In with the new, and out with the old.
Yes, you really do need a new website. Here’s why.
Without a doubt, your website is the most efficient and cost effective way to advertise, generate leads, and facilitate sales. So then why is the internet riddled with awful sites that frustrate users, and communicate the wrong messages about a brand?
That’s because updating or developing a web site is much easier said than done. Creating great, user friendly websites is a formidable challenge for anyone unfamiliar with the world of web design. Additionally, when it seems like web sites become out dated as quickly as they are made, it’s not hard to see why the status quo would be appealing.
But with just a little guidance, you can vastly improve your customer’s online experience, generating increased sales and overpowering competition.
First things first. Impressions MATTER. And user experience (UX) is king.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yeah, we’ve all heard that before, but let’s face it: we are constantly (and sometimes harshly) making quick judgments on the appearance of people, places and things.
Your website is no exception. In fact, your site is a direct reflection of your business. Haven’t updated your content since 2011? Without a website redesign, you will appear stagnant and less credible in the eyes of your visitors.
Recent studies show, users often make judgments about a company’s credibility based on content presentation rather than the content itself or the creator’s expertise. Not to mention that people perceive an aesthetically pleasing sites as more credible, and simpler to use.
And while beautiful design is sure to impress potential customers, within a fraction of a second, it’s the user experience (UX) that will make or break the sale.
So, what makes a website have an outstanding user experience?
- It’s purpose is obvious (What do you do?)
- It’s as simple and easy to use as possible.
- It has strong branding with well defined, consistent imagery, typography and color palette.
- Instantly makes an impact with concise and meaningful copy writing
- The next steps are apparent (what does the user do next?)
- The pages load fast (load times longer than 3 seconds frustrate users).
Since 2016, we’ve been living in a mobile world. Why isn’t your website?
As of 2016, cellphones and tablets account for more than 51.3% of internet usage worldwide. This means that more people around the world are surfing the web on their phones compared to their computers. This also means that a mobile friendly website is an absolute necessity for any business.
In fact, users are 5 times more likely to abandon a website if it isn’t responsive or optimized for mobile.
What’s more, Google is planning on launching a mobile specific index for mobile searches in the near future. This means that your site will be lower on a search page if it isn’t mobile friendly.
Translation? You need a responsive, functional design that is easy to use and loads quickly.
The mobile market is enormous and will continue to grow. The last thing you need is invisibility on search engines, or to repel mobile visitors (i.e. customers) with a clunky, outdated website that only works on a desktop computer.
A note on SEO: Search Engines love modernized websites. A website redesign will supercharge your SEO.
The process of ensuring higher rankings in google search results is also referred to as search engine optimization or SEO.
SEO matters. Over 90% of all internet use starts with a search engine and fewer and fewer results will be shown in the future. Oh yeah, and 75% of users don’t bother to scroll to page 2. They hardly even look past the top three search results.
We’ve already mentioned the importance of a mobile-optimized website, but quick page load times will also improve your ranking. So, taking all the appropriate steps to modernize and update your website will help you rank higher in your potential client’s search. And what could be better than that?
Conclusion
Meaningful design, good user experience, and strong SEO— if it sounds like a lot to manage… it is! A website redesign will present many opportunities for your company to gain new customers, build brand awareness, and improve your company’s revenue.
Here at Keza we have a dedicated team of experts who are ready to help design and develop your company’s next website. Contact Keza Media if you’re interested in discussing a website redesign.