Outdated Websites and First Impressions
What would you do if someone gave you 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression?
You’d probably spend it hoping you’d worn a more flattering shirt or put on your favorite cologne.
According to a study of participants viewing a web page, it took only 50 milliseconds—that’s 0.05 seconds—to form an opinion. Depending on what they perceive in this time, visitors to your website may decide to continue using it or click off immediately.
That’s how important a good website is.
However, only two-thirds of small businesses have a website. Among these, almost half of the companies depend on in-house website maintenance that may not meet the criteria of expertise needed.
An old, outdated website doesn’t just create a negative impression, it’s also less likely to show up in web searches, instill less trust in visitors, and leads to fewer conversions.
Here are some signs your website may be outdated:
This one is easy to diagnose and, perhaps, a cause of sheepishness for you. If your website is still displaying discount banners from two years ago and no new blogs have been added in months, it’s a clear sign of neglect.
Unfortunately, an old, unkempt website is unappealing to visitors who’ll assume you’re not even in business anymore owing to the outdated information.
How To Fix Old Websites
It isn’t too late to start over. Revamp your website with a new look and relevant information to let visitors know you’re open for business! This isn’t a one-time fix, you’ll have to dedicate time, effort, and resources to ensure your website is updated often.
It’s no surprise that making your website accessible on various devices increases your outreach considerably. According to research, mobile devices accounted for 51.92% of global website traffic.
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly or isn’t responsive to varying screen sizes, you could be losing out on revenue.
Working with website design and development experts, you can make sure your website flows smoothly on each device. Checking its responsiveness ensures all images, text, and loading times are performing optimally.
Most business owners know the importance of a high search engine ranking in determining their brand’s visibility and conversion rates. After all, the top five SERP results are said to receive 67.6% of the user clicks.
Gone are the days when high SERP rankings relied on the number of keywords you could fit into your home page. In fact, keyword stuffing is now considered an outdated practice that does more harm than good for your website.
Instead of focusing on putting in as many keywords to make your website visible to potential customers, there are other SEO strategies at your disposal. Fresh and time-appropriate content, the smart use of keywords, backlinking, and high domain authority are all techniques you should be using instead.
According to HubSpot, 38% of people will not engage with your website if the layout or content is unattractive. That’s why it’s important to change how your website looks and what it has to offer.
What’s Worse Than an Outdated Website? 28% of Small Businesses Don’t Have a Website
According to a recent survey by Top Design Firms, 28% of small businesses do not have a website. However, 44% of small businesses plan to create a website in 2021. Most small businesses (71%) do have a website, but maintaining it can be a challenge as customers have high expectations for enterprise websites.
The survey also found that 46% of small businesses have in-house teams manage their website, while 32% use DIY website builders to create a basic website. In 2021, 30% of small businesses plan to add video content to their website. A high-quality website will be especially important in 2021 as small businesses try to meet customer expectations and demand.
Local Image Can Help!
You’re in luck, Local Image Co can help you diagnose and remedy all your website-related concerns through a comprehensive strategy. Our team of SEO experts and experienced web developers will help you design a website that stays true to your brand and gives customers what they’re looking for.
Our tailor-made strategy will bolster your business’s online presence through web design, PPC services, web development, social media marketing, email marketing, and local SEO services in Portland, ME.
We’ve worked with countless small businesses in the region through our consultation and digital marketing efforts.
Get in touch with us and set up a free consultation by emailing us at info@localimageco.com.
