I do not think that every website needs a redesign or a facelift. I have some opinions about websites--opinions that really don’t matter: I think a lot of organizations over-think their web-presence. I think simpler is better. I think it is perhaps good for websites to change their appearance every once in a while. But these are just opinions. Two things are certain:
- Orgs need to have a website that facilitates communication and invites participation from all stakeholders.
- Orgs need technology that securely facilitates frequent and easy updates of their electronic communications.
I think it is safe to say that an org’s website can no longer be a static, unchanging asset. You may think you need a total website overhaul. But in many cases, the time and expense of a ground-up redesign is unnecessary. In most cases, a simple face-lift is a more time-and-cost-effective way to accomplish one’s goals, and you may not even need that. Over the next several days, I’ll share a few reasons people say you may need to make some updates, and my thoughts on whether or not they’re right.
Updated Content
The biggest mistake some orgs make is to put up a website and leave it alone. Fresh content is what drives the internet. Your website should be easy to update. And your org should update it frequently. (I suggest daily, even as I am not adhering to a daily update for my own websites.) The reason I suggest daily updates is:
SEO
Search Engine Optimization is real, and your org should keep the issue of SEO on the table from now on. There is no “magic” here. SEO is simply all about good, fresh, and relevant content. Anyone who tries to sell you a “magic” solution to improve your SEO is likely simply taking your money in exchange for a handful of magic beans. SEO is the process of earning traffic from search engines organically—meaning you haven’t paid anyone to be found. SEO is the art of developing and sharing content that keeps you active in search-engine rankings. If you don’t have an SEO agenda, you really do need one. We could write an entire book on SEO, and we may soon offer a stand-alone SEO consulting package. Besides a good updating mechanism, there are often plugins and tools available to help facilitate the SEO effort. This remains one issue that you might fold into a website face-lift.
I’ll post Part 2 of this series in a few days. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your web-presence, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.