There are two types of website owners. There are those that understand that a website should be the center of your online universe. It shouldn’t just be attractive but pertinent and informative. It should funnel leads and prospects to you. Your social media and promotional materials should point to it. It should be a vibrant force in your online marketing efforts.
Then, there are those who had their teenage cousin create their website years ago. It likely hasn’t been updated since. It is prone to error messages and spam and hasn’t produced a lead in months or years. Owners of these websites will complain that internet marketing doesn’t work “for them”. They probably haven’t visited their own website in years and are too embarrassed to have others view it. Here are 7 ways your website may be screaming “Help me, I am out of date!”
- An Out of Date Copyright. One of the easiest to spot tell-tale way your website is shouting “Out of date!” is a copyright year that is not current. Back in the day, these types of texts had to be manually updated but, of course, today, there are apps for that. There should be no excuse for an outdated copyright date; and if your website has one, please get it fixed.
- It is Not Mobile Capable. Pew Research now says that about 80% of Americans own a smartphone. When you look at the 18-34 demographic, that number climbs to over 95%. These smartphone owners are using their devices to look up news, information, reviews, and to shop for goods and services. Your website should be designed to be responsive to smartphones, with basic information like location and contact data upfront and easy to find. Many smartphone users are “ready to buy” but will move on quickly if your information is hard to find or see. Make sure you view your website on a mobile device and make the necessary changes to make it appealing when seen on a smartphone.
- Contains Outdated Information. There are many ways a website’s content can show it is behind the times. There could be older dates on news releases or outdated blogs. The content itself may tell readers in more subtle ways. For example, your main page copy may say “Serving our customers since 2005” but then also say “In our ten years in business”. This can be avoided by using evergreen content on your website, especially if keeping it updated may be a challenge for you.
- It has a Look that is So 2000. It is hard to imagine that the year 2000 was almost two decades ago. Your website may look like it. It may be boxy, slow loading, and use giant navigation buttons. You know it when you see it. If your website looks vintage 2000, your potential customers will simply move on.
- It Doesn’t Link Your Social Media Accounts. Modern, well-designed websites should make it as simple as possible to connect with your organization. This includes logos and links to your various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, and more. Websites that don’t include their social media links can appear out-of-touch. You’re also not taking full advantage of the valuable synergy that your social media and website can build together.
- Uses Flash or Java. Patience has grown increasingly thin when waiting for websites to load. Outdated software like Java and Flash can drag your website down. If you are going to use video, consider using an off-site service like YouTube. Make sure all software used on your website is supported by popular web browsers like Google Chrome.
- Not Using an Eco Web Hosting Company. One of the ways you can demonstrate you are connected to what’s important today is by choosing an eco web hosting service that offers environmentally-friendly features. How will your users know you are using a “green” web hosting company? At OrangeWebsite, we offer all of our clients access to use a choice of free banners that can be easily installed on the pages of their website. These banners tell visitors they are working with an organization that cares about the planet. It is not only the right thing to do, it is a terrific way to attract like-minded prospects and customers.
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