Your website will last for just two years, according to general consensus, we were really surprised by this figure, given that some websites can take nearly half of that time to get off the ground from initial planning to the final ‘go live’. We’ve designed and built more than a few websites in our time and would argue, that in the B2B space at least, you can definitely get more bang for your buck than two years out of your website! Each website is unique, and therefore they all have their own lifespans. Here are our top red flags for a dying website. Should the diagnosis prove fatal, we’re right here to resuscitate!
Your pages are slowing down
In a world where 5 minutes is too long to wait for the next bus and non-contactless payments are a hassle at the checkout, Google is just as impatient as us! Your website risks being pushed down in search rankings if your pages take longer than usual to load.
How long is too long? Use Google’s Page Speed Insights to test your website. This should show you if your website is in trouble.
You look great…but only on one device
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In this case, the beholder is the device. Your website may be looking great on desktop, but have you tried opening it on your phone recently? Or a tablet? Over 50% of all global website traffic is through mobile phones. You may think that this is just for B2C, but in fact 80% of B2B buyers use a mobile at work. Don’t alienate half of your audience by neglecting the website layout for smaller screens. We’ve seen plenty of websites not cut out for this purpose, and it will be sure to disappoint your website visitors if yours isn’t up to scratch.
You look sketchy
You’re no longer a safe option If your site doesn’t have an SSL security certificate, it’s time to get one. HTTPS encryption on websites became mandatory by browsers in 2017 so if your site isn’t protected, your visitors are probably getting a big fat security warning when they attempt to access your site.
What’s more, HTTPS encryption is understood to be a pass/fail ranking factor for Google. So, if you don’t have the right certificate, it could be seriously damaging your search engine visibility.
SSL certificates are easy to acquire and for the most part, inexpensive. There’s really no excuse to leave your site open to hackers. If your site isn’t secure, it could be time for a new website.
Your business has developed but your website is the old-you
If your business has grown or changed significantly since your website was built, its lifespan is going to be cut much shorter. We’re not talking about a whole new build or design here, but whatever has changed in the business should also be changed on your website. At Workshop we have helped many clients update their website to reflect a new direction or new products and services. All these red flags are hurting your traffic
Have you noticed a decline in visitors? Or conversions? Though these problems can be linked to all sorts of causes, if you have identified any of the red flags in your website, It might be time to start thinking about an overhaul.
Workshop is the B2B success agency. From UX to design, to technical and on-page SEO we can help you tweak your existing website or deliver a shiny new one. Get in touch here
