When your business website is running smoothly, it can be easy to overlook it. Because why fix what isn’t broken? But the truth is, just like clothing trends change, so do website designs—and so does the technology used to build websites behind the scenes. It’s important to stay on top of these ever-evolving trends for several reasons. The visual appearance of your website plays a vital role in attracting and engaging visitors, but the structure also plays a big role as well. If your website looks like it’s been stuck in the early 2000s, or the backend hasn’t been updated since then either, it’s a clear sign it’s time to make some changes.
Out-of-Date Signs
There are a few ways your site can look, feel, and function in an out-of-date way:
- Huge hero images
- Vertical side bars
- Meaningless or no calls to action
- Boring topography
- Stock photos / old images / unprofessional images / pixelated or low-resolution images
- Jam-packed home pages
- Autoplay music
- Spammy pop-ups
- Heavy use of flashy animations
- Excessively bright backgrounds and/or poor color combinations
- Slow load speed
- Non-responsive design
- Out-of-date content
- Poor Search Engine Visibility
- Not accessible to users with disabilities
Why It Matters
If you’re thinking “as long as it works, who cares?” the reality is that out-of-date design can be hurting your credibility. Internet users are far savvier than they used to be, and with so many scammers out there, users are more likely to judge a book by its cover—or a business by its site. Out-of-date design can give the impression that your business is also outdated, or even dishonest.
Options
Refresh
If your site structure is good but the design is lacking, a site refresh may be a good option. Refreshes involve updating color schemes and fonts. Adding new features like a blog as well as professional images, complete with full descriptive information, is beneficial for site visitors and SEO as well.
Rebuild
If your site looks old because it is old, it’s time for a full redesign and rebuild. Having a custom-built website not only will bring your website visually up to date but structurally as well. If you’re concerned about a new site negating your long-standing SEO, we have a solution for that too.
Hammersmith Support Can Help Your Site Too
Do you have questions about what your site might need? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation and let’s talk through your thoughts and how Hammersmith Support can help you and your business.