How to Decide When It's Time to Update Your Website
So you've had your business website for a while - maybe a couple of months, or maybe even a couple of years have passed since you really made any major changes to it.
You keep seeing other business owners making the jump in investing in a newly updated custom website, and you are in LOVE with the outcome for them.
But when do you decide when it’s the right time for you to update your website completely?
Updating your website can be a huge investment, in both time and money, but it can also be a huge game-changer in your business.
In this blog post, I will be walking you through 3 different ways you can determine if it's the right time to update your website.
Your Website Is Just a Template (or You Made It Yourself)
If you have had your website for a while, and it just started out as something that you built yourself or maybe an affordable template that you purchased online, it might be time to start looking into a custom-designed website.
I love encouraging new business owners to purchase templates or trying to build a website on your own just because that is more of an affordable option as you are just getting started out on your business.
However as your business starts to gain traction, you will want your website to continue to grow with you. If you don't have a lot of experience with building websites, writing copy that converts, and correctly implementing your visual/nonvisual brand throughout the pages, then your current website is probably not working best for you.
Investing in a custom website can help you create a professional online presence as you continue to grow your clientele, and also will give you the ease of mind that your website is the best that it can be.
You Haven't Updated Your Website in Months/Years
Websites often get put on the back-burner once your business starts taking off because it seems to be serving its purpose in bringing in new clients. However, this does not mean that you should just ignore how your website currently is.
The truth is, as you become more busy, you want to make sure that your website continues to grow and develop with your business!
If you haven’t been able to update photos, update copy, or even add new pages or products to your website, then chances are you are definitely going to need a complete website update.
The reason I say this is because you probably haven't touched your website much since first initially building it, and as time has gone on, your brand, your messaging, and even your customer base has probably changed from when you first built that website!!!
Change is great, but it’s important that all aspects of your business keep up with the change that you are seeing as times goes on.
If you don't have any time to put into updating your site (or don’t even know where to start), then it's probably time to reach out to a website designer and see if they can either completely rehaul your website, or make the appropriate changes that are needed!
You’ll be able to hand off all the details and visions of a new website to a professional that can craft all of that information into a brand new, unique website that you and your customers will become obsessed with.
You Literally Can't Look at Your Website Without Feeling Like It Doesn't Fit Your Business
The most obvious reason to update your website is when you really just don't love it.
Maybe it doesn’t really work on a phone (which is SUPER important nowadays), or the branding looks like it’s from the early 2000s, or you are just simply embarrassed when people ask what your url is.
Whether you designed it, used a template, or even hired a custom designer, if the website isn't working for you in terms of how it looks and works, then chances are it's probably not vibing with your ideal clients either.
Your website is a visual extension of your business and what an experience is like working with you, so you want to make sure that your website puts your best foot forward for potential clients to see!
If you cringe every time you see your website, feel like it really doesn't stand out in the crowd, or just think that there's a lot of things missing that would really benefit your customers, then it's probably time for a website update.
You’ll be able to silence that little voice in your head saying, “This website just doesn’t fit… me” and get feedback from clients who are impressed by the thought and design behind your new website!
You should definitely take your time in looking for the best website designer for your website. If you need some help, check out my blog post on how to find the right website designer for you, where I walk you through finding a website designer that will capture your vision and also stay within your budget.
But I promise you, investing in a custom website update is something that is going to transform your business and just give you the peace of mind that your online presence is going to be working for you, even when you aren't putting constant time into it.
That's what I love about having a strong website: you don't have to constantly update it! Once you invest in custom design, you’ll have a website that you know truly reflects your brand, copy that people can connect with, and a website flow that actually converts customers!!
I hope this article helps you decide if it's time to update your website, and if you realize that maybe it is time for that investment, I would love to work with you in bringing your new vision to life!