Is your small business website outdated? Having a website for a business or brand is now required. It is essential as a part of a sales strategy and helps build customer relationships. As a result, even those initially hesitant to have an online presence have since come on board.

As a result, it is no longer sufficient to have a website merely. Instead, the quality of a website and its content will be used to compare one business to its existing competition and newer start-ups—those who adapted to the digital marketplace may be in the most significant need of improvement. While the earliest websites might have once been ahead of the curve, many now are outdated.

Below, this article will look at some top signs your website may need updating or a total redesign. A poor-quality website can damage a business’s reputation and generate less revenue. Unfortunately, brand damage can be hard to recover from, so taking steps to improve a website sooner rather than later can avoid severe pain.

Incompatibility with Mobile Devices

If a website had been made a decade ago, it might not have been formatted correctly on mobile phones or other devices. Since half of all web traffic now comes from smartphones and other mobile access, this is a significant defect of older websites. Not only does it make browsing sites all-but-impossible for mobile users, but it also can indicate your brand is outdated to newer, more tech-savvy consumers.

To check your business website, try to access your website from your phone. Google also prioritizes websites with a responsive design (those that work on all devices), so improving this part of a website also improves search engine optimization.

Old Information

Depending on a website’s length, some information may be outdated or outright incorrect. Make sure to refresh content regularly. Advertising awards or items your business received 10+ years ago can make your website seem dated or irrelevant.

Like above, this affects search engine optimization as well; the originally applied keywords may no longer be the best for business goals. In addition, the content may not answer the questions searched most frequently. Update this information immediately to ensure your reputation with customers or business partners stays positive.

Antiquated Design

High-contrast backgrounds, small fonts, broken links, and others are all signs of an old, outdated design. This can give off the impression that a business or service is irrelevant or no longer operational. In the best-case scenario, customers will assume the company is out-of-touch with current trends. But, of course, a complete overhaul of a website’s design can be complicated, so it may be best to seek professional services if you need a complete redesign.

Lack of Modern Features/Security

Even some of the least computer-literate consumers check to see if a website is secure. You could use some updating if it were created long enough ago and you don’t have an SSL certificate.

Other features could be helping businesses beyond security. For example, Chatbots, which provide automated answers to commonly asked questions, are becoming increasingly commonplace. So are personalized offers seen by customers when they arrive on a site. Utilizing a generic website without these features may require a redesign.

Conclusions

With lower barriers to entry and easier access to an audience, the business world is becoming increasingly competitive. Staying ahead of new upstarts and existing competitors alike requires an edge. Keeping a fresh, clean, practical website design is one such edge. If any of the above issues are plaguing your site, explore your options for updating before it affects your bottom line.

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