The new year has arrived and it’s a great time to review your marketing goals for 2017. Don’t forget to assess one of your most important marketing tools – your website.
Between the critical Google updates and latest web design trends, your website may already be “behind the times” compared to your competition.
Here are 4 questions to help you assess if your website is ready for 2017:
1. Is it mobile responsive? Having a mobile-friendly website is no longer optional. In 2016, mobile and tablet usage exceeded desktop for the first time ever. In 2017, Google is moving toward the mobile-first index, which means ranking websites based on the mobile version of the website instead of the desktop version. It’s more important than ever to make sure your website is responsive and easy to navigate on small devices.
2. Do you have an SSL certificate installed? Starting in January 2017, Google Chrome will send up a warning “UNSECURE SITE” when visitors land on a website that requests confidential information and doesn’t have an SSL certificate. SSL is the backbone of Internet security Internet. Driving traffic to your website is pointless if the site is not secure and visitors feel unsafe. Contact us to get an SSL installed fast.
3. Are you using video the right way on your site? Video is KING now. If done well, it can lend credibility to your website and create an emotional connection with the visitor. But it’s also easy to overwhelm a visitor with too much movement and distract from your messaging. Micro-animations are a great way to use video without distracting visitors. Learn more here about micro-animations.
4. Do your web pages load fast? Really fast? Page speed has always been important, but it has become critical with more users on mobile devices, looking for quick answers. In 2017, Google is expected to make page speed a bigger factor in rankings. Your website can have a slow load time for many different reasons. It’s important to pinpoint and correct the issue as soon as possible. Contact us for a free consultation on your website speed and security.
