Why Having a Bad Website Can Hurt Your Business

The digital age is here, and investment in your digital presence is no longer a luxury but a must if you want your business to succeed. Your website needs to be the cornerstone of all your business marketing efforts. From social media to SEO and email marketing - they all lead back to your website. If your website is not up to scratch, it prevents your business from growing and becoming more profitable. 

This blog will advise on the top things we come across on business websites that could be holding your website back and preventing your business from growing. 

Why Having a Bad Website Can Hurt Your Business

Common Website Issues

Poor Quality Images

Humans are very visual creatures, and  website images  play a crucial role in how your website is perceived and, in turn, how your business comes across to your potential customers. Simply adding old stock images to your website or, worse, images that are not relevant to the products and services conveys the wrong message about your business and can create a disconnect between your customers and your business. 

Outdated Web Design

The 90s called, and they want their neon popups and flash banners back! The internet is changing daily. Trends in how businesses operate and generational changes in how users interact with companies change so fast that what was a modern website 18-24 months ago is now outdated. 

This is not to say that you need to buy a new one every two years, but you need to make changes and updates along the way continually. This helps you stay relevant and connected to your customers and also enables you to ensure that your website has everything it needs to perform. 

Non-Responsive Design

One of the biggest reasons your website could be harming your business is if it is non-responsive.  Responsive web design  ensures that your website is usable and functions as it should on different styles and sizes of browser devices. Users now access the internet from mobile phones, desktops, laptops, tablets and phablets (a phone that expands into a tablet), and your website needs to be accessible on them all, or you risk losing that customer and harming your overall SEO efforts. 

Popups

Yes, we all want users to sign up for our newsletters or see our most recent offers, but honestly, popups are the most common complaint from website users. They cause websites to be slow, distract users from the content they came to view, and cause people to leave a website and never return. If you can avoid using popups - you should do so. If you need to use them, such as for Cookie Banners, then make them less intrusive and only for critical purposes. 

Key Website Areas to Focus On

Navigation 

If anything on your website is buried so deep that no one can find it, guess what? No one will find it! Users will get bored of searching, so make it easy for your website to navigate and find the key areas you want to highlight. Important pages or sections should never be more than three clicks away from your homepage as a good rule of thumb. Utilising calls to action in key areas and having an easy-to-read and use menu system are excellent ways to aid navigation. 

Content

Content needs to be purposeful, relevant and easy to read. If it is not, you are missing a significant opportunity to connect with your audience. That is in addition to the SEO and marketing benefits that content has! Content is not just the written word - it is images, videos, podcasts and social media posts, so make sure that you utilise it well and match it with your  branding . 

Colour Choice

Colour plays a significant part in how a business is perceived, and colours need to be chosen carefully when designing a website.  Colour has the power  to evoke emotion, build trust and create a connection between your business and its customers - so just using every colour on the rainbow and hoping for the best will lead to mixed messages. 

It is advisable to stick to brand colours for all images, logos, icons, and content on your website to ensure continuity and that your brand message is shining through. 

Summary

Websites do not have to be complicated. Some of the best performing websites are those that keep things simple. Websites with flashing banners and lots of distractions will always convert fewer customers than those that stick to the job they are designed to do.

The rise of website builders has given rise to the notion that any old website will do, which is fine if you are not looking to expand your business or reach more potential customers, but if you are, then you need to invest in a decent website for your business. 

More from the E2E Blog

How to Choose a Web Designer
How to Choose a Web Designer
When it comes to choosing a web designer for your business it can be hard to know who is going to offer you the best service possible for your budget. The issue is only compounded with digital marketing techniques where everyone claims to have thousands of happy customers or be the best in the industry. […]
Read More
How to Create the Perfect Landing Page
How to Create the Perfect Landing Page
Everyone has heard of a web page and blogs but have you heard about landing pages? Landing pages are a fantastic way to help your business showcase its products or services in an SEO friendly way that targets specific search terms being used by potential customers and ensure that they not only land on your […]
Read More
How to Choose a Domain Name
How to Choose a Domain Name
A domain name is an address for your business website, for instance: www.yourcompany.com. Choosing the perfect domain name for your business should not be taken lightly. Your choice of a domain name could have impacts that you didn't even think about when buying one, so knowing what to look out for is important. This blog […]
Read More

Get in touch for a quote

A member of our team will be in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail to ensure we can match what you're looking for.

Stockport Office

0161 533 0989

352A Buxton Road Stockport SK2 7BY

Company No: 12569753
VAT No: 404 8789 70
Copyright © E2E Studios LTD