If you run a small business, you need to have a website. Even if you never plan to sell anything online, having a web presence can help build your brand, create confidence in would-be customers and grow your business.
A well-designed website can drive customers to your brick-and-mortar store or drive interest in a grand opening. If you do have an online store, a good website can do even more to grow your sales and boost your bottom line.
Just having a website is not enough, however. An outdated or poorly designed website can actually harm your business and its reputation. If any of the following apply to your website, it is time for a modern makeover.
#1. You Are Still Using a Domain Hosted by Your ISP or Another Third-Party Source
If you own a business, a domain-name like myurl.com/mybusiness does not instill much confidence in your customers. If you are still using a domain name supplied by your ISP or a free third-party source, it’s time to ditch it and go out on your own.
It may cost you a few bucks, but the money you spend on your own dedicated domain name will be the best investment you ever make. Having your own domain can improve your search rankings, build trust among your visitors and help you grow your business.
#2. Your Visitors Think They Have Time-Traveled to the 1980s
If your website consists of tiled panels and cute animated GIFs, you need to change things now. Those elements went out with the early days of the commercial Internet, and modern website designers have far more tools at their disposal.
An outdated website design can make your company look out of touch and make your business look bad. The modern tools that webmasters have at their disposal make it easier than ever to give your site a facelift, and now is the perfect time to get started.
#3. You Cannot Do What You Want to Do
A basic website might be fine if all you need to do is publicize a real-world business. All you need are a few pages to describe your business, and perhaps an ‘About Us’ section with unique content to introduce the team.
If you want to scale your site, however, that basic design might no longer be sufficient. Your basic website might not provide support for an online shopping cart or a virtual store. If you wish your website could do something it can’t, it’s time for a makeover.
Takeaway-
Investing in a better website with custom content and sleek design and seamless usability can provide long-lasting benefits for your business. If you do it right, the money you spend on the redesign will come back to you many times over in the form of increased sales and greater brand awareness.