5 Tips on Website Updating

Several things might prompt you into thinking that your existing website needs an overhaul or serious update. Amongst them are:

• Updating outdated content – including changes to staff, products and contact details.
• Addition of a new product or service
• A desire to improve results from the website
• To take advantage of new technologies
• Company rebranding

Whatever the reasoning behind the website updating idea, here are FIVE?things to watch out for when the time comes around for your website to be refreshed.

1. Whatever the reason for starting the process, it’s vital that your new look is also compatible with all of Google’s new rules – in particular with regard to mobile responsiveness. With over 80% of first-time searchers using a mobile device first – the appearance of your site on the small device is a paramount consideration.
2. Speed Matters – slow loading images or hefty full-page sliding carousels are OUT these days.
3. Avoid obvious Stock Images wherever possible –?That photo of the woman with the headset that’s on 50% of websites’ “help” pages? Yeah, that’s an outdated design trend. Do you really think visitors believe the same woman works at 50 different companies?
4. Avoid overly aggressive popups.?Some webmasters think that throwing on pop-ups will get more email subscribers. And while that may be true for a bit. The end result gives visitors an even more horrible user experience. Popups can be useful – but need to be properly controlled.
5. Avoid Font Overkill.?If matched properly, 2-3 different fonts can enhance your design. But if you start going past three, you’re just going to make your site confusing and hard to follow.

As with all things on the web, balance is the key – with a strong emphasis on ease of use for the mobile user. Website updating can make a big difference to your website traffic – with the potential for both positive and negative results!

Statistics show that when a mobile site takes over 5 seconds to load, around 80% of users have started to click away.

5 Seconds is not a lot of time, is it? Have you tried loading up your website?on a phone lately?

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