Most of my small business customers already had a website before they met me. They contacted me because their site wasn’t working very well, and they wanted someone who could make it better. I’m happy to help! I can show you how building a good foundation can make a website last a very long time. Let’s improve your website to get more traffic and sales!
So how do you know if your website needs a redesign or upgrade? Here are 6 questions to help you decide.
1. Is your website mobile-friendly?
Do you want to turn customers away? Give them a website they can’t read on their phones! If you have a 1990s-style website, you should understand it was designed for people to visit on their PCs. That no longer works—in 2020, more than two out of three people – 68.1%—viewed the internet on their phones. If your website doesn’t automatically change to fit a visitor’s screen size, you might lose the chance to win their business. I use responsive design to create websites, and I test my sites on multiple devices to make sure my clients’ websites look good everywhere — on desktops, laptops, phones, and tablets.
2. Is your message engaging? Does it reach people who want to buy from you?
If you’re not getting the results you want from your website, try viewing it like a potential customer would. Why do people search the web for companies like yours? What do they need or want? If you have trouble taking a customer’s point of view, think about what your current clients said when they hired you. What were they looking for? What helped them choose your company? I design websites to flow along with the buyer’s journey. An important first step is making sure visitors immediately know they’re in the right place to find answers to their problems.
3. Are you showing up when people search for businesses like yours? How’s your SEO?
If your website wasn’t designed with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind, you’re missing out on a lot of potential traffic from Google and other search engines. I recommend setting up an individual page for each product or service, with SEO keywords set up for each page. That way, your website’s pages won’t compete against each other. You can purchase SEO service as part of a design package or separate service. The cost is nominal compared to the increase in traffic.
4. Does your website portray an image that’s as professional as you are?
You’re an amazing professional, and you have the experience and credentials to match. Don’t settle for a website that looks DIY. While a DIY site can seem inexpensive, it might imply your business cuts corners or isn’t well-established.
Like your logo and personal appearance, a website reflects your commitment to professional standards. It should reinforce your branding and convey the character of your business. People may want to see you or your team, they may want to hear from your customers, or they may want to see your storefront. If your website looks the same as your competition’s website, or if it looks cheap or unfinished, there is no compelling reason to buy from you.
A professional website designer will help you convey the quality of your work and will make sure your website functions the way you want it to. A good design can immediately start paying for itself with better marketing results, and it can last for several years, allowing you to spend less over time.
Harmony Photography website before
5. Does your website make it easy for customers to contact you? Do you need more calls to action?
When I first started designing websites, I didn’t really understand the value of calls to action, and I didn’t use them enough on my own websites. Those “call now,” “register here,” and “contact me” buttons and forms help visitors interact and share information with you. Customers want an easy way to reach someone or take immediate action. I can update your website with opportunities to get more information, contact you, make an appointment, purchase a product . . . The options can be as unique as your business. A good redesign has lots of calls to action, presented in ways that are tasteful and convenient for your clients.
6. Is your website accessible to everyone?
Have you noticed how often you zoom in on your screen to read smaller type? Do you increase the light level? I’m already using these features, and I don’t have a disability.
The CDC says most people will either have a disability or know someone with a disability during their lifetime. In fact, 25 percent of American adults – potentially one in four customers – lives with a disability. If you think adding accessibility is too expensive, I can guide you through some basic steps that will help visitors more easily navigate and read your site without spending a ton of money. Accessibility features could also be required for your specific business or target clientele, so it’s important to know how well your website functions for a visitor with disabilities.
Use the accessibility links below to see how your website measures up.
Want to talk more about a website redesign or get my professional opinion on how well yours is working?
Learn more about good website design in my article covering 5 Components of a Great Website or contact me at amy@harmonygraphicdesign.com for an evaluation of your site.
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