Updating a website refers to making changes with all things relating to your website including:
- Design
- Development
- Content
- Hosting
- Perception
These are the main areas of your website that affect its performance. That performance means how well your website is doing to make you and your business money.
As with most things in life there are usually warning signs. The frustrating thing is that these warning signs are sometimes only obvious once you know what the signs actually are.
So we’ve put together five of the common warnings signs that you need to make changes to your website in order to make more money.
Here they are.
1. Slowness
Slow websites and apps are frustrating for users. People are getting access to faster Internet connections and they expect things to be quick. If a site or application doesn’t load fast people will move on to the next thing. There is no shortage of things to do online so you’re in competition with everyone and everything.
If your site is loading slowly to the point where you notice it then you need to get to work to make it fast.
Slowness can be the result of a few things including your design, coding framework and hosting.
Look at these things and work with each of the people that help you with these areas to figure out how to make your site or application faster. You might have to eliminate some elements to make it faster.
This is okay. Making things simpler often makes things faster, which is better for your customers and for your business.
2. Customer Questions
There will always be customer questions that come through, but these questions are reminders that your website might need some updating.
If you get a call from a customer that says they’re on your website and they ask you something and you think, “The answer is on our homepage…” then you probably need to make a change.
It’s not the customer’s fault that they couldn’t find the answer on your site. It’s your fault.
Answer all potential customer questions on your site. Guide them through the entire buying process so your site works as a salesperson and does the work for you.
If you’re getting calls it’s a good sign that your site needs to have a better design and structure.
3. Low Traffic
Low traffic on your site is usually a sign that things need to change.
Most likely, you need to update your content and promotion strategy. Without fresh content there is little chance people will discover your website.
And without a good website design and structure you probably won’t rank well in search engines even if you have great content.
Update your site regularly with content such as blog posts, videos and guides and you’ll start to see your traffic increase over time.
That traffic means more money in your pocket.
4. Low Conversion
Maybe you’re getting some good traffic to the site, but you’re not converting those visitors into customers.
This is not uncommon and it comes back to the same problem we mentioned above about customer questions.
Most people that visit your site that also become confused will simply leave. They won’t bother to call you and ask a question.
If your conversion is low it means people are confused and frustrated by your website.
Start by laying out your sales cycle. Then go take that sales cycle and create a website design and structure that takes visitors from the point of discovery to the point of purchase.
Give them everything they need to make an informed purchase.
Your conversion will increase and your long-term customer satisfaction will increase as well.
5. Little Social Sharing
Social sharing is becoming an important part of building your reputation as a great business. If you’re experiencing little social sharing it likely leads back to your website.
Again, you need content as a starting point for a social media strategy. People need something to share other than your homepage. By providing something useful like a blog pots, video or guide you give people something to share.
It also helps to have a great design that gives people a good experience.
These are just five warning signs that let you know that your website needs updating.
Are there other signs you would suggest?
