When is the Right Time to Rebuild Your Website?
An obsolete design, a confusing navigation, and a string of cybersecurity issues. These are just a few indications that your website could need a total redesign.
Recent data shows that 81% of users develop reduced trust in companies with outdated websites. Failure to integrate necessary website changes often ensures a problematic user experience, which can hurt online performance. In fact, customer mistrust can result in a catastrophic dip in web traffic, conversion rates, and overall sales.
Most companies, however, ignore the need for a website redesign due to added costs. Since a simple remodeling project can range from $30,000 to $65,000, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) tend to sidestep this vital process, overlooking the potential problems that might arise soon after.
Yet to achieve optimum digital performance, companies must upgrade their websites from time to time. This ensures new trends are integrated and necessary improvements are implemented to create a more frictionless user experience.
How will you know when your website is in need of an upgrade? This article outlines four reasons to ditch your current web design for a fresher look.
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#1 Your website has an outdated design
Recent reports suggest that web visitors’ first impressions are 94% design-related. In just a fraction of a second, visual design can directly impact how they interact with your site and how they perceive your brand.
An obsolete design can drive away quality traffic from your site. It can also reduce engagements and, in turn, increase bounce rate—the number of users that leave your site without exploring other pages.
To encourage positive first impressions, your website must be up-to-date and adhere to best practices, such as a clear sense of hierarchy, a responsive design, and outstanding readability. Any updates made to your website should also be aligned with your brand’s visual identity.
#2 Your website is riddled with security issues
Almost 43% of cyberattacks are directed at small enterprises. Without precautionary measures in place, these startups are more at risk of data phishing, identity theft, website hacking, and other internet crimes. These virtual attacks can result in major financial losses or worse, bankruptcy.
If your website is not protected with cybersecurity guardrails, then it’s in dire need of an upgrade. Outdated software is more susceptible to security issues, so regularly updating your system is important. Following compliance guidelines also ensures the security of sensitive data like private user information.
#3 Your website is not responsive
People now rely on multiple mediums to access websites, from smartphones and tablets to laptops and personal computers. Oftentimes, they use these devices in a sequential manner. This makes a responsive web design indispensable for companies wanting to improve their digital performance. Responsive sites tend to score better in search rankings, resulting in higher organic traffic.
If you’re noticing a plunge in mobile traffic or an increase in unsuccessful conversions, it might be indicative of an outdated website. A complete redesign could improve these numbers.
#4 Your website has a slow loading time
Nothing is more exasperating to web users than a slow loading page. You can lose almost 38% of your audience through poor performance alone. So if your site takes an eternity to load, then it’s time to make some changes.
The technical makeup of your site is often the culprit of this common user dilemma. A slow loading site can be attributed to cluttered coding, unoptimized images, and numerous HTTP requests. If yours is a high-traffic site, the absence of a proper content delivery network (CDN) can also slow its performance. These are some improvements that must be integrated into your website to eliminate this recurring website woe.
Redesigning your website can be time-consuming and costly. But calibrating your website in accordance with the evolving needs of your company and the growing trends in the market will greatly improve your digital performance and help your business grow. In the end, the rewards that you reap will be worth every penny.
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