5 Signs Your Website Needs an Update
Posted by Patrick Hopkins on Thu, Jun 14, 2012
Your website is your online calling card. So why are so many software, tech and midsized businesses missing the mark with their web pages? They either aren’t sure of the benefits of updating a website, aren’t sure where they should be focusing their updating efforts – or don’t think it’s worth their time.
Your website is valuable property!
Here’s some food for thought:
- More than half of all US residents and more than ¾ of all US adults are online.
- One third of US consumers spend at least 3 hours online every day.
- Product research, getting news and finding helpful advice are all done online more often than they are done offline.
The way that people find information, research purchasing options and choose to buy from companies has fundamentally changed – and your company needs to engage these people in ways that will speak directly to them.
Is it Time To Update Your Website? Here’s How to Tell:
Your Site Isn’t Ranking for Important Keywords
Ranking well for keyword terms that describe your products or services is absolutely important. Imagine being on the front page of the results for Google, Bing or Yahoo. What would that do for your business? How much would that affect your bottom line? Considering the fact that 70% of links search users click on are organic – and not paid – updating your website and improving your SEO is a crucial lead generation step.
Your Blog is Falling Flat
Nearly 40% of US companies use blogs for marketing purposes – is yours? Businesses that blog experience more leads, generate more sales and rank their blog as a critical business tool. If your website’s blog hasn’t been updated in months – or you don’t have a blog at all – updating your website should be one of your top goals.
Your Social Media Efforts Aren’t Producing Results
Your website and social media usage are tightly intertwined. Although social media platforms are technically off of your business website, linking to these profiles and integrating them into your site are a must. When you prominently display links to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ on your website, site visitors are more likely to engage with you and experience your soft sell approach. Social media contacts are more likely to convert into customers than other leads – so updating your website can lead to future sales.
You Need More Leads
Websites can be amazing lead generation tools if they are set up to function that way. Having a big content piece on your site – like an ebook or white paper – can help you turn any website traffic into a lead. Whether that traffic is coming in from social media or organic search, those visitors need to be engaged. If you don’t have an engagement tool on your site – like a course, newsletter or other opt in, those opportunities are slipping through your fingers.
You Haven’t Nurtured the Leads You’ve Got
Further educating your prospects after they’ve opted in is a key to effective website marketing. How does a website update help? By creating a body of content resources on your site, you can bring those leads back to your site again and again for new information. As you show off your expertise, you’ll build trust, build interest and build new customers.
Is it time for a website update? If your website fits any of these five criteria, the answer is a yes. If your website fits more than one, you’re long overdue.
But updating your website without a plan can be wasteful. Download our new ebook “5 Keys To A Simple, Effective Business Website" and learn where you should focus your efforts. It’s totally free!