Is your website starting to look a little dated? Does it maybe even look completely frozen in time? You might end up being left in the dust of your competitors. A custom-designed website not only elevates your brand but also sets you apart from your competition; ensuring your products & services are communicated authentically.
Like many other business owners, you’re busy with the day-to-day, and we get that. You want your brand to succeed – and are prepared to do whatever it takes – but you may not have the time and resources to work out that winning formula for a strong online presence that drives results. Perhaps you’re not even sure of the signs that your website is out-of-date…
…Don’t worry. This is where we come in!
Your Website Looks Dated
Here’s a question for you: On your website, does it list any date in the footer other than 2022 in the Copyright © section?
If so, that’s one indicator that an update is required.
Here’s another: When was the last time you updated with a new blog post, or similar content?
Making sure your website is kept up to date is one of the easiest ways to ensure regular traffic, higher search engine optimisation (SEO) rankings, and a better user experience (UX). All these factors are major contributors to visitors viewing your website and, more importantly, to them taking action.
LACK OF COHESION
A critical aspect of a website is the focus that users have on your web content. Check to ensure your content aligns with the challenges encountered by your target audience, followed by the solutions you can offer. You’re less likely to interest potential clients if the focus remains on you instead of them.
So, you provide an excellent product or service, and your team is great at catching the attention of potential customers… what, though, is the point if the prospects reach your website, and your products and services don’t match what you’re marketing? Unfortunately, the only thing you’ll be successful in doing here is frustrating users and losing their trust in your brand.
Remember, you don’t have to go through massive changes to reap results. Simply changing the appearance – along with minor changes in your web copy – might help.
Security
One of the biggest reasons for keeping your website’s software updated is security. The security of your website is vital!
As spammers and hackers try to find new ways to attack users of any software, it’s absolutely critical to keep your software and website plugins updated to the latest versions. This applies to your computer, tablet, mobile phone and, of course, your website. Those with malicious intent never stop looking for ways to pierce your website’s armour, whether it be from the front end of your website, or the server itself.
It doesn’t work well on mobile devices
Having a responsive website is an absolute must for your business. In 2021, mobile devices accounted for over 90% of worldwide web traffic. So, if your website isn’t optimised to serve the best version to users on any device, you can potentially be losing up to 90% of your visitors. With that in mind, we definitely think it’s reasonable to give the mobile version of your website the attention it deserves… don’t you?
Having your website available on all devices brings lots of benefits, including but certainly not limited to:
- An improved user experience
- Increased sales & conversions
- Boosted SEO scores, Google ranking & much more!
DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE
A website is your online representative. It’s typically the first point of contact that potential clients have with your business. So, it’s surely important that it features a design that appeals to users, right?
Website navigation is an essential part of web design. Why? Because it contributes massively to the user experience. You’ve probably been there yourself; getting frustrated at the evident lack of thought given to the UX on a website that you’re trying to use… It’s no good.
Having an understanding of website navigation will help you in allowing users to access the information they want as quickly as possible by presenting an enjoyable, intuitive layout while increasing ease of use.
Easy website navigation is important for several reasons:
- Presents a clean, structured look – Because a website can be the online face of an organisation, a well-structured, user-friendly site suggests that the organisation is the same.
- Influences users’ feelings – Well-designed navigation helps users find the information they need quickly and self-sufficiently. A user who encounters no obstacles in their search for info is much more likely to regard the website and the organisation positively.
- Increases visit duration – When a site is easy to navigate, it can encourage users to stay on it longer, explore further, and learn more about the organisation. On the flip side, a site that is difficult to navigate may encourage users to “bounce,” or view only one page within the website before moving on to another.
- Improves search engine optimisation – Easy-to-use navigation allows search engines to crawl and index a website more effectively, which can make it easier for users to find the site with search queries. This can also lead to higher placement in search results.
- Increases purchase rates – Good navigation means that users can easily find what they want on a site, and users who effortlessly find products or services they need are more likely to purchase them.
At Crunchy Carrots, we understand that time is money, which is why our team of digital experts work closely with our clients to see through every step of the journey from kick-off to deployment. Our Project Manager, Copywriter, Graphic Designer, and Web Developer will guide you through each step of the process to craft something truly bespoke to your goals.
Get in touch today to discuss how we can help your business grow! Email us at hello@crunchycarrots.co.uk or give us a call on 01324 613288.