Do you know the last time your business’ website was updated? If the answer is no, there’s a solid chance you’re in dire need of an overhaul. With today’s digital landscape evolving faster than ever, maintaining a well-honed online presence is a vital part of any marketing mix intended to convert customers and build your brand for the long term. Whether you’re an established business or are just getting started building brand awareness, consumers expect companies to meet them online with websites that are constantly innovating to adopt the latest features and standards. Failure to do so not only hinders your overall reach but can put your business at risk for irrelevancy and allow competitors to take your place in the market with ease. Below, we’ll explore a few of the reasons why keeping your website updated is crucial, as well as discuss some of the significant indications you need an update. Read on to learn more!

The Numbers Don’t Lie

As we enter the 2020’s, there’s no denying that today’s average consumer is much more digitally engaged than generations prior. Regardless of who your target audience may be, chances are, they have become highly accustomed to engaging with brands online via websites and social media.

Market research indicates that customers expect brands to maintain an online presence that allows for constant engagement and service. Research also shows that website design and utility plays a core role in helping to form their overall impression of a business-often times before they even step in the door!

A few quick stats to consider:

• 94% of first impressions are related to your website.
• 83% of people expect a website to load in 3 seconds or less.
• 74% of users are more likely to return to mobile-friendly websites
• Slow-loading websites cost businesses a collective $2.6 billion every year.
• Increasing your website load speed by just 1 second can increase conversion by 7%.

To put it bluntly: if you’re not optimizing your website to meet customer expectations and current standards, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Long gone are the days of the “set it and forget it” websites. If you want to drive results that count, you need to ensure that every aspect of your digital marketing mix works together to engage and convert customers on all fronts. An updated website is non-negotiable and needs to be a foremost priority for any business.

Signs It’s Time For An Upgrade

Still not sure if your website needs an upgrade? Below are some tell-tale signs that it’s time to overhaul your site and create a digital asset that pulls its weight.

You Haven’t Updated In Years

As we mentioned above, static websites no longer make the grade. Failing to attend to your website regularly has two significant drawbacks:

Outdated Information Hurts Your Authority

With customers relying on digital information more than ever before, it’s imperative to make sure that your site has accurate information, branding, and more. While it can be tempting to fall into the trap of “later”, there is no time to spare when it comes to providing your prospective buyers with the information they need to move forward in the conversion process.

Falling Behind The Times Leads To Poor User Experience

User experience is king when it comes making a good first (and continued) impression on your audience. As web design continues to evolve, it’s integral to ensure that your site embodies best practices and stays away from hindrances such as slow loading speeds, clunky videos, copy that is difficult to read, and more.

You’re Not Mobile Responsive

In 2019, 53.3% of all web usage came from mobile phones. If your site has not been to welcome mobile users, you’re excluding a huge portion of potential buyers and doing your business a significant disservice. At this stage of the digital marketing era, there’s simply no excuse for failing to adopt a mobile-friendly design.

Your Bounce Rate is Sky High

Bounce rate refers to the number of visitors who land on your site and then immediately click (bounce) back to their search results. While many factors can lead to high bounce rates, common offenders include slow load times, unclear navigation, ‘walls’ of unreadable text, and content that is not immediately recognizable to their wants or needs.

You’re Not Getting Any Conversions

Regardless of how stylish your site may be, it is still an asset to convert your audience to your desired objectives. If your current website is not succeeding in doing so, it’s time to take a closer look and critically evaluate what areas may be lacking using hard data and market insights.

Need A Fresh Start?

Atrium is the world’s first digital marketing agency designed to provide consistent, long-term, results by using a system driven approach to marketing. Each of our services, including our award-winning website design, utilize an engineering mindset paired with unbeatable industry expertise to analyze your existing assets and create a custom plan complete with assets tailored to your needs. From creating flawless websites to providing exceptional results for online advertising, social marketing, and more, Atrium is proud to partner alongside our clients to help them avoid the many pitfalls of subpar websites and to create a full marketing strategy that works.

Learn more about the advantages of exceptional web design, including how Atrium can help you create a site that’s sure to impress and deliver by contacting our team today.