01. Has my website content been updated in the last 6 months?

You know your site needs to be updated but you're not sure how to go about it. The task seems daunting so you put it on the long finger. For years web site owners have been relying on someone else to update their site, maybe it was their web designer but they're not available any more or maybe they were relying on a friend or relative but they're always too busy. The bottom line is that a website that isn't updated often could be hurting your business or at worst is misinforming your customers.

02. Do I need a GPS to find my way around my website?

You go onto your own site to check some information, but more often than not you use the sitemap or some other round about way to find the page you're looking for. If you can't find what you're looking for easily then how will your visitors? The ease in which your visitors can find information or perform a task is one of the most important aspects to the design of your website. If they get frustrated at any point they will leave and are not likely to return.

03. Is it immediately obvious from my website what I do?

Imagine you've never heard of your company - can you figure what you do or what it is you're all about within the first 3 seconds of visiting your site? Stating up front and clearly what your business is about is key to connecting with customers and getting them to venture further into your site. For example a waste management company might state on their homepage "Since our establishment in 1996, GenTech Corporation have been helping local and international business by providing solutions to their waste", however a to-the-point-message such as "We Solve Waste Management Problems" has much more impact on the potential customer. Once you have their attention you can then tell them about the specifics. Unless your business name is "We Do Waste" or "Bins'R'Us" then this is vital to building a relationship and keeping customers on your site.

04. Can I find my website in Google?

A Google search for your company name brings your website up first or on the first page at least. But what about a search for the services you provide or the products you sell? It is vital that you have visibility within the search engines and sometimes it is easier than you think. Even if you don't have a website you could get listed with Google places and get onto Google maps straight away or for even more instant results you could try a Google Adwords campaign. The main thing though is to have some kind of plan in place and that a small bit of knowledge can go a long way.

05. Has my website been redesigned or tweaked in the last 3 years?

Splash pages and animated gifs are the dominant features on your site and it hasn't been touched in 6 years or more. Even if it has been only 3 years since your site was redesigned, it is still worth having a look and making sure it reflects you current business strategy and matches your other marketing material. Even a few small changes could make a world of difference.

06. Does my print branding match my website branding?

Last year you had your business cards redesigned and a new logo to match but you haven’t gotten around to putting the new logo on your site. Or maybe its vice versa and your print material still has your old logo. Either way, you need to get it sorted.

07. Have I written my content specifically for my website?

You already have a print brochure and you've put a lot of work into it so you're going to use the same wording on your site. This is a common mistake - people read print and screen in different ways. Your brochure content may not be suitable for use on the web. Web content needs to be to the point, use a personal tone, include appropriate calls, avoid jargon and be easy to scan.

08. Do I have analytics or statistics tracking in place? If I do, do I know how to read them?

It could 5 or 500 but you've no idea how many people have visited your site, when and what they did when they got there. Having some kind of statistics tracking in place is vital to figuring out which pages are never seen, which parts already work and where your best leads come from. When you know this you can build on what works and give your customers what they're looking.

09. Is my website up to speed with the sleek modern design of my competitors?

Your competitors have redesigned and now their site is much better than yours. You've resigned yourself to being the underdog, and feel you can't better their offering. It doesn’t have to be so. Don't expect that you will come up with all the ideas yourself. Web designers and marketing experts are there give you the edge, help you stand out from the crowd and eventually become a leader instead of always being the follower.

10. Do I have an appropriate contact email address on my website?

Your contact email address is jimmymurphy123@eircom.net. You're already paying for a domain name and you're probably paying for email hosting too but you've yet to let go of your eircom or hotmail email address. It is difficult to let go, of course you've relied on this email address for years, it's where all your contacts are and everyone knows that's your address. However, making the change isn't as difficult as you think and using this email address instead of one that matches your business name could be hurting your business. You can still keep the email address you're used to and publicise a more professional one on your website. An email forward is the easiest way to do this.

What Now?

If you can answer YES to most of these questions, then you're doing pretty well - if you've answered NO to 1 or more, then you need to get working on it. We can help, give us a call now on 021 4834666 or 01 442 8955 or contact us online.

Ruth Egan

Ruth has been making websites for almost a decade, and has been with Fireball as senior web designer for the last 4 years.
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