We're not born knowing all the things we need to do to run a great and profitable business, website design being one of those things. Unless website design is your business, taking the time to learn that stuff is a major sidetrack to you actually building your business. In order to have the growth and meet the numbers of your dreams, it's important to hire out what you can at the right time. So, if you don't know much about website design, how do you know when is the right time to hire out a new website? Below I share five easy ways to know if your website is actually holding your business growth back. The more of these you say 'yes' to, the more important it is to get a new website ASAP!
Does your website DESIGN match your branding?
01.
Your branding is the foundation that everything else in your marketing should be based on. Is your website consistent with your current branding? Consistent branding, including professional photography is the best way to stand out & gain trust. You should regularly update your website & every year schedule the time to do a complete review & refresh anything that seems outdated & can be improved. If it's gotten too far behind & doesn't reflect the business, image you want to convey, & future vision you have for your business it's definitely time for a new one! You don't even have to read any further. Your customers & clients don't know what's in your head or what you're trying to create. If it's not there visually, it doesn't & won't exist. Check out my article 5 Signs You Need To Rebrand. If you're in need of help with this all important foundation of your business, I've got you! Click on over here to check out Brand Design services.
How well does it load?
02.
You've got 3 seconds or you're toast. There's no better way to make a user leave your site & go elsewhere than if it takes forever to load. And they have many other options available within seconds. Properly optimizing images & proper coding are the best way to ensure a beautiful site that loads fast. A fast loading website will increase your Google search ranking so more people find you.
How's your website's SEO?
03.
Speaking of search rankings, is it properly search engine optimized so it shows up when it should in search results? Everything on your site needs to be created with SEO in mind, from images to copy. It's far easier to start off with great SEO practices than to have someone go in later to fix it. Additionally, Google implemented a new algorithm in 2021, making SEO even more important. If it was never done properly in the first place & your site is old it is probably time for a new website.
Does your website DESIGN hook the viewer & IS IT USER-FRIENDLY?
04.
Like I mentioned before, you've got about 3 seconds to hook a viewer before they're gone. In that time a visitor should know what you offer & become interested to keep looking. You need to give them a reason to give you their precious time & attention. If your analytics reveal that visitors leave quickly you know you've got a problem on your hands! Even if they don't leave quickly, you'll want to make sure your site is visually compelling with professional photography & graphics. Is the copy compelling? Navigation should be extremely clear. Visually, it should scan well. Information should be very easy to find. It should be well structured & organized to clearly guide the buyer through the process. This is the biggest mistake I see on websites. There's often way too much information being given all at once. Yes, all that info is super important to you and your process but giving your audience just the right information at just the right phase of their buying journey is key & a real skill.
DOES your website SERVE ITS PURPOSE?
05.
Was your website created with a specific strategy & plan in place? Or was it just thrown up because you knew you needed to have something? Your website is your 24/7 sales person. If it's not doing it's job of bringing in leads & sales, then it's not serving its function & it's time to fire it!
Creatives especially are often afraid of being "too salesy" and just don't know what's involved with crafting a proper sales page that actually does what it's supposed to do. There's a lot that a good website designer takes into consideration to craft a site that will be a good sales person for your business. It's best to get a professional on board from the start but that isn't always possible if you're just starting out. And that's ok but keep your website in mind & don't just let sit there growing stale. Hire someone on as soon as you can afford it so you can spend your time doing what you do best in your business & make sure that it's accurately represented in your marketing.
As a Squarespace Circle member my website design clients get 20% off their new annual subscription & 20% off Squarespace scheduling. Are you ready to take your website & sales to a new level? Book you Brand Design, Personal Branding Photography & Website Design services in an all-in-one package by an agency who understands where you want to go with your business & how to take you there.
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