Is It Time To Upgrade Your Website?

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:

1. Outdated Design: Web design trends evolve rapidly, and a website that was cutting-edge a decade ago may now appear outdated and unappealing to visitors. Even the best designed websites may eventually begin to feel old and outdated.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

Google Gemini Enters the AI Mix

Not to be outdone by ChatGPT and other AI models, Google recently unfurled its entry into the AI world with Gemini. At first glance, Gemini seems to deliver on Google’s assertion of producing the “first model to outperform human experts on MMLU (Massive Multitask Language Understanding)”. What does this mean for us mere mortals? Have a look:

However, don’t get too carried away with the enthusiasm quite yet. It seems there was some Tomfoolery on display as well. Google showing some of its shadowy twin in the form of Gemini?

Beneath the spreading canopy of trees…

At a loss for words for your next sonnet? Needing quick inspiration? Of humanity’s many realms where ChatGPT continues its unabated march, the loveliness of poetry seems an unlikely target. Yet, here we are. With a few keystrokes and a phrase or two, a perfectly rhymed poem can be yours for the taking.

Check out https://aiepics.com/. I suggested the topic of “enjoying lemonade in the park” and here is what I got:

Beneath the spreading canopy of trees,
Amid the dappled light and the gentle breeze,
The heat of summer’s sun begins to fade,
As I sit and sip my lemonade.

The tartness of the lemons on my tongue,
The sweetness of the sugar that I’ve strung,
The perfect blend of flavors in every sip,
Brings a smile to my face and joy to my trip.

A melody of sounds fills up the air,
The whispering leaves rustle without a care,
The birds are singing their evening song,
As I savor the moments before long.

The peacefulness of the park surrounds me,
The beauty of the nature astounds me,
This life is sweet and oh so grand,
With lemonade in my hand.

I don’t think Shakespeare is quite yet rolling in his grave…

Twitter – A News Subscription Model?

Mainstream news channels are slowly sunsetting. Amidst a trend of layoffs and bankruptcies occurring at a number of MSM companies, the tide of digital news is gravitating toward more personalized, decentralized channels which include platforms like Substack and Twitter.

The recent acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk is contributing to this exodus. Musk is betting on this trend. Furthermore he makes the point that established news producers and independent journalists can now reach audiences directly without relying upon the name brand recognition of mainstream channels. Moreover, citizen journalists and less known contributors are able to publish as well. He highlights the ability of consumers to interact with, critique, and call-out content creators on the Twitter platform, unlike MSM channels. This is also true of Substack.

A decentralized approach to news reporting will continue to disrupt mainstream media. The good news – this will create a more diverse approach to reporting. Detractors will claim this ushers in whole new levels of “fake news” and misinformation. Ultimately, any future model of news and digital information will rely on you, the consumer and your ability to think critically about what’s relevant, factual, and accurate.