How Do You Know When Your Website Needs a Makeover?

One service that has always been popular for us has been website design. That’s probably because most entrepreneurs recognize website design should be done by a professional. (Whereas many of the other services we provide still often seem to fall in the “I can do it myself” category for a lot of people, even though they shouldn’t 😉 ).

Yes you can set up your own WordPress website and keep it updated yourself; but do you really want to spend time learning the platform, learning how to code and modify the theme, learning everything you need to know about plugins, website security and everything else you need to know to keep your website up to date and secure? Probably not.

That being said, we’ve been getting a lot of requests for website makeovers lately. People are recognizing that their sites have been up and running for a number of years, and it’s time to freshen things up. It’s easy with the popularity of social media these days to forget that ye olde website is still a pretty important piece of your business!

So let me ask you … When was the last time your website enjoyed some TLC?

If you can’t remember, you probably need a bit of help!

5 Signs It’s Time For a Website Makeover!

You aren’t getting any leads. If you once received a steady stream of email leads from your website and that isn’t happening anymore, it’s time to look at why. This should be your first hint that your website is no longer doing its job, and it’s time to make some changes. Starting with a redesign. How many times have you clicked away from a website because it was old and out of date? The same thing may be happening when visitors come to your home on the Internet.

You don’t have a blog. You should have an active blog on your website, if for no other reason than to let visitors know you are current and keeping up with the times. Your blog posts don’t have to be terribly long and involved. They can be photos, videos, quotes, or brief musings. Whatever you want them to be. Of course it’s always good to have at least one post with 300 words or more so you can make Google happy; but not all of them. Consistency is the key.

There’s no sign of social media. At the bare minimum, your website needs a link to your Facebook and Twitter accounts. It’s one of the things I always look for when I visit a website, and lots of other people do the same. If your website doesn’t have social buttons, you’re missing opportunities to grow your following. You might also give the impression you’re stuck in the 90s with your parachute pants. And don’t forget the social sharing buttons on your blog! People love to share content, so make it easy for them.

There are no bells and whistles. Most websites today (at least those for speakers and coaches) have a short video of them speaking to groups or talking about their coaching programs, an email opt-in box or landing page so they can grow their list, and sometimes even scrolling testimonials to add a little interest to the page. If you make a living speaking to groups, you want to give prospective clients an idea of what to expect. That’s where a video is helpful.

Your home page is a long sales letter. There was a time when the long sales letter was the way to sell stuff on the Internet, but that day has come and gone. If your website is based on a 10-14 page letter with all kinds of “Order Now!” buttons, it probably needs a serious makeover. Right. Now. Do not pass “Go” and do not collect $200! Your website visitors are running away. A simple refresh with some great new content will turn things around lickety split.

Next week I’ll write about why it’s so important to keep your website updated for reasons beyond aesthetics. (Hint: you may be opening yourself up to possible security risks.)

If you’re a speaker and wondering what makes a good speaker website, you’ll probably want to check out my interview with Jane Atkinson of Speaker Launcher on the BizEase Blab show. We discussed what a speaker needs to have on their website to make them a Wealthy Speaker!

Anything else you’d like to add to this list of signs you need a website makeover? Comment away!