5 Reasons Why You Need to Update Your Website

3 - 4 years is a long time in web design.

In fact, it’s about enough time for new standards, practices, and technologies to emerge.

So, with that in mind, if you’re sitting on a website developed pre-2012, it could be time to think about a refresh.

And yes, we know, it might look just fine. But sometimes it’s the parts that you can’t see that need the most TLC.

Here are a few reasons ( five, to be exact ) why you need to update your website:

1. Your Website Isn't Mobile Friendly

Here’s a statistic to take home and mull over: roughly 56% of web traffic now comes via mobile devices.

56%

And it’s only going to grow larger.

If your website isn’t responsive (meaning it responds and changes to fit the screen of a tablet or mobile), then you could be missing out on valuable traffic.

With the rise of second-screening you need to be certain you’re delivering a top class browsing experience to every visitor, no matter the device they’re using.

Not sure if your site’s mobile friendly? Check here.

2. Your Brand/Content Isn’t Up-to-date

If your business is growing fast, then your website simply must reflect that growth.

You cannot/should not undergo a rebrand, move offices, or add new personnel to your team without making sure your website is fully up-to-date with this new information.

Inconsistency across your marketing channels (website, print, social media, etc.) will only breed doubt in the minds of your prospective customers.

3. Oh, You Actually Can’t Update the Content Yourself

If you’re unsure about refreshing your website, then this big (giant) red flag waving in your face should convince you otherwise.

It’s your website. If you can’t update it yourself - instead, relying on outside help - then what’s the point in having it?

Sure, there will always be technical aspects to owning a website that might fall outside of your wheelhouse, but being able to change some text or upload a photograph shouldn’t require a support ticket and an invoice at the end of it.

4. Your Website Loads Slowly

According to Google, your website should load in under 2 seconds.

Check here to see how quickly yours loads.

Too slow? Time for a tune up…

5. Your Website Isn’t User Friendly

How do you know if your website isn’t user friendly?

Well, if your phone rings - even once - and it’s a customer asking you a simple question that should be answered by your website, then no, it’s not user friendly.

Information needs to be displayed in such a way that a visitor to your website can find what they’re looking for quickly and painlessly.

If they have to resort to such an old fashioned method of communication as picking up and dialing their phone, well, you’re doing it wrong.