Half of the Internet users don’t update their software or their browsers except under extreme circumstances. For most people, computers, software and websites are a static thing. Unfortunately, that’s a complete misunderstanding of how internet technology works and why many businesses seek out website redesign services.
As hardware changes, so do the software and web technologies we use on the internet. Ten years ago, the internet looked very different. In the last five years, mobile and tablet browsing have changed how the internet looks and functions.
If you haven’t been updating your website regularly to keep up with all of these developments, you should consider website redesign services. Here are eight signs that you need to call someone right away.
1. Your Website Looks and Feels Old
If concepts like “embedded social media feeds” and “parallax scrolling” sound foreign to you, the elements of your website might need an update. Take a look at your nearest competitors and see how your site compares. This can be an easy way to measure how your site looks.
A site doesn’t need to overhauled every year, but if it relies on design elements that no one else is using, you need to consider a redesign. What’s the point of having great content on your site if no one can view it?
No matter how great your product or your content is, your site needs to be using up to date design trends. If visitors to your site view you as outdated or behind the times, that could affect the perception of your brand.
2. You’ve Gotten Complaints
If you’ve heard any complaints about your site, they need to be addressed immediately. Users who receive 404 errors when trying to access a product page, or worse, when trying to complete a purchase, may never come back.
This has the dual effect of showing users that you are listening and that you’re staying on top of trends.
If there are problems with the e-commerce end of your site, you could end up not only losing customers but building a bad reputation. One bad review on Yelp or Google could lead to more reviews and affect brand loyalty.
When users reach out to complain, contact them immediately. Once the issue is addressed, send them a message telling them that the problem has been solved thanks to them. On top of that, reward them with a promotional item or discount catered to what they want.
You’ll flip a complainer into a lifetime loyalist.
3. Your Brand Has Changed, But Not Your Site
If you’ve recently made a pivot in your overall mission statement or the direction of your company, you need your site to reflect that.
A new brand logo needs to be integrated into your site immediately. But more often, it’s important you don’t just drop that new logo on an old site. You probably need website redesign services to match your site with your new brand.
Refreshing your brand is a great way to expand your customer base and give off an aura of success to your current customers. When every aspect of your new branding is rolled out at once, it shows a level of professionalism and organization that intrigues customers.
4. Search Engine Results Have Dipped
If you’re not using Google Analytics or something like it, you need to set yourself up to start collecting better data. Search engine results are the number one way new customers find out about you. You need to be appearing high in the results when they go looking for a service like yours.
Search engine results come back so quickly because search engines do the work in advance. They use a tool called a “web crawler” that indexes pages automatically. Crawlers look at a page’s layout, organization, number of dead links, or hard to load elements and rate your site based on that.
A well-organized site will be handily rewarded by appearing higher on search results. This is all the more reason to take a second look at your site to note whether you find that things load incorrectly. If elements look less than ideal for different browsers and devices, look into website redesign services.
A poorly loading site will suffer in search results.
5. You’re Not Mobile Optimized
If your site is more than 5 years old, there’s a safe bet it’s not made for mobile browsing. Phones and tablets have smaller screen resolutions and need sites to be designed differently for each type of device.
More users have their first experiences with a company on a mobile device. If your users’ first experience with your website stinks, they won’t be coming back.
Ask your website redesign services to design “mobile first” to ensure that you’re making something that works for all users.
6. Sales Have Dipped
If you generate a lot of sales from your website and you see a drop in sales, it could be due to your website’s design. A complicated menu system that makes it hard to find the products that customers want will drive them away.
Figure out how many steps it takes to find products. You should make two clicks to start seeing results. If it takes any longer, figure out how to streamline this process.
Sites that make it easier to purchase will allow customers to buy before they start losing attention or think about comparing prices with your competitors.
7. Still Using Flash
While lots of cool websites are still using Flash, it’s no longer the standard. In fact, many browsers will no longer support Flash-based sites. Recently releases of Chrome won’t even load a Flash site.
This is a perfectly appropriate reason to get on the phone with someone offering website redesign services. Your customers might not be able to see your site at all.
8. Slow Loading
If you have trouble with website load times, it’s time to look at redesigning the website. You could be having problems with your server. You could have too much code loading at once.
If you can’t fix all of this yourself, it’s time to call a professional. Design and development services can step in to help.
Website Redesign Services Will Get You On Track
If you’re struggling to figure out what your site needs to connect with your audience, redesign services can assess what’s working and what’s not.
Still thinking about whether your site needs a redesign? Contact us now for an assessment of how a redesign can help you.