It is time to update your website. The New Year is the perfect time. Most people do not regularly visit their website and of those that do, even fewer take the time to read it. Is your website up-to-date? Have you checked it? A tell-tale sign that you need to make updates is the copyright date on your website. Outdated content sends a confusing message to visitors and consequently costs you new business.
Your website content should speak to the Present. An old date reference or an outdated event is an obvious update. Look also for phrases and references that place you in the Past. Does your content speak to the economy or a business sector in a tone that is no longer relevant? Are you referencing people that are no longer with the company? Do you mention a company that is no longer in business? You should only reference the Past when it has merit to the Present. Dated material needed for future reference should be saved under the heading Archives.
Up-to-date content also means new content. Content is a double-edged sword. As outdated content creates confusion – new content builds confidence. Be proactive. Make it abundantly clear that you’re the best and that you’re still in business. Stagnant old content smells like a dead business. Reduce this risk; let your website meet your marketing goals by adding fresh new content. New content shows you’re alive. Do you have new staff or a new location? Do you have a new product? Can you get testimonials from your customers? Add these items. Inform your visitors about your business and what is going on in your industry. Keeping your visitors informed is a good thing. It forces you to stay informed yourself, it educates your customers and it lets your visitors know that you know what you are doing. Start building confidence, not confusion.
Does your content communicate effectively? The devil is in the details. This can be as simple as the obvious: broken images and links. Updates may mean a page is no longer relevant. If you remove a page, then remove all the links to that page. Does your content make sense? Do you properly emphasize information with italics and bold? What about spelling and grammar? Some people have a gift for writing but these people are few. Swallow your pride and let someone else critique your content. You read your content knowing what you’re trying to say. Let someone else tell you what they got from your content. If your message was conveyed – great! If your message didn’t get through – then you might need to update accordingly.
Overwhelmed? We can help. Start by letting us review your website. We can analyze your content and give you suggestions on how to improve. If needed we can even help you write your content.
Contact Us Today – Better Your Website.
Tags: copyright, homepost, visitors, website content