We’d not be breaking any news here if we tell you that your website works as your company’s virtual headquarters. So, it has to be as awesome as you claim your organization or business to be.
Industry people tend to talk and referrals work almost always; but a potential client hardly ever chooses your product or service without first searching about you online and going to your official website.
Therefore, the first direct interaction of a total stranger with your company needs to be a riveting one.
If your website is slow, takes long to load, has poor cross-browser compatibility, features dull or irrelevant content, lacks calls to action, or is not made mobile-first (over 62% of users access the internet using their mobile phones), it will definitely leave a bad impression on the visitor.
But even if the user can’t complain about a thing about your website, the design and user experience trends tend to shift on a regular basis, making it important for brands to refresh their virtual presence to stay relevant.
Your Website May Be Costing You Clients
Your website may be costing you clients without your knowledge.
According to a study, it takes about 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds) for users to form an opinion about your website. Based on that instantaneous opinion, they decide whether to stay or leave.
Furthermore, 57% of internet users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed website on mobile. And to businesses’ utter shock, 88% of online consumers will not return to a site after a bad experience.
And the stats continue to throw the spotlight on the extreme importance of a responsive, well-designed, and up-to-date website. Yet, this vital fact, unfortunately, gets ignored more often than one would expect.
What it means that your website is subject to an extreme level of snap judgments that influence perceptions of credibility.
Businesses prioritize everything else over upgrading their websites; it’s a low-priority undertaking for them that can be dealt with ‘sometime later’. Unfortunately, they’re losing potential traffic and conversions meanwhile.
Why Mobile-First Design Must Take Precedence
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that your website should boast a mobile-first design. And there are valid numbers to support that claim (read matter of fact). Here are some:
- Smartphones hold about 65% share of all retail website visits
- A mobile device is used to search the internet by 80% of users
- 40% of online transactions are done using a mobile device
- Over 50% of global websites now use responsive web design
- Over 50% of mobile users consider website speed as a big factor
- About 65% of search engine traffic is generated via mobile device
The number of global smartphone users has nearing a staggering 3 billion. If your website has a load speed of 5 seconds or less, 70% longer viewing sessions are guaranteed.
Another important thing to factor in here is search engines’ evolving policies in favor of user-friendliness. For example, your web page may now get eliminated by Google if it’s not mobile-friendly.
And it goes without saying that a user who is let down by the mobile version of your website will have and promote a pretty negative impression of your business. Complicated layouts and boring content also cause the users to bounce back.
Why Website Performance Matters A Lot
Many websites today are also e-commerce stores selling merchandise directly to customers. Other are information-based only, giving the users an outlook of your business or organization and prompting them to take an action.
In either case, responsiveness and performance matter a lot. If in spite of having fast smartphones and internet connections the visitor is having a bad experience on your website, there’s something terribly wrong with it.
And this should concern you. According to research data, slow-loading websites cost retailers $2.6 billion in lost sales each year. And users are quick to make bad judgments about your business when your website performs poorly.
All this is common knowledge, yet needs redressal on a large scale. The website should be a mix of beautiful design and message. The visuals and text must be in the right proportion as going heavy on either side might cause the visitor to lose interest.
It’s a fast-paced world and no one has time to view your boring galleries or read your lengthy messaging. The visitor takes seconds to determine whether or not the site offers what he came for. If you succeed in making them stay for long, it’s a win.
DID YOU KNOW: 70% of small business websites lack a Call to Action (CTA) on their homepage.
Design Is As Important As Performance
Or as the numbers suggest, the design holds way more importance. For example, statistics show that website first impressions are a staggering 94% design-related. It means that of all the negative website design feedback, 94% is related to its design.
Another study found that close to half of the consumer decisions are based on the website’s visual appeal and aesthetics. Moreover, about 80% of the users tend to stop engaging with your website if its content doesn’t display well on their device.
These are important numbers that businesses, regardless of their type or size, must give some serious thought to. After all, about 88% of the users who lookup your business on their phones will end up calling or visiting you within 24 hours!
So, never let the design of your website play second fiddle to performance. The trick is to strike a winning balance that would keep your visitor on the site and keep them coming back for more.
Top Reasons Why You Should Update Your Website
If you’ve read so far, you must have gotten a clear idea of what your website should look and feel like to bring you more business while retaining your current customers.
Technology is constantly changing. So are design trends and your customer preferences. Besides, it makes simple sense for your virtual presence to look refreshed every couple of years.
Here are some of the key reasons why you should update your website.
- Your Design Is Outdated
Your website design is so important that it can make or break your business. A young user visiting your website can simply leave because the design is outdated, wondering how you can be relevant if the design of your most important digital asset looks ignored.
A simple formula for a lost potential sale a week is to multiply it by 52. Are you in a position to afford that massive loss of potential sale? We don’t think so.
- Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Responsive
As discussed above, over 50% of websites today are made to be responsive. This means that they will not only have a seamless cross-browser compatibility, but will also mobile-friendly.
And talking about mobile-friendliness, the latest web design trend if mobile-first, meaning that desktop use is of a second priority today. This is backed by the fact that a majority of web traffic comes from mobile devices.
- Your Website Has Poor Security
A smartphone with an internet connection has enabled countless amazing things. We call the cab, order food, send and receive money, shop for clothes, and do a lot using amazing web services.
All that brings the security of your website to the center stage. It is so paramount that a minor breach can cost your business a fortune. So, a website overhaul can also be directed towards improved security.
- Your Web Content Is Not Up-To-Date
If the last time you updated your web content was years ago, there’s little wonder why the site is performing terribly. People don’t say ‘content is king’ without a reason.
Both the users as well the search engines hate old and outdated content. If the users see the same old stuff every time they visit your site, you will soon be irrelevant. Besides, the new, young user will not be able to relate to your business and countless potential leads will be wasted.
- Your SEO Game Is Poor
Search engine optimizers not only help you improve your visibility on the SERPs, they also help you improve on many other fronts. In fact, your position in the search rankings is heavily dependent on a user- and search-engine friendly site.
So, the website redesign must never be done with just the help of designers and developers. SEOs play a major role in making your website useful, attractive, and up-to-date for greater business success.