6 Signs You’re in Need of a Website Redesign
It’s difficult to know when it’s time to invest in a new website. You have to consider budget and resources and the people who will be involved—it’s a big decision. But your website is one of your most valuable assets, and it’s important that it reflects well on your organization. It’s often how people first encounter your brand and come to learn about the valuable work that you do. Your website really matters! So, if you’re trying to decide whether you’re in need of a new one, use these six signs as your guide.
1. It looks outdated
Web design trends change quickly, so it’s hard to know when your site is behind the times. Ask yourself if you enjoy going to your organization’s website. Are you proud of the way it looks? Is it easy to use? A good rule of thumb is to update your website every three to five years, but if you’re still unsure, take a look at your competitors’ sites to see how they look and feel. This will give you a good sense of where you stand in comparison to others in your field.
2. It’s not mobile-friendly
More than 50 percent of web traffic comes from mobile devices these days, and that number is only growing. It’s important to have a responsive site that displays correctly both on desktop and on mobile. The last thing you want is to lose potential donors because your website doesn’t function well at all screen sizes.
3. It’s difficult to navigate
Sometimes, the difference between a good site and bad site is the way that it’s structured. Because websites often serve as people’s primary source for information, it’s important for them to be able to find what they need quickly and easily. The longer people have to spend on your site searching for information, the more likely it is that they’ll leave. Structuring your website so it’s simple and easy to navigate will only help your cause.
4. It’s not converting donors
Are you not seeing the online donations you were hoping for? With a new website, you can incorporate donation page best practices to increase conversion rates. This may include removing navigation links, reducing the number of form fields, or adding compelling imagery. Couple that with a strategic fundraising campaign, and you’re sure to see better results.
5. It’s not performing well
If you haven’t checked your analytics in a while, now may be a good time to do so. They’ll tell you all you need to know about the effectiveness of your website. Is your traffic low? Is your bounce rate high? Is your page speed slow? These are all indicators that your website’s performance can be improved with a website redesign.
6. Its content is outdated
If your site consists mostly of old content, broken links, and 404 errors, then it’s probably time to make some updates. The content on your site should be accurate and up to date with the latest information. You should also consider how the content is being presented. Does it reflect your brand well? Are you speaking to the right audience? Are you using keywords to improve SEO? If the answer is no, then a website redesign is the perfect time to re-evaluate your website content.
No matter where you are in the decision-making process, it’s good to keep these things in mind. Your website is an essential marketing tool that should further your cause—not hinder it—so make sure it represents your organization well.
Not sure where to go from here? Green Gate is always happy to help.
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