Tips to make your website modern: 10 signs your website is in dire need of a redesign

What does it mean for a website to be modern in 2022? Specialists would describe it as simple, intuitive, with valuable content and a pleasant appearance. It is carefully optimized to maximize organic traffic and offer a high-quality browsing experience.

However, in most cases this image does not reflect reality. We notice that most of the websites in Romania are not responsive to the digital landscape of the past decade. This is a problem that we have encountered with every project we work on and every search we make for potential clients.

How do you know if your website needs radical changes? These are 10 signs that your website needs a radical overhaul.

1. Conversions can be delayed

Ineffective marketing strategies do not always result in a low conversion rate. A low conversion rate is not always a result of ineffective marketing strategies. If your social media and PPC campaigns fail to achieve a minimum of 1%, it could be the promotion.

A quality UX can actually increase your conversion rate up to 400% if it is strategically planned. (Forbes)

2. Your brand is evolving, but your website has not.

Even if you only make minor changes to your brand, your website should reflect those changes. Your online business presence, or as we like it to be called, it is the first thing your customers see. Make sure the image they have of you matches the one you wish to convey.

Remember that the first impression is everything! The best business card is one that speaks to your brand.

3. Your cell phone is not your friend yet

Statistics show that over 60% of internet users now use their smartphones or other mobile devices for online searches. It is essential that modern websites adapt to all types of devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktops, so they offer a great experience for browsing and accessing information.

You want to see an increase in time spent on your website and also in conversions. Make sure that your website is accessible from all devices.

4. You may not be able to reach all your users

Your website is an important component of your business. It is essential that all users, no matter what browser they use, have a pleasant browsing experience once they arrive at your “online headquarters”.

Potential customers complaining about not being able to access your site or experiencing multiple display issues depending on their browser is a sign you should update! You should ensure that your site is compatible with all browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Firefox. This will not only prevent a higher bounce rate but also allow you to miss sales opportunities.

5. Your website looks more like a maze

The intuitive user experience is a key condition of any website. According to statistics, 76% of customers love websites that help them find what they are looking for.

Concretely, once the user has reached the online headquarters of your company, he needs to be guided through specific and relevant information. This can be done through clear calls-to-action (call-to action), as well as through intuitive organization of pages in the menu.

You want to generate conversions. Therefore, ensure that your content is not only appealing to the user but also facilitates their journey from the moment they visit your domain, until they take an action on your site (e.g., a purchase, appointment, or subscription). ).

How do you do this? These are the rules of a modern, intuitive website.

Clicking on the logo will always bring you back to the homepage
The Footer should contain contact information.
Links should be clearly distinguished from normal text (different style, color)
Always place the Contact page button as the last button in the horizontal menu.
It is easier to read left-aligned text in Western countries than right-aligned text.

6. Your website is moving at snail’s speed

What speed does your website have to load? 47% of users expect websites to load within 2 seconds. A page that takes longer than 2 seconds to load will be ignored by 53% of consumers, who have an average attention span between 7-8 seconds and leave the site.

Slow loading speeds also impact search engine ranking. In other words, how high your website appears in Google’s results. Voice search is becoming more popular to find fast results. The algorithm will not discriminate against slow-loading sites.

What is left to do? Optimize, optimize, optimize! Low optimization efforts are the direct cause of slow website loading speeds. This chapter will show you how to resize your files and photos, and then update and optimize your code structures.

7. You haven’t yet used SEO services

Modern websites need SEO optimization. SEO optimization is a great way to increase organic traffic to your website. It also forces you to create quality content and technical updates, and makes it easier to provide a pleasant user experience.

There are other reasons why SEO investment is worthwhile. It is simple:

• 89% of people search for information online before making a purchase decision.
• 64% of all Internet traffic comes organically, 12% direct traffic, and 6% from ads, 2% Social Media, and 15% from other sources.
• Google’s first three positions “eat” approximately 65% of all traffic generated by a search.

8. Your story is irrelevant

Words are more important than the experience you create for your users. Make sure to use the right words and anchor them!

Check the content regularly to determine if it has remained relevant. Focus on evergreen information that does not have an expiry date. And, most importantly, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, your unique voice and personal voice.

9. Images can help you recognize a modern website!

When images are displayed incorrectly, they can create the impression that your website is outdated. You don’t need to completely update the website. Simply replace the photos with images that represent your business and align with the brand’s visual direction.

Additional tip: Stock photos are a great option if you don’t have enough resources to create your images. They can be modernized and made to look clean if they are chosen well. You can also mix them with professional photos taken at the business’s location for added authenticity.

10. Your website looks exactly the same as before: http://domain.com

Users will be wary of entrusting you with their personal information if your website does not use HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Security). Card data, necessary for a conversion like an online purchase.

Why would you want to adopt HTTPS protocol if it isn’t already? It is here:

Hacker attacks are less likely to target your website. They are more likely to target domains that use the http protocol because of their lower security measures.
Customers will appreciate your credibility! Customers will give you more trust if they visit a website with strong security features.

Increase your Google ranking Google will prioritize domains that use HTTPS protocols over those that use HTTP protocols.