7 Signs Your Business Needs a New Website
Even symbolics.com, founded in 1985, updated their look and feel to keep up with modern search and user trends. The cost of web design might seem unnecessary to small business owners. As a matter of fact, it's quite the opposite. You need to update your website regularly because user preferences and Google search algorithms are constantly changing. It's imperative that you don't lose valuable traffic (and potential customers) if you don't.
In this post, we highlight 7 signs or reasons that a small business needs a new website.
Check them out to see if they apply to you!
The majority of small businesses in America don't even have a website.
If you're an independent gas station in a high-traffic area, not having a website may not be a problem, but for anyone else, it poses a significant problem.
However, there are some affordable website options out there. Websites are reasonable to host, affordable to design, and easy to maintain-so long as you work with a savvy provider.
Online presences aren't as easy to judge as a book by its cover, so the saying goes.
Creating your website with the goal of attracting and engaging visitors is the main objective, encouraging them to interact with the site in the way the hosting company wants them to. The purpose could be to purchase a product (an e-commerce business), request a quote for a service (a plumber or roofer), or schedule an appointment. However, one study found that if a website is ugly, close to 40% of visitors will stop visiting it.
Invest in a website redesign ASAP if your website looks like it's from 2013 rather than 2024.
You're probably glued to your smartphone. After all, the average user spends over 3 hours a day scrolling socials, websites, emails, podcasts, and more on their phone.
Well, it's not a wild assertion to suggest your customers are doing the same thing. And you need to make sure your company website works great on a desktop and adapts to the smaller screens people now use.
And that's because nearly 60% of web traffic comes from a mobile device—a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Thankfully, most website builders today use responsive design technology, making it easy to adapt to this new reality.
You've nailed that all-important first impression. Your website looks great on mobile. Yet, you're still not attracting those all-important leads—at least, not as many as you'd hoped.
If your conversions are low, it could be because your website design isn't optimized to aid your customer's journey through your sales funnel. They might find you, but once they're on your site, they're getting lost in where to go or what to do next.
A redesign with a focus on clear calls-to-action can help you achieve your conversion goals.
You've had a legitimate business for a long time, and once, your website served you well. People could find you, and they'd contact you via phone or the contact form on your website to enquire about your services.
Today, those people just aren't coming. So what's going on?
Your aging website is likely not optimized for inbound marketing. You must ensure it includes places where you can provide your visitors with educational and helpful information that addresses their pain points and helps them trust your expertise.
Google Analytics defines a bounce rate as the percentage of people who visit a single page on your website. This essentially means the analytics program is counting the number of people who only stay on the website they first click through to—say, from the Google search results page—and then click away from your website immediately or a short time later.
A high bounce rate is considered anywhere between 56% to 70% (or above). You can read this as your website not having enough relevant content to keep visitors interested and exploring.
To remedy this, you need to upgrade your website, so it offers people somewhere to go next at all stages of their experience.
If your website fails on security, it will get downvoted in Google searches. And this means no one will find you. Also, if visitors perceive your website as unsafe, they're unlikely to trust you.
Modern websites need an SSL certificate at a minimum. This is a fundamental trust signal for visitors and Google. However, some small businesses may need to consider upgrading to something even more encrypted, especially if they collect personal client data.
If you think you need a new website, trust your gut. If it's telling you "yes," you probably needed to invest yesterday. If even one of the points above resonates with you, it's time to invest in an upgrade.
Perhaps your customers complain they can't find what they need on your website. Maybe you're worried clients aren't finding you online at all! Can you navigate properly or upload new content onto your website?
Contact us to discuss your new website today. We specialize in affordable web solutions and small business websites that are effective, optimized, and secure.
In this post, we highlight 7 signs or reasons that a small business needs a new website.
Check them out to see if they apply to you!
1.You Don't Have a Website Yet
The majority of small businesses in America don't even have a website.
If you're an independent gas station in a high-traffic area, not having a website may not be a problem, but for anyone else, it poses a significant problem.
However, there are some affordable website options out there. Websites are reasonable to host, affordable to design, and easy to maintain-so long as you work with a savvy provider.
2. You Have an Ugly or Outdated Website
Online presences aren't as easy to judge as a book by its cover, so the saying goes.
Creating your website with the goal of attracting and engaging visitors is the main objective, encouraging them to interact with the site in the way the hosting company wants them to. The purpose could be to purchase a product (an e-commerce business), request a quote for a service (a plumber or roofer), or schedule an appointment. However, one study found that if a website is ugly, close to 40% of visitors will stop visiting it.
Invest in a website redesign ASAP if your website looks like it's from 2013 rather than 2024.
3. Your Website Is Not Mobile Friendly
You're probably glued to your smartphone. After all, the average user spends over 3 hours a day scrolling socials, websites, emails, podcasts, and more on their phone.
Well, it's not a wild assertion to suggest your customers are doing the same thing. And you need to make sure your company website works great on a desktop and adapts to the smaller screens people now use.
And that's because nearly 60% of web traffic comes from a mobile device—a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Thankfully, most website builders today use responsive design technology, making it easy to adapt to this new reality.
4. You're Not Getting the Results You Expect From Your Site
You've nailed that all-important first impression. Your website looks great on mobile. Yet, you're still not attracting those all-important leads—at least, not as many as you'd hoped.
If your conversions are low, it could be because your website design isn't optimized to aid your customer's journey through your sales funnel. They might find you, but once they're on your site, they're getting lost in where to go or what to do next.
A redesign with a focus on clear calls-to-action can help you achieve your conversion goals.
5. Business Is Slow, and Sales Are Stagnating
You've had a legitimate business for a long time, and once, your website served you well. People could find you, and they'd contact you via phone or the contact form on your website to enquire about your services.
Today, those people just aren't coming. So what's going on?
Your aging website is likely not optimized for inbound marketing. You must ensure it includes places where you can provide your visitors with educational and helpful information that addresses their pain points and helps them trust your expertise.
6. You Have a High Bounce Rate
Google Analytics defines a bounce rate as the percentage of people who visit a single page on your website. This essentially means the analytics program is counting the number of people who only stay on the website they first click through to—say, from the Google search results page—and then click away from your website immediately or a short time later.
A high bounce rate is considered anywhere between 56% to 70% (or above). You can read this as your website not having enough relevant content to keep visitors interested and exploring.
To remedy this, you need to upgrade your website, so it offers people somewhere to go next at all stages of their experience.
7. Your Website Isn't Secure
If your website fails on security, it will get downvoted in Google searches. And this means no one will find you. Also, if visitors perceive your website as unsafe, they're unlikely to trust you.
Modern websites need an SSL certificate at a minimum. This is a fundamental trust signal for visitors and Google. However, some small businesses may need to consider upgrading to something even more encrypted, especially if they collect personal client data.
We Build Small Business Websites That Work
If you think you need a new website, trust your gut. If it's telling you "yes," you probably needed to invest yesterday. If even one of the points above resonates with you, it's time to invest in an upgrade.
Perhaps your customers complain they can't find what they need on your website. Maybe you're worried clients aren't finding you online at all! Can you navigate properly or upload new content onto your website?
Contact us to discuss your new website today. We specialize in affordable web solutions and small business websites that are effective, optimized, and secure.