If you are a modern business, you will undoubtedly have a website either as a brochure site or for eCommerce. The questions are when it was designed, how long since it had a revamp, and why it needs an update. Carry on reading, and we will explain Why you Need to Refresh your Website.
This article will explore why and how you should update your website frequently. So, let us begin.
A website makeover is not necessarily something a company or organisation wants, but it is often required. You don’t want the cost or hassle. Still, you are missing out on a whole raft of improvements as technology drives forward relentlessly. If your website is outdated or not performing as well as you want, it is time to update it.
Website performance is critical for growing sales in today’s increasingly competitive online industry. For a business to remain competitive, any website must be current and functional, whether it’s a large corporate site or a personal blog.
Your business and brand are important to you, and you want them to be essential to your clients. Visitors may lose interest in your company before knowing what you do if your website is challenging to use. The most crucial thing you can do is keep your website updated.
What does it mean to ‘refresh your website’?
Any upgrade that does not change the overall architecture of your site is referred to as a “refresh.” Google, for example, may change its logo for a day, but it still operates precisely the same. You can update your website’s branding colours and images while keeping your content management system, such as WordPress or Squarespace, untouched and fully operational.
Refreshing your website can be as simple as selecting a more modern typeface or as complicated as changing your organisation’s colour scheme. You can implement the modifications all at once. But it is preferable to implement one at a time to test the impact of each update on your SEO.
Why is it essential to update your website every 2-3 years?
A website audit comprises a usability and effectiveness assessment. It is advised that design and infrastructure improvements occur every 2 to 3 years, even though this may seem like a long period, given how quickly technology advances.
To stay up with changes in search algorithms (and rank better than your competition), you must regularly update your website. It isn’t easy to keep up with the current search engine standards if you’re still using old technologies.
Your site will also benefit from updated written content, increasing visitors. Maintaining your website’s content helps you create trust with your customers. Your website is likely to deliver essential information to your clients in whichever market you are in, and outdated information is not useful to anyone. Current information also aids in the development of domain authority which aids ranking placement.
Reasons to refresh your website for improved usability.
Innovative technology
The Internet is a quickly evolving and ever-changing field. A new technological upgrade should improve your website’s performance, simplicity, and security and make it more lightweight. Updating your website to embrace the latest technologies relevant to your business will allow you to give your visitors the most outstanding possible experience and service.
Rebranding
The branding on a website is the first thing that individuals notice about it and gives them their first impression. As a result, this identity must always be in sync with your company.
Trends in design
Although appearing old-school can be desirable in some niches, simply being old is not the same as being old-school or retro. You’ll quickly lose customers if you don’t keep up with design trends. Alternatively, you will stop attracting new customers, which can be disastrous depending on your industry.
Reduce the loading speed.
We don’t have enough time in our daily lives to do everything. No one will stay if a website takes too long to load. Slow loading speed is the primary reason for a high bounce rate, or how fast visitors get bored and leave. Many of the most recent web development trends are geared at helping pages load faster. Using new technology to upgrade your website can reduce bounce rates and boost your Google rating.
Data security
Many websites digitally retain users’ personal and financial information. For example, your car insurance provider’s servers will likely save your personal information and history on them. Under modern cyber attempts, even a year-old technology can become obsolete. Hackers can use compromised systems to send spam.
Allow for adaptability.
According to Statista, mobile devices currently generate just under 55% of all website traffic. Even if you have a separate mobile app, your website must be mobile-friendly; otherwise, you risk losing clients. The sooner you optimise your website for mobile, the better, particularly if your company has been in operation for a long time. Because older technology did not support mobile optimisation, old sites may display strangely when accessed on mobile devices.
Improved search engine ranking
You must continually update your website as search algorithms change to rank higher than your competition. It’s also difficult to meet all the new search engine requirements if you’re still using outdated technologies.
Today, web developers can use plugins and third-party web applications to enhance or make a website more enjoyable. Every year, more are created. Adding such plugins is a big incentive to rebuild your website. Here are a few instances of integrations: social networking, Google Analytics, CMS, sign-ups and building email marketing lists.
In conclusion
There are numerous advantages to changing your website’s code, design, and SEO. You can obtain top search engine rankings (SERPS) by frequently updating quality material, and a modern design informs your clients that you are up to date. By utilising cutting-edge technology, your website will be safer and gain the trust of both consumers and search engines.