Just recently I attended a business networking and training event in Columbia City and one of the participants expressed an interest in re-designing and/or updating their current website and it got me thinking.

Can an outdated website hurt you or does it even matter?

In my professional opinion it’s going to hurt you and here are my reasons why.

1. A visitor to the site could see your outdated material and interpret that as a lack of dedication to your business. If you’re not dedicated to your own business, how can you be dedicated to them?
2. As Internet users grow more and more savvy they expect legitimate businesses to have legitimate websites and one that is full of past information could be viewed as not legitimate
3. Employees or potential employees might feel that you’re not staying current with your own business needs and it could harm their own future

So what’s a business owner to do?

1. Get it updated – yesterday. Find a reasonable, reliable and most importantly professional designer that meshes well with your personality and your business. If you’re a tiny mom and pop shop and want that special attention from a small firm, go for it. If you’re a corporation and want the bells and whistles of a massive marketing firm, call them.
2. Keep updating information. Just because you added something new to the site at the beginning of the year, doesn’t mean you should then let it slide until December that same year.
3. Market the updates. Get on Twitter, design a Facebook page, send a newsletter with your updates. These are easy, inexpensive ways to get the word out about your business that allows you to have time for the one specific thing you need to do every single day – run your business.

Is your website out of date? Could we possibly help? Contact Gonink today and see how we might fit into your business and help you get that site updated that was first launched years ago!