5 signs you need a new website

No matter how much social media grows your business, your website will always be your digital home base. Your website can generate leads and provide a wealth of information — all while building relationships and trust with your ideal clients. Social media trends may come and go, but you own your website and that’s not going anywhere!

Whether you own a small business and need your website to generate leads — or you have an online store with products that generate revenue, your website needs to be performing at its best. If you’ve noticed that your website isn’t achieving the type of result you hoped for, it might be time for a change.

Let’s look at some signs that it’s time for an upgrade:

1 — Your website isn’t growing your business

Is your website…

• Attracting new customers? Unsure if it is? It’s time to set up Google Analytics on that site!
• Converting visitors into customers (or leads)? (Hint, hint: Set up Google Analytics if you’re not 100% sure!)
• Creating an online presence? Your website grows your business by extending your reach worldwide.
• Popping up on search engines? Your website needs to incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) techniques so your website appears in popular keyword searches. I mean… How often do you Google something every day? It’s time to make sure your site appears there, too!

If you find that your website isn’t meeting those objectives, that’s a clear cut sign that it’s time to make some major website changes.

2 — Your website isn’t mobile-friendly

Whether you realize it or not, people are accessing the internet from their smartphones more than ever before. In fact, the World Advertising Research Center expects that by 2025, 72.5% of internet users will access the internet solely via their smartphones. Business owners can no longer ignore the mobile version of their websites; it’s time to make sure the desktop and mobile versions of your site are jam-packed with professionalism and value.

While this shift to mobile-first might seem like a minor detail to some businesses, it’s actually incredibly important to your bottom line and long-term growth. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile users, you could be missing out on a large portion of potential customers who may have otherwise been interested in using your products or services.

It’s also important that your website is easy-to-navigate on all devices because some people prefer browsing sites on their phone while others prefer desktops, tablets and laptops. A great way to ensure that everyone can visit your site comfortably is by making sure your site is “responsive,” meaning your site will adjust its dimensions based on the user’s device.

3 — Your website is too hard to edit

Fact: If you own your website, it should be easy for you to update it. How much value does your website provide if it’s too hard or time-consuming to keep it up-to-date? If you can’t keep it up-to-date, then there’s no way that your business is going to convert.

Your website should be easy for anyone on your team (including yourself) to edit and update. The more people who know how to make edits the better! That boosts the odds that updates will be made and on a more timely basis.

4 — Your website’s design doesn’t reflect your business’ core values and aesthetics

It’s important that your website reflects the core values of your company. If someone has never seen or heard of your company, can he or she get a good idea of what your business is about, who you are and what you do — by spending just a minute on your site? People make a first impression so quickly that your site needs to scream your purpose and core values.

5 — Your website is hard to find and navigate

If your website isn’t easy for visitors to find or navigate, you will lose out on potential customers. Users often click off a web page after only 10-20 seconds, so if your site is missing a clear value proposition or an easy to navigate menu, you’re restricting your digital reach.

Visitors need a clear path from the home page, through content pages and up to the contact page. This helps them get what they need quickly, so they can move on or come back later when they have more time. If a visitor can’t easily navigate your site or find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll give up and move on to a new site.

Websites serve as the backbone of modern businesses. They’re where potential customers go first to get information about your company and where they’re inspired to work with you. Bad websites drive away potential leads, while great ones do the opposite and generate more sales.

If it’s time for a new website but you’re short on time, check out my website template shop or custom web design services and let’s chat!