What To Do When You Have an Old and Rusty Website
Have you been neglecting your website for quite some time? Has it started to gain online cobwebs, not showing up on Google’s first page? Businesses must build a functional and informative website in the 21st century. A website is a must-have foundation even if your company operates mostly in person with customers.
Know that many customers start their sales journey online. They are researching reputable businesses in the area, checking out their services and learning about the team. This can be before stepping foot in your store. So, it is always worth dusting off those cobwebs and starting again with your site.
If it has been a while since you paid attention to your website, you might not have a clue where to begin. Things might have moved on, but there is always plenty of time to make progress. So, here are some things you should do when you have an old and rusty website you want to transform.
Set Out Your Goals
First, you do not want to rush into revamping your website. You have to consider your gaols to begin with. What do you want to achieve with this redesign? Are you trying to better your business and accompany your rebranding? Are you going in a completely new direction and want to start all over again? Having goals allows you to have a foundation and something to work towards.
Therefore, sit down and great your goals. Think about why you are doing this and what you want to achieve. Then, you are going to be in a better place to create a strategy that works. You will know what direction to move in and what you aim to achieve. Your goals do not have to be detailed. They just have to give you purpose and a bigger vision.
Focus on SEO
Websites usually fall into disrepute because they are not getting traffic. But, if you want to change this, you have to focus on bringing an audience back to your website. How can you do this? Well, you need to concentrate on search engine optimisation. This includes creating a strategy to improve your ranking on Google and be visible to an audience interested in your offering.
Not sure where to begin? Well, you can hire an SEO consultant. They can carry out an audit of your website and see what the situation is. During their investigation, they highlight areas that can be improved, and a custom strategy can be created. This allows yous website improvement and a ranking boost.
Know What Your Competition are Doing
You probably have other websites you are directly in competition with. You can discover who they are by Googling products or services similar to yours. Then, you can see who you are going to be up against on the internet. You are going to want to check out the competition. This is not to get you fired up or scared that you cannot beat them. Instead, it is to get inspiration and see what they are doing right. This can give you your own ideas of what you can do to get your customer’s attention.
Thus, know what your competition is doing before revamping your website. Understand what is working for them and what they can do better. Take these points to the drawing board and use them as helpful tips to build a better site. Always make sure that you do not copy any elements of their website so you can avoid trouble. But, they are there to spark ideas and guide you on what is working in your industry.
Enjoy a Website Rebranding
You probably see a lot you hate about your website right now. So, if you want renewed energy towards this project, you might want to start from scratch. In particular, we are talking about rebranding the whole website. This can allow you to take on a new design and a different image, which can appeal to your audience.
Therefore, do not be afraid to scrap your old, rusty website and start again. You want to create a new design that you love and get excited about what you want to accomplish next. Sometimes, this can take rebranding. You can attempt this project yourself or some companies can help you with the process. But, if you are on a budget, there are website builders that are highly rated and they can allow you to transform how your site looks.