What Warrants A Website Refresh

by Allie Cormier

Refreshing your website is not as intimidating as it sounds, and it’s definitely not as complex as the initial launch. But it’s also very important because technology is constantly updating, upgrading, and working behind the scenes to not only be au courant, but to be ahead of the time and trends.

Your computer is also continually working to be au currant. Those annoying updates that pop up on your screen (“updates not installed,” “update your software now,” “install update today”) are an example of that. And that’s just your software! Your hardware is constantly improving too. That’s why there’s always a new iPhone release on the horizon, for instance. Updates can happen weekly, and for those of you with a smartphone, you know how often those apps need to be updated for “minor bug fixes.”

The way websites were once designed has also changed. Things that made a site look cutting-edge five years ago (like Flash technology), are now obsolete and in some cases detrimental. Our research shows people love to use their phones, tablets, or phablets to check out a website and scope things out. The answer we need is only a Google search away and we’re much more likely to use our mobile device in the moment, instead of waiting until we’re in front of our desktop or laptop.

So how does this affect you? A website built five years ago is most likely not Responsive. (“Responsive” means that when you pull up a web page on your mobile device, a Responsive website has automatically sensed the device it’s being served up on, and has adjusted itself accordingly to conform with the screen size.) Responsive Design is a must. Your audience needs to access your information quickly and simply, while still maintaining that sleek design you invested in.

Another thing constantly improving itself is the speed of the Internet. Providers are always upgrading to a higher and higher speed, which allows for much better resolution photos and graphics that will make your website shine. Those photos that were uploaded five years ago on your website may not be looking as fantastic as the new start-up entity’s website you were just checking out.

Another key reason for a website update is that the new HTML5 code allows for more native control. Come again? What that means is that the new website back-end coding is much more streamlined and allows for less loading time for your site visitors – again, delivering your content quicker.

If you’re ready to make the switch, know that working with an experienced team will help you make the transition smooth and will ensure that you retain all of the valuable Search Engine Optimization (SEO) your site has already developed. Additionally, working with a team of professionals (yes — that’s LDM!) allows those who have experience in this field to make sure there’s no downtime between the old and the new sites going live.

Today’s world is go go go, and now now now. People want their content quickly, and those who aren’t able to deliver it lose market share. You work hard to maintain your company or non-profit and stay on top of your field. Your website needs to help you do that.

 

 

allie-cormier-headshotWriter for this issue is Allie Cormier
Designer and Copy/Content Creator at LDM