Is Your Website In Great Shape for 2019?
Your website is your business’s virtual “face to the world,” so it is a critical part of your overall marketing strategy. And, just like an automobile, your website needs periodic attention, so that it will continue serving your needs.
Is your website in great shape for 2019?
Following are eight ways to help it get there:
1 –Be sure your website text and photos accurately portray your business. Have you added a new service or product that isn’t on your website? Or, have you stopped offering something that you used to do? If you have, you’ll want to update your website text and photos, so they are current. There are few things more frustrating to a potential client than discovering that a business doesn’t offer what its website says it does.
2 – Make sure your website looks fresh and appealing. A great way to find out is to take a look at your competitors and see how their websites look next to yours. Which website is the most attractive and engaging? If you were viewing your website for the first time, would you be inspired to call or visit your business? If not, it might be time for a website redesign. If your current website is more than 5 years old, it is definitely time for a visual change!
3 – If you don’t yet have a mobile friendly website, it’s time to do it. Google has switched over to mobile-first indexing, which means that it judges your website by how well it works on mobile devices, even if a lot of your traffic is from desktop. If your website isn’t easy to view and use on a smart phone, you can expect to see your visibility in searches slide. You may already be familiar with the term “responsive” – responsive websites are always mobile friendly.
4 – Make sure your website loads quickly. According to Google itself, 53% of mobile site visitors leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load. Google provides a tool called PageSpeed Insights, where you can check your website speed yourself, for both mobile devices and desktops. If you don’t like what you see, contact your web developer for a technical tune-up.
5 – Implement HTTPS Encryption. To help users browse the web safely, Google wants all websites to be encrypted, even websites that do not collect passwords or credit cards. Encryption became a Google ranking factor in 2014. Worse, still, if your website is not encrypted, visitors are reminded that your site is not secure. That has the potential to directly affect the credibility of your website.
6 – Be sure your business is represented consistently online, so that you aren’t confusing potential customers, as well as search engines. Using the same exact business name, phone number and address on your website and everywhere else you appear online not only builds familiarity and trust, it also boosts your search ranking. Here is a blog post that explains what you can do: Make sure your business is represented consistently online.
7 – Start blogging. Blogs showcase your expertise, as well as draw more visitors to your website. Your blog posts can be found separately from your website by searchers who are looking for information about what your post covers. For ideas on what to blog about, please see this post on What should I blog about?
8 – Invest in Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a very cost effective way to get online searchers to find your website when they look for services or products like yours. Unlike online advertising, like Google AdWords, basic Search Engine Optimization is a one-time project that will reap benefits now and for years to come. If you are considering SEO, I invite you to give me a call to learn more about how it can boost your online presence.
If you have already done all of the above, your website should be in great shape for 2019.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year!
If you or someone you know could use some concrete tips on how to get more business from their website, I offer a free 30-minute website review. Please contact me to set up a time at: 415-250-1347.
Carolyn Kohler is an SEO writer who specializes in helping businesses get found online. Her company is Website Wordsmith, and she is located in the San Francisco Bay Area
