4 Reasons Your Website Needs Redesigned Every 3 Years

How Often Should A Website Be Updated Shoes, cars, clothing, phones, the list goes on and on. There is a lifecycle to almost every product you ever buy (expect for maybe gravestones!) Everyone has an idea of how long a product should last.

Some people think that they should have newer editions of products earlier than others, but what about the users on your small business website? What about advances in website technology, search engine updates, and competitor updates?

Based off prior industry knowledge, we think that a good rule of thumb is to have a new website redesigned every three years. Below are four reasons why:

1. Technology has shifted

When I open my laptop my soon to be two year old son will point and say “iPad, iPad” because he thinks that there is no difference between the two. During the time gap between website redesigns tablets and mobile devices may not have been on the radar during the website development stage. Factors such as responsive design and Mobilegeddon now put company websites at a disadvantage.

2. Your business has changed

I have experienced first-hand, while starting a website redesign project, business owners scoffing at the focus of their current websites. There are so many changes that impact an organization in three years’ time that some people can’t relate with their company’s website. If business owners feel that way, can you image the impression that customers and prospects have? Factors such as focusing on new services, phasing out less profitable products / services, changes in buyer behavior, law changes and so much more can alter the target market for an organization. All of the changes and new company initiatives should be reflected on their websites.

3. Both algorithms and the digital landscape has changed

Search Engines and Social Media websites are businesses too! If you think that your business changed a lot in three years, can you image the adjustments these multi-billion dollar industries have made? Whatever tactics a company focused on three, or even longer, years ago have most likely changed. There was a time before the Google Search Console, Google Panda, mobile browsing, and even Social Media sites. Sites such as Periscope may not have been part of your digital marketing plan three years ago because it didn’t exist! Like any other business platforms and algorithms are forever changing.

4. It makes you look dated

This should be the first on the list, but if I was reading this article and saw this at number one I would have skipped the rest of the article because it’s elementary. It’s simple, but a dated look is visible to clients, prospects, and competitors. If there isn’t a schedule for a redesign every three years than it is most likely that competitors are updating their websites during that time and your once brand new website is now one of the last to update during the cycle of your competitors.

6 Ways to Convince Your Company to Start a Blog

6 Ways to Convince Your Company to Start a Blog The transition from traditional marketing to digital can be a tough topic for some marketing professionals to upper management. Traditional marketing, at its core, is to contain all of the valuable product/service and industry information and only display it to the current client base and well known prospects. Digital marketing , at its core, is the complete opposite. Sharing information is why the internet was established and marketing in this realm is no different.

I would like to tell you that I have used all of these tactics with my current company to establish a blog, but I didn’t. The president of the company was very proactive with both digital marketing and blogging as worthy marketing and company initiatives. Since every organization is different suggesting a blog may not be as simple as mentioning that there is a need for one. Here are some suggestions that might convince your company to start a blog:

1. Show the statistics from the experts

Take advice from the people who are blogging for a living. A great example of this is Robert Farrington’s post: How I Doubled My Traffic by Finding My Audience

2. Show how the competitors in the space are participating

If they are, then you have to get in and beat them to the punch on new topics, or put a unique spin that only your company can provide. If they are not then you can be the first company and position yourself as the thought leader.

3. Get their attention by presenting in a medium that you know upper management pays attention to

Whether it is with a presentation, during a weekly call, suggesting a digital marketing book, or a mass email; promote the topic in a place that will get their attention.

4. Show example search queries

There are vast topics on every industry. For instance you can find top results for a variety of topics such as “finding top candidates” “best ways to make money”, and “how to buy a used car” most of which have blog post results.

5.Create a list of blog post topics and a calendar

It’s easy to resist going into unknown territory without a plan, but having scheduled ideas can only help the cause. Consistency is probably the most important aspect of a successful blog. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, schedule the blog posts so that an audience knows what to expect.

6. Promote the price (FREE)

Present the topic the way you would any other marketing initiative and show that programs such as WordPress can be used at no cost. An opportunity to increase website traffic without a cost is a no-brainer.

If you need further assistance convincing your company to start a blog feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email.