers feel engaged while they digest all of the key information in determining if your business offers what they are looking for. Another thing an effective website can do is reduce the amount of time your employees have to spend weeding out unqualified leads, making them more effective at their job.
5) Small Website Changes Aren’t Easy To Make
In 2020, there are countless CMS’s (content management systems) which make editing a website intuitive and easy for anyone with a little bit of digital knowledge. WordPress is the most common and widely used CMS, but others include:
- Shopify
- Square Space
- Wix
- Magento
- October CMS
Our team is experienced in building websites using various CMS’s so that clients can easily make content changes in a cinch without being reliant on a digital marketing agency.
6) To Improve Site Speed
Site speed, or how fast your website loads, is more critical than ever. We are all used to getting what we need in an instant, so if your website takes forever to load, then you may be losing countless potential customers every day. Additionally, search engines take site load speed into account and a slow page could rank lower because of this factor.
Is it highly possible that how your website was built plays a significant role in how fast or slow it loads? So if your website loads slow, it might mean that it’s time to look into getting a new one built
7) Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly or Responsive
Over the past decade, site searches have shifted drastically from desktop to mobile. In 2020, the majority of searches come from mobile devices. This means that your website better be mobile-friendly and responsive. One of the most irritating user experiences is when you have to pinch in and out constantly to be able to read what you want from a website.
8) Certain Features Are Missing
Some features can easily be added to an existing website, but not always. Sometimes websites are not compatible with newer features because it is outdated or built on an incapable platform. If you are looking to add a blog, calendar, webshop, or animations, a new website might be the most seamless way to do so.
9) It Doesn’t Represent Your Business The Way You Envision
You wouldn’t want to go to a doctor whose website looks like they are offering party clown services. On the other end, you wouldn’t want to send your child to a daycare that looks like a sterile doctor’s office. The same goes for your website. The design, layout, images, and content should reflect the voice, tone, and overall aesthetics of what you offer.
Another thing we hear more often than you may think is that the information and images on a website simply do not represent the business accurately and never have. “We don’t have anything that looks like that.” “We don’t do that.” “That’s not something that what we sell.”
10) Your Business Model or Services Have Changed
Maybe your website did represent your business well at one point, but your business model or services have since changed. Get a new website to ensure that you are drawing in the right customers who want what you are offering.
Time for a New Website?
If any of this resonates with you, then it sounds like it might be time for a website redesign. At Buzzbait Consulting, we put time, effort, and heart into making websites that are more than nice to look at, they are effective in converting users into leads. Contact us today for a FREE website design & development quote and you could have a new digital storefront in as little as 4 weeks!