It’s really important to create the perfect website for your business, but what was perfect one year might not immediately be perfect the next year. Overall, running a business, especially a plumbing-oriented business, is the farthest thing from easy. Your days are packed between unclogging drains, fixing leaks, and installing new systems. With all that hustle, letting your business website fall by the wayside is easy.
But you have to keep in mind that your website is your digital storefront, and just like any physical storefront, it needs regular upkeep and occasional updates. But when exactly is the best time to refresh your website? Well, here are some of the telltale signs that your business website could use an upgrade.
Your Website Looks Outdated
Needless to say, first impressions matter, especially online. If your website looks like it was designed in the early 2000s, it’s probably time for an update. Actually when it comes to any industry, landscaping, HVAC, you name it, it’s important to have an updated website. It can really help to look into HVAC web design, plumbing design, and basically any web design for the home services profession (ideally not a template).
Anyways, trends in web design change rapidly, and what looked modern five years ago might now seem ancient. Just think about it—would you trust a business with a rusty, old sign out front? The same principle applies to your website. An outdated design can give potential customers the impression that your services are behind the times, too.
It’s Not Mobile-Friendly
Nowadays, a huge chunk of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t optimized for smartphones and tablets, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business. Actually, this isn’t even SEO-friendly either; while yes technically this doesn’t penalize you, it does mean more clicks. Why is this important? Well, the mobile-friendly site adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, which ensures that visitors have a smooth experience whether they’re on a desktop, tablet, or phone.
If customers have to pinch and zoom to read your content or struggle to click tiny links, they’re likely to bounce off your site and head to a competitor’s. Google also favors mobile-friendly websites in search rankings, so an update could boost your visibility.
Slow Load Times
Needless to say, patience is not a virtue most web users possess. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, you’re losing potential customers. Again, this isn’t SEO-friendly, and it can hurt your rankings! It’s so important to understand that people expect fast, responsive websites, and if yours is dragging its feet, they’ll quickly move on.
But that’s not all. You also have to keep in mind that there are various reasons why a site might be slow, from large image files to outdated code. Overall, a website update can address these issues, speeding up load times and keeping visitors engaged.
High Bounce Rates
So, do you look into your Google Analytics? If you notice that visitors are landing on your site but leaving almost immediately, this is a high bounce rate. It’s a clear indicator that something is off. Maybe your content isn’t engaging, or perhaps your site is difficult to navigate. Either way, a high bounce rate means that people aren’t finding what they’re looking for.
So, this is why you need to look into updating your website, overall, an updated design, better content, and improved navigation can all help keep visitors on your site longer, increasing the chances they’ll contact you for your services.
Poor Search Engine Rankings
Alright, so SEO was mentioned a lot, but it definitely needs to be mentioned again. So, you can technically have a great website but still not show up in results. Websites that don’t show up basically don’t even exist. You can’t expect to get a lot of customers online if your website’s SEO is bad; with all of that said, if your website isn’t ranking well, it might be due to outdated SEO practices. Google’s algorithms change frequently, and techniques that worked a few years ago might not cut it today. Updating your site with current SEO best practices can improve your search rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Your Content Is Stale
Hands down, it’s so important to understand that content is king in the digital world. If the information on your website is outdated or sparse, it can hurt your credibility. Are you still showcasing projects from five years ago? Is your team page missing new hires? Updating your website gives you a chance to refresh your content, highlight recent projects, and show off any new services you offer.
Like it or not, there needs to be updates, and yes, you need to have regular content, you don’t have to go all out, but you need to keep it updated as this massively helps. Overall, regularly updated content keeps visitors informed and helps with SEO, as search engines favor fresh, relevant content.
It’s Difficult to Update
So, right above it was mentioned how important it is to update your content, because your website needs updated and it helps customers. But is that all? Well overall it needs to be updated, but what if it feels too hard to update?
Well, if making simple updates to your website feels like pulling teeth, it’s time for a change. It’s super important to keep in mind that maybe you need a whole new platform, maybe something that’s user-friendly (like WordPress or Wix). Sometimes the ease can be enough to make you want to make regular updates.
Your Competitors Have Better Websites
Last, but by all means, this is far from the least, so, it’s really going to help to just take a look at your competitors’ websites. Are they more attractive, easier to navigate, or better optimized for mobile? If so, it’s time to step up your game. Again, you don’t want anything outdated, so it’s not good for you. It’s up to you whether to DIY your website or hire a professional, but it helps massively to make your website look as professional (if not better) than your competitors.
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