Technology and the Internet change at lightning speed, which means there’s a lot to keep up with. However, when we polled healthcare practices about their marketing efforts, 47% indicated they hadn’t updated their website in over a year, with 32% saying they hadn’t updated in over two years. The constantly changing technology means frequent changes in the standards and technical specifications known as web standards, which govern the way we build and design websites.Â
What are web standards (and why should you care)?
In the simplest terms, web standards are a set of rules for building pages on the internet. They’re meant to ensure usability, accessibility, and security for users of the internet. Each year, these web standards change drastically, and techniques to build websites become more advanced in order to comply with those standards. These standards impact the performance and usability of your website as well as the SEO (search engine optimization) of your website.
If you aren’t aware of this rapidly changing technology, you might not be aware of how quickly your website can become outdated. So, how do you know when it’s time? Here are 4 signs your practice might want to consider a website redesign:
1) Your responsive functionality is broken.
Websites need to display correctly across any browser or screen size they are displayed on. Responsive design is meant to solve this problem. If you notice that your website isn’t displaying or working correctly on a certain browser or screen size, it’s time for an update.Â
2) Your site isn’t mobile-friendly.
Every year, the number of users accessing websites on mobile devices rises. In 2020, some estimates put the number of mobile users at 61% in the United States, and the number is even higher globally. While the exact number of mobile users coming to your site will vary, you still likely have a big chunk of mobile users. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re in desperate need of an update.Â
3) The look and feel of your website is outdated.
Your website is the digital equivalent of your business card. If it looks and feels outdated, it’s just not making a good impression. Just as technology evolves, so too does design. Don’t be complacent with your website – if you aren’t sure about how it looks, ask for feedback and opinions from outside sources. Outdated design often signals an outdated business to a client. If your website isn’t making the impression you want it to make, it’s time for an update.
4) Your site isn’t secure.
Website security is a big deal. Even if you aren’t collecting payment information from the users that visit your site, your website is required to maintain a base level of security. Insecure sites display a warning to visitors which will usually cause a massive drop in traffic, as well as cause penalties from Google and other search engines. If you’re noticing any security warnings, your website is definitely ready for an upgrade.
MyAdvice Can Help
We have been helping healthcare practices, law firms, dental office and more, create beautiful, functional websites for over 20 years now. Need help making yours the best it can be? Contact one of our digital marketing experts for a free website consultation.
