How often do you update your website? If you haven’t looked at it since it was first launched, you’re probably way overdue. Websites should be updated regularly for a variety of reasons. Amongst them, providing fresh content for your audience, and appearing active for search engines. Find out exactly how regular updates can aid you in your business goals.
User-Friendly Experience
Online technologies are constantly growing and changing, and it’s important to keep up with the trends. What may have been cutting-edge six months ago could be irrelevant now. And today, you not only need to worry about how your site looks and responds on a PC but more than anything else, a mobile device.
The most basic factors, such as screen resolution and navigation, can vary greatly between a computer or laptop and a smartphone. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile users, there is a chance it won’t even load. Make sure you provide the best customer experience possible by optimizing your site for all devices.
Website Security
Regular updates not only help ensure that your site looks (and acts) great, but they help keep it secure. If you’re thinking, “Well, I only own a small business, hackers don’t want to target me,” you’re wrong. Websites of all varieties are hacked daily. Malicious users are constantly looking for a loophole that will let them into your site, so stop them at the gates by regularly updating items such as the PHP and script that you use.
Online Presence
If you were looking for a web designer, would you choose one who hadn’t posted a new blog in six months and had out-of-date promotions still listed on their site? Or would you choose one who posted updates weekly, frequently replied to user comments, and shared current information regarding their business? I’d personally go with option B.
Potential customers like to do online research before buying, and frequently updating your website, whether by posting a new blog or updating services, shows that you are active in your business and gives the appearance of credibility. Alternately, if a prospect finds old or outdated information on your page, they will quickly lose confidence in your abilities.
Repeat Visitors
If you want to keep people coming back to your site, you must give them something new to look at. If a customer or prospect checks back more than once and doesn’t see anything original, they’ll quickly stop trying. Let’s face it – there are hundreds of competitors out there, and if they are more amusing or fresh than you are, they’re going to divert your audience. Keep things interesting and fun by posting valuable, engaging content frequently.
SEO
Bottom line: having an up-to-date website helps improve your search ranking. While there are many factors that play into Google’s algorithm, we know that they like “useful” content. The more often you update your site or blog with quality content that people read, the more Google will notice you. On the flip side, if you don’t update for an extended period, search engines may view your site as “dead” and stop sending their crawlers.
Keeping your website up-to-date is essential, but it doesn’t need to be difficult or take a lot of time. With very little effort, you can quickly and easily make yourself stand apart from the competition.