If you enjoy watching HGTV like I do, you’ll understand the thrill of seeing the Before and After comparisons. I love it when the Property Bros or Chip & Joanna take a blah or neglected house and work their magic to bring it up-to-date and increase its value in a huge way.
How can you tell if it’s time to do a website renovation or go for a completely new, up-to-date site? Just like on HGTV, where walls get pulled down, new paint goes on and new windows go up, sometimes just doing some “fixup” is not going to give you the results you need. Here are some reasons for considering a new or revised website, right now:
1. Your site is set up on an outdated WordPress theme that isn’t mobile-responsive.
If your site doesn’t display well on mobile devices, you need to upgrade to a new mobile theme that will display beautifully across all devices. This is key, since most users do their viewing on a mobile phone or tablet. Plus, Google now enforces a “mobile-first” policy in its search engine functions, meaning a non-responsive site gets downgraded in Search.
2. There’s no clear message to your audience.
You have about 3 seconds to tell your story on your homepage, and it needs to be clear as glass. You must tell your visitors exactly what you have to offer and how it will benefit them. Create a compelling message that speaks to your audience’s need, instead of a story about yourself and how great your company is.
3. There’s no call to action on the homepage.
If you aren’t offering a specific action for your visitors to take or making them an offer they can’t refuse, you’re losing out on a huge opportunity to build your audience – and ultimately, your business. What do you want your visitors to do once they’ve scrolled down your homepage? Simply by adding a Contact Us button or a Signup or Download enticement, you’ll be able to build an email list that’ll help you build, develop, and nurture an ongoing relationship with your target clients.
4. The visuals are tired and uninspiring.
Website images that are blatantly overused stock images or are boring and out-of-date create a negative first impression. It might be time to replace dated photos with clean illustrations or icons. And definitely ditch your ten-year-old headshot for a fresh, new photo!
5. Your site has been dormant and gets almost no traffic.
When was the last time you added fresh content to your site? Fresh content is like fresh paint – it adds appeal and enhances your image. Make sure you have SSL installed via your website hosting provider. Install a plugin for SEO and get help checking your site’s settings.
Having a vision of what your site could be, is the first step. Let me help you achieve that vision.