The Top 7 Website Updates For 2021 To Make Your Website Awesome
As your business evolves, your website should also. Worthwhile website updates generally come update two types. 1) behind the scenes updates focused more on functionality and security, and 2) front-facing physical updates that website visitors can see like wording and images.
In this article, we’ll cover out top 7, most overlooked website updates including behind the scenes updates and front facing edits, including:
- Speed + Performance Updates
- Online Form CAPTCHA ‘Bot’ Spam Protection
- Customer Reviews Page
- Privacy Policy Page
- Updating Images
- Updating or Revising Your Services Page
- SEO Specific Content Updates
But first of all, let’s answer one of our most common questions regarding website updates…
How Often Should I Update My Website?
When it comes to websites, first of all, there’s all the technological updates required to keep everything functional (anti spam features, performance upgrades and the like). We, in the web design game call these Backend Updates.
The Day-to-Day Updates | Backend
Most modern websites require day-to-day monitoring, to ensure that essential software updates are successfully integrated for security and performance. This varies depending on your choice of website platform and are easily taken care of with the right fully managed hosting provider.
Getting Physical
Then there’s the physical design and content updates that the customer sees. You know, those lovely people who take the time to visit your website that you hope will spend money with you! The key is to keep giving them what they want, and what they generally want is a solution to their problem.
Updates to Refresh | Frontend
These are the website updates that keep your website current and user-friendly. It ensures that all of your information is current and accurate and often include regular Content (wording and images) edits, layout redesigns and changes to functionality (e.g. how an online form works from your customer’s perspective).
When is the Best Time to Redesign Your Website?
A new year or season brings new energy, and the opportunity for businesses to create a huge surge of momentum. There is literally no better time than around the new calendar or financial year to invest in quality website updates that ensure your business runs smoothly, can scale, and maintain a solid online presence all year long! Also, there are also tax benefits from investing in significant website upgrades! Click to read our 2017 blog, Is My Website Tax Deductible? Other changes however, like keeping your website up to date, swapping photos and adding new information is something you need to be committed to all year round.
Now let’s get back to what specific backend and frontend updates that you can implement in 2021 that will improve your website all round.
Tip # 1 | Speed + Performance Updates
It’s no secret that the speed and performance of your website directly impacts your customer’s experience. As we’ve mentioned in our Blog about the importance of quality web design, your website is often the first thing prospective customers see. It takes less than half a second for them then just your entire business based on this first impression!
Your website holds the key to converting quality leads into profitable long-term business, so ensuring you’ve got the right website updates for top speed and performance is a vital ingredient in the recipe for success.
Tip # 2 | Online Form ReCAPTCHA ‘Bot’ Spam Protection
Who actually likes filtering through spam messages on their website? Not Me and I’m guessing you as well. Not only is it a nuisance, it’s also time-consuming and a general waste of brain space. Your online form is there for serious leads to be able to contact you and send enquiries. To maximise your time, a Google reCaptcha code on your form helps filter out a lot of the bot-generated spam so that the messages you’re receiving genuine enquiries that could turn into potential customers.
Tip # 3 | Customer Reviews Page
When it comes to website updates, having a current and updated reviews or testimonials page is exceptionally powerful. While you can have a great layout and smart, impactful content designed to convert traffic into potential customers, there’s nothing that builds trust with a website visitor quite like real, authentic customer reviews. Speaking of reviews, here are some of our happy website client reviews..
Tip # 4 | Privacy Policy Page
Today’s consumer is much more savvy when it comes to privacy and security. Having a Privacy Policy page on your website shows your potential customers that you take their privacy seriously – and you’re running a quality operation that’s aware of all the legalities. It’s also one of the many ranking factors that Google takes notice of. Ideally, your Privacy Policy appears and is linked to in your website footer on every page.
As well as being good for the consumer, having a Privacy Policy page also keeps you protected legally. Since you’ve invested so much in your business, why risk it?
Tip # 5 | Updating Images
Suppose you’ve just started online dating, and you come across someone with a great profile picture. You start chatting and agree to meet them in person. Once you meet them, you realise their profile picture was clearly taken 10 years ago… Disappointing, right?
Well, it’s the same with your website updates! Keeping your images fresh and aligned with who you are, and what you do as a business today is vital. You want to be sure that your customer’s expectations will be met, and you remain authentic and congruent with relevant, eye-catching imagery.
Tip # 6 | Updating or Revising Your Services Pages
At Web-Sta, our web services are designed to help businesses scale and grow, helping you to achieve your business goals and live the life of your dreams. For most of our customers, this means that their businesses are evolving and changing over time, with services being regularly updated, revised, and upgraded.
If you’re interested in growth as a business, it’s likely that your services have evolved and changed over time too. If a potential customer was to contact you about a service listed on your website, and you were to inform them it had changed or was no longer available, what kind of impression do you think that gives?
First impressions count! So it’s ideal to ensure your services page is current so customers know exactly what you’re offering.
Also, the more information you can provide, the more opportunities you have to rank better in Google. Google LOVES good quality content!
Tip # 7 | SEO Specific Content Updates
Our final recommendation for important website updates is the upgrading or revising of your website content, to be more SEO specific. SEO, otherwise known as Search Engine Optimisation, is designed to ensure your website shows up on Google, using specific keywords that your potential customers might search for. In fact, SEO is one of the most powerful ways for a website to be seen in the online marketplace and generate quality traffic.
And, because the rules of SEO are constantly changing, it’s essential to continuously update your content in order to gain the best leverage to benefit from a decent Google ranking!
Key Website Update Takeaways
Regular website updates / edits are fundamental to a happy, healthy website that runs optimally and actual does what it’s mean to – promote your business!
Failure to keep your website updated can cause back-end functionality issues as well as risk under-performance when it comes to attracting and appealing to your ideal target audience. And none of want that 😉
If updating your own website is to daunting of a task, contact us here at Web-Sta and we’d be more than happy to have a look at your website to see what we’re working with.
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