Let’s face it, in today’s connected world your website is the face of your small (or large) business. It’s more than likely the first thing potential customers see, and it’s more than likely it’s what will drive them to do business with you. A strong web presence is more important than ever today.
Sadly, many business owners are still stuck in the early 2000’s mindset, when having websites were considered ‘bells and whistles’ and having a clean, functional website was optional. Having this mindset not only handicaps your business from capturing lucrative leads generated by online searches, but it also kills their credibility when compared to a similar business and new start-up companies that have invested in their web presence. The domino effect is simply; with a dated website, you’re forced to spend more money in marketing and advertising to make up for your lackluster and outdated website.
Here are four reasons why outdated websites fail and what you can do to avoid being one of them:
1. Not introducing your value proposition quickly or clearly. Regardless if your audience is other businesses or the general consumer, think of your website as your digital elevator pitch—in less than thirty seconds, you have to be able to explain yourself well enough that your site visitor knows who you are, what you do and what they can expect when doing business with you.
2. Stale and boring content. Your website shouldn’t be treated like Ronco’s Showtime Rotisserie where you can “set it and forget it.” Web copy needs to be updated regularly not only to stay relevant, but also to keep people coming back and also improve your SEO ranking, especially with Google’s new 3-pack local search algorithm. 561 Media discussed this in our previous post entitled 3 Tips to Land You in Google’s 3-Pack Local Results Box
3. Lack of CTA’s (Call-To-Action’s). So visitors come to your site – now what? Without a clear call-to-action, you could be losing thousands of potential leads a month if every page doesn’t have one. Whether it’s inviting them to sign up for your newsletter, take a step closer to purchasing your product or contacting you for more information; never leave potential customers wondering what the next step should be.
4. Mobile-friendly or bust. As of April 21, 2015, Google Search expanded its use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal which has a significant impact in its mobile/device search results. If your 10 year old website still has flash, you can bet that your site is probably not getting displayed on mobile search results. Smartphone and Tablet use is slowly dominating the metrics of internet usage. If you’re optimized properly and your site is current, searchers will find your site easier and you aren’t wasting your time and effort to get valuable visitors and leads/sales otherwise.
Want to learn more about how to keep your website relevant and make it your MVP sales team member? Contact 561Media.com today to speak with one of our team members who can walk you through everything you need to know about getting you site ahead of the curve. Always give us a call at 877-WEBTEAM!
