Game of Thrones wasn’t just a show. It became a cultural phenomenon that, wait for it, aired over a decade ago.
Time is funny like that. Big moments can feel like yesterday – even though eons have passed.
The question is: has this same time-lapse happened with your website?
It may seem like you just updated it, when in reality, it’s been more than a few good years. If so, there’s a solid chance your website could use a refresh, because the world is a very different place since 2019.
Has Your Business Changed Since Your Last Update?
Odds are, updating your website took a lot of your time and effort. It was a big project, and that’s why it feels so recent, even though it was at least four or five years ago. If your new website is drastically different than your previous one, it can take years to get used to seeing it every day.
But think about how much has changed in four or five years. Successful businesses evolve over time, and your website needs to reflect any changes in your offerings or your brand identity. Has your target audience changed? Have you made some tweaks to your logo or brand voice? Consistency is key in establishing a brand identity, so your website should clearly reflect your business’s values and messaging.
Outdated Websites are Not Secure and Mobile-Friendly
Search engines prioritize websites that are modernized, fast, and secure. So, the longer you go without making improvements in these areas, the more your search engine rankings will suffer.
Redesigning your website gives you the opportunity to modernize by incorporating the latest cybersecurity defenses and strengthening your website’s mobile capabilities. Additionally, in this ever-mobile world, it’s imperative to ensure your website’s design is truly mobile responsive.
Outdated Websites are Not Optimized for SEO
Google has recently revealed that artificial intelligence is now going to being used as part of their programming to evaluate websites, which means that the criteria for an SEO-friendly website is going to change yet again. Not a big surprise, there.
What this means though, is that the standard practice for white-hat SEO strategies all the while will remain in place. Instead of filling your pages with keywords and backlinks, your website needs to be heavily focused on user experience, so visitors can find what they’re looking for as easily as possible. Websites that are difficult to navigate are viewed as distrustful by search engines, meaning they won’t recommend your content to innocent searchers. Oh, and AI tends to favor human written content that it can then use as the gold standard for their information gathering.
An Outdated Site Only Gets Harder to Maintain
Outdated websites are harder to maintain and upgrade. So, if you wait longer than four or five years to give your website a refresh, it’s only going to get harder to bring it up to date with the latest technologies. Additionally, an outdated website may not be competitive with the newest version of your target audience’s preferred web browser. This can make your website significantly slower and at risk for cybersecurity threats.
Consumer Expectations Evolve, So Should Your Website
As you can see, an outdated website isn’t just a cosmetic issue. You could be unknowingly losing out on a surprising number of potential leads because your user experience is so poor. The fact is, consumer expectations evolve very quickly, and your website needs to keep up.
For more advice on how to know your website is due for an upgrade, contact the team at The Found Gen today.
