How to Know When Your Website Needs a Refresh
User experience design and trends are ever-changing. A modern, fast, secure and accessible website can make or break a user’s opinion of or likelihood to interact with your organization. According to a recent study by Microsoft, the average human being has an attention span of just eight seconds1, so making a good first impression means everything online. There are many reasons to optimize your website, such as meeting accessibility requirements, telling your story, attracting more of your target audience, increasing user interaction, improving the mobile experience, or securing private user data. At Circlepoint, we specialize in creating pleasing and reliable website experiences, from spearheading complete redesigns to popping up campaign microsites to building custom sites specifically for your needs. Our team has years of experience building sites for transportation, water, energy, land development, sustainability, and utility sectors. In this article, we will discuss tell-tale signs your website needs a refresh and how Circlepoint can help every step of the way.
Key Areas of Website Improvement
Web Accessibility and 508 Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was developed in 1990 and is meant to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as anyone else online. Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 don’t apply to federal agencies only, but also includes private contractors, the financial industry, healthcare, many legal organizations, and others. It also impacts any company that does business with a federal agency. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to significant fines and penalties. But ensuring your website meets accessibility guidelines is about more than avoiding fines. There are nearly 50 million people with disabilities in the U.S., about 19% of the population. Many of these users might be interested in your message or services, but once they arrive at your website, aren’t able to navigate easily enough or read your documents and could be forced to go to another website for assistance. Circlepoint has designed several websites to meet accessibility standards and increase access to all, including crossbaytransit.com and reimaginesamtrans.com, which meet all state and federal web accessibility requirements. Are you up to date on the new federal accessibility requirements?
Optimizing Your Website’s Content
Web analytics can tell you a lot about your users and their behavior. New users’ behavior might surprise you, and you may learn a part of your website is not resonating with your audience. To remedy this, engage your users with great content, amazing features and a layout that will have them coming back for more. Are your website’s pages organized in a way your users can easily access and navigate through? Are the important areas of your website not getting the interactions you have hoped for? Circlepoint dives into different layers of web analytics to optimize the content, features, navigation and user experience of your website. We can tell you what areas get the most attention and what areas may need to change. Are you utilizing your web analytics to the fullest?
Improving Web Security
Web security grows more important each day. Web security protects all users’ data, reduces spam, strengthens analytical data and protects the website as a whole. Hacker attacks occur every 39 seconds and 43% of those target small businesses2. As a result, thousands of websites are being infiltrated each day. Circlepoint takes web security very seriously and follows best practices to protect against bots, hackers, and spam. Circlepoint ensures all users enjoy a safe and pleasant experience each time they visit your site. Is your website truly secure?
Increasing Your Web Traffic
An increase in your web traffic starts with identifying your target audiences, updating content towards those audiences, and creating the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to reflect this. Circlepoint is skilled at creating quality digital content and following the best SEO practices to improve web traffic, increase your rankings on Google’s search results and increase overall user interaction. We create web features such as language translations, interactive maps and graphics, social media integration, user submission forms, event calendars and much more that help attract new visitors. Search engine optimization is crucial to exposing your website to new users. 93% of all traffic comes from search engines, emphasizing the importance of your web pages needing to rank higher in search results3. Only a small percentage of people go past the second or third page of search engine results. Circlepoint can improve your web visibility and increase search relevance on key phrases that are important to your company and target market. Ensure the right people find your website quick and easy every time.Circlepoint knows how to make sure your website is getting the exposure and traffic it deserves. When was the last time you considered your site’s SEO? Are you meeting your web traffic goals?
Improving Responsive Design and Mobile Use
Mobile traffic has increased by 222% in the last five years. Depending on the content and type of website, mobile users can make up more than 50% of overall users4. A website should be accessible on-the-go on any device or any web browser. Make sure all users get the same amazing experience when visiting your website on their prefered platform. Is your website built for all devices and browsers?
Integrating Social Media
Social media is a big component of engaging with your user community. Social media allows your users to share your content and follow your story. Make it quick and easy for visitors to stay connected with your social networks. Circlepoint has designed websites that work with your social media platforms and grow your following. Circlepoint can help create a thriving social media community. Do you have social media integrated into your website?
Growing Your Email Database
Email is more popular than social media for communication5, and gets far more conversions than any other outreach channel. It is a primary form of communication for many, professionally or otherwise, and is a direct line to your audience that is proven to work. Email lists can be one of the most important assets for a successful project. Circlepoint is an expert in all major eblast platforms (HTML emails, Constant Contact, MailChimp, and iContact), focusing on bounce rates, click-through rates, and open rates of each e-blast to assure that a project or campaign is on track and meeting expectations. We also ensure our clients have a website that enables followers to sign up for updates with a click of the mouse. Are you growing a loyal audience?
We Can Help Meet Your Web Goals
Outdated websites can impede overall communications goals and weaken your presence online. If you want to improve your website in any of the above areas, drop us a line and we’ll be happy to evaluate it and talk through solutions with you.