Invest in your website to provide the best experience for your customers

19/5/2016

 

Websites are not ageless! Technology and design styles change quickly so reviewing your website every 2 or 3 years will help ensure that it remains attractive, easy to use and relevant.  It will also make you stand apart from the competition.

 

Having made an initial investment in a website, people can be reluctant to spend out on a redesign. But with a good strategy and professional help a revamp can result in a high return on investment.

 

When considering a redesign there are some things to take into consideration.

 

Review your current website

As you already have a website you will know what’s worked and what hasn’t. Take time to review it and reassess what you want to achieve.

 

 

 

Website before a revamp.

 

 

Is your content management system or website technology out of date?

Web developers are constantly improving the usability of editing systems. This can make updating a quicker and easier process, allow you more flexibility and help you maintain greater security. I still come across businesses that do not have their website on a content management system (CMS) so they are reliant on their web agency making updates for them. A good CMS can save you time and money in the long run.

 

Does your website look outdated?

Your website may have looked great when it was built but styles change. Research shows that first impressions count so the visitor’s attention needs to be grabbed immediately. The quality of your website design is a direct reflection on your business and how professional you are perceived to be. If your website looks stuck in the past, people will assume your services are too.

 

 

 

Website after a revamp

 

 

Is your website mobile friendly?

Each year more and more people are using phones and tablets to access information and services. If you are not able to reach your audience through mobile search or display, or you're not providing a satisfactory mobile experience you will miss out. This is particularly true if your competition is taking full advantage of responsive design. In 2016 there really is no excuse not to be mobile friendly.

 

Has the focus of your business changed?

Businesses grow and develop and it’s just not possible to completely future proof a website for all eventualities. You may not provide the same services you did a few years ago, or certain services may now take precedence over others. As your business shifts focus this should be reflected in your online presence.

 

Get input from an SEO specialist

SEO is not for the faint hearted! It’s constantly changing, requires dedication and research and is extraordinarily time consuming. Do yourself a favour and get an expert on board. An audit of your website can really help you when planning a redesign and ensure the path through your new site is  intuitive and interesting for your users, which in turn makes it more lucrative for you.

 

Consider your content

To attract new and reoccurring visitors, you need original and interesting content. If you’ve noticed that you’re losing visitors over time it could be that your content it outdated and people are going elsewhere to find that information.

 

There are many ways to improve this situation without a huge redesign. You can use videos, social media, how to documents and blogs. You may want to think about outsourcing some of this but, make no mistake; it will improve your website and reap rewards.

 

Finally, your website should be an important part of your business. But it cannot stand still. Like the business itself you need to constantly tweak, enhance and improve to ensure that you are providing the best you can to your customers.

 

If you need some help deciding how to revamp your website, give us a call on 01223 873349 or email info@catfishwebdesign.com