As an old Chinese saying goes, fortune and flowers do not last forever. Today it'd be better to say: fortune, flowers and websites do not last forever. It is not enough to just have a website. It needs to be modern, state-of-the-art and attractive website. If you feel that your webpage falls behind and needs a redesign you can use ready-made templates or order a dedicated website. But first check whether you really need to bother. Here are top 5 warning signs which indicate that your website needs a makeover!
1) It Takes Forever to Load
Did you know that 40% percent of Web users abandon pages that take more than 3 seconds to load? (Importance of effective website design infographic). What is more, 52% of online consumers say that quick page loads play an important role for their loyalty to a site, and more than 75% of online shoppers would leave for a competitor’s site rather than suffer delays (Site speed case studies tips and tools for improving your conversion rate). Pretty scary, isn’t it?
2) It Is Not Responsive
Now take your mobile phone and check whether you can view your website. If not - or if it looks different than on a computer, because you have seperate desktop and mobile version - then it’s time for changes. If you want to stay on the market, go for responsive design which is efficient and easy to manage. Having two seperate website means that you and your team do everything twice. Why bother when you can have responsive design and create one site that automatically adapts to various devices? It’s easier, more effective and cheaper. Moreover, according to Google, mobile-friendly sites turn users into customers more often: 67% of mobile users claim that they’re more likely to buy a product or service from a mobile friendly site.(Mobile friendly sites turn visitors). And an increase in sales is precisely what you want.
3) It Is Impossible to Find in Search Engines
If Google does not know who you are - you’re in trouble. Search visibility is one of the keys to success. If you want to improve SEO you should redesign your website because it means an uptick in search rankings. It is beacuse freshness is a factor for such search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo. Plus, webpage makeover is a great occassion to check web analytics and learn which content and calls-to-action were successful. This will be an immense help in improving your site.
4) It Is Difficult to Navigate
Does you website have a lot of links on the home page? Is the menu as long as your arm? Does it contain multiple sections, categories and sub-categories? Are the navigation titles confusing? Is it difficult for your customer to find relevant information? If the answer for these questions is yes then you need to redesign your site. Easier navigation means less frustrated customers and when customers are less frustrated they are more likely to buy.
5) It Looks As If It Could Be Exhibited In a Museum
Ok, we all love the 90s, but sometimes it’s better to let go. If your website looks like it was designed during Spice Girl’s best years then it definitely needs a makeover. Actually, even if it’s only three years old it’s no spring chicken anymore. Let’s face it: it’s 2016. You have to provide your customers with a mordern and nice-looking website (trends have changed over past few years, mind you). Why is this so important? Well, research conducted at Stanford University showed that 75% of Internet users (and thus your potential customers!) admit to making judgements about a company’s credability on the basis of their website’s visual design alone. Therefore a well-designed website is a must.
