A number of my clients’ websites have gone through an upgrade cycle this past year. The good news – they were built well and have stood the test of time in terms of performance, functionality, and security. The content gets refreshed. The SEO is good. The websites have done their job over the years.
The bad news – technological innovation will eventually catch up and surpass the best coded websites. It’s the nature of the beast. It’s not about if, but rather when a website will begin to sputter, break, and eventually quit working. This is particularly the case for websites built on WordPress that involve the use of out-dated plugins and antiquated themes.
The question becomes, how does one tell when it’s time to upgrade a website? The answer varies. If you can no longer update WordPress or plugins without breaking your website, this may be a sign. Likewise, if your website renders improperly or no longer loads at all on certain browsers or devices (even though you haven’t touched anything on the back end), you may be dealing with an aging website.
A website upgrade may be the best solution when factoring costs to constantly troubleshoot issues, apply workarounds, and attempt to test and implement alternative plugin solutions. It may be less expensive in the long run to reboot your website with new technology alongside any style changes, rebranding efforts or new website capabilities and tools that might be in the pipeline. A website upgrade can ensure additional years of visibility to your online presence.
Here are eight compelling reasons to consider when deciding whether or not it’s time for a website upgrade:
- Outdated Design: Web design trends evolve rapidly, and a website that was cutting-edge a decade ago may now appear outdated and unappealing to visitors. Even the best designed websites may eventually begin to feel old and outdated.
- Responsive Design: Though responsive design is ubiquitous and rarely will you encounter a non-mobile friendly website, they are surprisingly still around. That said, with the increasing use of mobile devices, having a responsive website design that adapts to various screen sizes is essential for providing a good user experience. The rare, older websites not optimized for mobile will get dinged by search engines and potentially lead to a loss of traffic and engagement. Moreover, nobody is going to stick around to browse a website on a mobile device if isn’t responsive.
- Improved Performance: Website technology continues to advance, leading to faster loading times and smoother user experiences. Upgrading the website’s back end and optimizing its performance can lead to improved page load times, reducing bounce rates and increasing user satisfaction.
- Enhanced Security: Older websites may be more vulnerable to security threats due to outdated software and plugins. Upgrading your website’s framework, content management system, and implementing the latest security tools can help protect against cyber attacks and data breaches.
- Better SEO: Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and newer websites often have better SEO capabilities built into their frameworks. Upgrading your website can improve its search engine rankings, visibility, and organic traffic.
- Integration of New Features: Over time, new features and functionalities may become available that can enhance your website’s user experience and functionality. Upgrading allows you to integrate these new features, such as social media integration, interactive elements, or e-commerce capabilities.
- Compliance with Standards: Web standards and regulations continue to change and evolve and this may have come into play since your website was initially developed. Upgrading ensures that your website complies with current accessibility standards, data privacy regulations, and other legal requirements.
- Better Analytics and Tracking: Newer website platforms often come with more advanced analytics and tracking capabilities, allowing you to gain deeper insights into user behavior and preferences. This information can be invaluable for making data-driven decisions to improve the website’s performance and user experience.
Overall, upgrading an aging website can breathe new life into it, making it more visually appealing, user-friendly, secure, and aligned with current best practices and standards. If you’re checking any of the above boxes, get in touch.