As the temperatures begin to warm and we emerge from our metaphorical burrows, many of us embark upon the annual tradition that is spring cleaning. Your business should take this time to reflect and tidy up its website as well. It might be time for a website refresh.
As we all know, consumers are increasingly heading online to search for goods and services and make purchases. You wouldn’t want to shop in a store that looks like a hoarder manages it or has a messy storefront, so why would you expect online consumers to be any different? The following five suggestions will help you spring-clean your website, ensuring a positive user experience for the rest of the year.
1. Avoid Link Rot
If you don’t do regular website upkeep, there is a chance that some of the links may no longer work. This scenario, often referred to as link rot, can occur when your links point to a page, server or another resource that has become permanently unavailable. This can include blog posts or any pages that reference outside sources.
Letting your links fall into disrepair is a tremendous trust-breaker for your users. Not only does this prevent you from sharing vital information with them, but it gives users the impression that you are not a reputable source of information. If they feel that you aren’t responsible enough to maintain the links on your website, why would they believe you can fulfill their business requests?
In addition, link rot can hurt your search engine ranking. A website refresh will help you sift out broken links to improve consumer confidence and buyer trust.
2. Make a Commitment to Social Media
Social media allows businesses to quickly and directly interact with customers and generate new leads. Having a presence on social media platforms that make sense for your business gives you a chance to connect with users on a personal level. It also encourages two-way communication and brand engagement.
This web property could use a dusting when springtime rolls around. When doing your website refresh, check that:
- Messaging is consistent across all entities
- Contact information is up to date
- CTAs are set up
- Platform updates are integrated
Doing this will ensure a streamlined and cohesive brand experience for your users across the web.
3. Utilize Customer Feedback
Leverage customer feedback, whether through testimonials, service emails, or social media comments. This can be more effective for building trust than relying solely on your messaging.
Even negative reviews can be valuable—they demonstrate your willingness to address feedback openly and provide an opportunity to share your perspective. Proactively solicit feedback from your audience through channels like social media, customer service, and blog comments.
Once you’ve collected feedback, find innovative ways to leverage it, such as in case studies, email newsletters, or social media posts highlighting and praising your customers.
4. Observe Spring Fashion
Believe it or not, observing spring fashion trends isn’t reserved solely for the clothing industry. Trends come and go in design and technology as well. Stay updated on the most current UI/UX trends and strategically incorporate them into your design.
A few popular themes include:
- Less is more—keep it simple
- Minimize on-page text by only saying what is necessary. Visuals can be helpful if they don’t dramatically pull users’ eyes across the screen.
- All or nothing for video backgrounds. Either commit to designing a video background for multiple devices or avoid that feature altogether. Users visiting your site from a mobile device may be unable to load and view the video as you intended. If you go with the auto-load video option, make sure to provide a static image as an alternative to accommodate a variety of devices.
5. Update with Relevant Content
A consistent stream of unique content gives your business a voice that users can connect with. It also serves as a great way to position yourself as an industry leader and qualified source of industry-related news. Use your website refresh as an opportunity to update old blog posts and add new material. Not only will this improve your brand image and the user experience, but it will also improve your search engine ranking.
Putting these spring-cleaning chores on your company’s to-do list will ensure that visitors have a better experience with your brand across platforms and devices. Need help with your website spring clean? Let’s connect to discuss how UpTop can optimize your website refresh for best results.
Happy cleaning!
