As a business owner, your website is one of your most powerful tools. That’s why it’s so important to have a well-designed, professional website. But design is only one part of the equation—your website also needs to be regularly reviewed to make sure that it’s achieving its goals.
The Importance of Reviewing Your Website Annually
If you’re like most business owners, you understand the importance of regular maintenance and review of your physical storefront or office. You know that first impressions matter, and there’s always something to be updated or fixed if you have a physical space for your business. But what about your website? Just like your brick-and-mortar location, your website is often the first point of contact between you and potential customers. It’s a digital representation of your brand, and it needs to be kept up-to-date and looking its best. That’s why an annual review of your business website is so important.
What Facets of Your Website Need to Be Reviewed
Not sure where to start? Here are some considerations if you’re unsure whether your website needs a review. And remember, Inception Web Design offers free website reviews, so schedule yours today.
Design
Let’s start with the visual aspects of your website. Is your site pleasant to look at? Does it use a consistent color scheme and font style throughout? Are the images high quality? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it might be time for a redesign. Customer’s expectations become more sophisticated year to year, and your site’s overall look should be fresh and modern. As should your overall branding. We know that hiring a professional web designer to do an overhaul of your website can be a big investment, but it’s worth it if it means having a site that accurately reflects your brand and drives conversions.
Written Content
Next, let’s take a look at your content. Is the information on your website accurate and up-to-date? Do your blog posts provide value to readers? Is your copy engaging and free of grammatical errors? Your website content should be well-written and relevant to your target audience, appropriate to the objectives or mission of your business. If it’s not, you run the risk of turning off potential customers and losing out on business.
Functionality
Basic functionality is not something to be overlooked. Can users easily navigate your site? Do all of the links work? Does your contact form work properly? If users can’t find what they’re looking for on your site or they encounter broken links or other errors, they’re likely to give up and go somewhere else. To prevent this from happening, regularly test all of the features on your website and fix anything that isn’t working correctly. If you haven’t reviewed and updated your business website in a while, there are more than likely opportunities to incorporate newer technology into your site to improve conversions and efficiency.
Customer Journey
Nearly everything we covered above has to do with a potential customer’s overall experience with your company website, or the customer journey. When potential customers or clients venture to your website, what path do you think they take through your website from first glimpse until they leave? Does the overall flow of your website result in them purchasing your product or contacting you for service?
How Often Should You Review Your Website?
So, how often should you review your website? In most cases, we recommend an annual yearly review to refresh the basic design and make sure everything is functioning properly. However, it’s not uncommon for businesses to assess their website and overall branding messaging every few years and decide if it’s time for a redesign. Your website may not need a complete overhaul, but be sure to check out an earlier blog of ours: Why It’s Time to Redesign Your Website to ensure your website is as dazzling as possible to your intended audience.
In reality, most business websites can truly benefit from ongoing monthly maintenance, which Inception Web Design specializes in. Having your website updated frequently keeps the design and content fresh, and quickly fixes any bugs and performs necessary updates. However, even if you do have someone managing your website monthly, an annual review is still recommended!
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