Have you observed how easily tasks accumulate? You know, when you come home expecting to relax but instead find that you neglected the laundry that weekend and just dirtied your last pair of clean socks? You then think to yourself, “If only I’d done the laundry yesterday.”
When you go to your website, do you think, “If only… ” ?
Why Update?
Keeping your website up to date may be a hassle but it may mean the difference between success and failure. Studies show that within a matter of seconds (actually, in less than one), guests determine whether or not they will continue to traverse the site they are on. If your goal is to gather people to your site and then induce them to stay once they’re there, keeping it updated is indispensable.
Updating also shows you care about your site and take its content seriously. If your site or it’s content hasn’t been updated, your audience will assume you either don’t take your topic seriously, don’t actually believe what it is you’re saying, or you aren’t proficient enough to listen to. If your site isn’t important enough for you to update it, why should people waste their time looking at it?
Where to Start
Professionalism is the key. You’re trying to convince others to trust your site above someone else’s.
What if you walked into a store but couldn’t find any of the items you were looking for? The items you did find were expired and the employees were slow and useless. You wouldn’t stay, go back, or recommend the store to anyone.
The same applies to your website. When the site performs well, possesses the information needed, is effectively organized and is easy to use; people will continue to frequent your site and they will recommend it to others.
Here are a few ideas on some key areas that will help to improve your website:
- Update your content
It doesn’t matter what product, activity or topic; keeping your content “on the leading-edge” will improve trust and reputation. When compared to other sites that hold the same topic as yours; if your site’s content is outdated, your visitors will trust those other websites, as their information is fresh. The saying goes “the early bird gets the worm.” Logic follows that the website which has the most prevalent material gets the ratings. Know what you’re talking about and ensure it’s easy to understand. Again, keep it professional. - Organize
People judge by the appearance of a site whether or not it’s worth looking at. Organization will not only help your visitors navigate your site, but it will make them feel important- like you want them to be there. If potential clients feel you care, they will want to come back. Easy to use means a lack of frustration. No frustration means good business. And, after all, the visitors are the business. - Design
Colors, pictures, videos- all are great when it comes to targeting an audience. They initiate curiosity in your guests and help to draw them in. However, if your site is entirely attraction and no substance, guests won’t stay for long. So ensure you have sufficient content as well.
Most importantly, trust your ideas. They aren’t flawed, nor are your ambitions too great. Your greatest enemy is procrastination. Just like the laundry- if you choose to take action now while you only have one load; not only will there be less to do, you will always have clean socks. Or, in this case, you will always have a flourishing website. So why wouldn’t you update?
Now go update your website, and do a load of laundry.
Best Regards,
p.s. if you need help updating your website contact me and I’ll set you up with the latest internet marketing tools tools to get your website found and keep visitors on your site!
