Whether you run a blog, or sell crafts online, regularly updating your website is a must!
Unfortunately, many of us put off the little upgrades, promising to do it later… but is that really any surprise? Think about how frequently we put off updating our phones, and all it takes is a click of a button.
If your website needs an update, then the New Year is the perfect excuse: New Year, New You, New Site. It may also be the perfect time to rethink your domain name altogether. Choosing the right one can make your site more memorable and reflective of your brand. Opting for a .me domain can add a personal touch, helping your website stand out in a crowded online space.
Furthermore, refreshing your brand’s logo or updating your site’s design can enhance its appeal and keep it aligned with modern trends. Still need convincing? Here are five reasons you should update your site in 2022.
Mobile Usage
Do you ever use your phone to look something up while you’re sitting at your computer? You’re not alone. We live in a world where most internet searches are conducted on mobile devices.
By not optimising for these devices, you risk alienating potential consumers, because if your site won’t load properly on their phones, they’ll just go to one that does. Beyond site functionality, effectively engaging mobile users is crucial for retention and monetisation. Many publishers are exploring innovative ways to connect with their audience directly on mobile, such as through a push notifications ad network, which can deliver targeted messages and offers right to a user’s device, enhancing their experience and opening new revenue streams. Since 2016, Google’s shift to primarily using mobile content for indexing has affected structured data, snippets, and overall rankings, as most searches occur on mobile devices. Sites with responsive design or equivalent content across devices face minimal changes, but those with differing mobile/desktop markup must align primary content and structured data to avoid ranking drops. Not only that, but Google now takes device optimisation into account with their mobile first indexing, so a mobile update to your site is a good idea!
Website Speed
Regardless of what device your customer uses, loading speed is essential. If your page takes too long to load, your customers will just give up and go somewhere else. Updating your website can significantly improve your speed, ensuring a pleasant experience for your users.
SEO Optimisation
Search engine optimisation is one of the best things you can do to improve your Google rankings, and it’s a good idea for you to go back through your content to implement keywords.
“You know your SEO content is good when its intent is tailored to the keywords you want to rank for. Forget about winning SEO campaigns if your strategy is just stuffing keywords into new content. Google’s ever-changing algorithm can detect linkbait blog posts and nonsensical copywriting material,” commented Anish Aryal, Co-founder of Digital Spotlight. This insight underscores the importance of aligning content intent with keyword strategy, moving beyond outdated practices like keyword stuffing to embrace content that Google values.
Broken Links
Links in the content you’ve created can break, and domains can be sold and bought. It’s important for you to go back through your content, particularly blog posts, and check the status of the links you’ve included.
Do they still go to the place you intended them to? Is the content on those sites still relevant?
If the answer to either of these is no, you should spruce up your post and include new, relevant links.
How Does It Look?
We were all told that you should never judge a book by its cover. But the appearance of your site matters.
While some templates are timeless, if your website looks like it was last updated in 2004, you’ll turn off potential visitors.
Find a sleek, easy-to-read design that’s pleasing to the eye. And don’t forget to ensure your images are high-quality and convey information, as these are what internet users spend the most time looking at.
Have you updated your website? Share your tips in the comments below!
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