5 thrifty checks to make sure your website is roadworthy this winter
Security
Google are on a mission to make the web a more secure environment. So if you’ve not got an SSL certificate for your site then now is the time. SSL certificates encrypt data sent between visitors and a website. They help keep sensitive information, like credit cards, away from the bad guys.
It’s essential if you sell stuff online. But even if you have a contact form, your visitors will get security warnings in Google Chrome if you do not have SSL. Because Chrome has 47% of market share, this change is likely noticed by millions of people. And recent HubSpot Research indicates 82% of people would leave a site that is not secure.
We can add SSL certificates for you from £29 +VAT.
Speed
There are lots of website speed tests on the web that can be used to show the site you’ve built is sluggish and horrible at loading, uses bad code and that anyone who’s purchased the site should feel ashamed. But while it’s nice to get green marks on all speed tests, what matters is the actual feeling of speed rather than the architectural site recommendations. Plus, these tests are not always accurate. They often fail to detect speed improvements your site is already using.
It’s about balance. Speed is important, but so are aesthetics, functionality and the ability to update easily. We can help create pages that feel fast AND look fabulous.
Mobile
Mobile friendly websites may seem like old news. So you might be surprised to hear Paypal claim that only 18% of small businesses in the UK have a website that adapts to a mobile device. If you haven’t made your website mobile-friendly, you should. The majority of users coming to your site are likely to be using a mobile device. With that in mind, we need to think about our audience. Websites where you have to pinch and zoom make for a poor user experience.
It seems crazy that so many small business websites are failing to make the grade. They could be gaining an edge on their competition. But they’re sat on the bonkers bus. Probably fiddling with an unresponsive site.
GDPR
Hey, can I get your number? No? Email then?
How about in return for a free guide or coupon?
If your website doesn’t ask for a few details, it definitely should. It’s a great way to increase your (hopefully engaged) audience. But whether you’re looking to serve a community, or sell online, you need to keep the new GDPR rules in mind. Even if you only have Google Analytics on your website, or a simple contact form.
The rules come into force from 25th May. You’ll hear about this a lot. Because it’s kind of a big deal. It’s tempting to think “I’ll deal with it in May”. But there’s some easy things you should do right now, which mean you won’t run into trouble later.
Promotion
If you build it, they will come. Except, they won’t. It might work for baseball fields, but not for your website. You have to tell your customers about your services, in different ways, regularly. If you don’t, your competitors will. Successful marketing relies on a mix. Have you noticed the eBay billboards in your town lately? Even Google send you stuff in the post. If these juggernauts depend on a blend of offline and online marketing, then it’s reasonable to believe it might just be the way forward for us too.
How many different ways are customers able to find out about your website? Speak to us about proven ideas for increasing the volume, and quality, of visitors to your site.