6 Signs Your Practice Needs a New Website
Once upon a time, you poured yourself into the building of your website. And with all its new features, it ran like a dream. You were so proud of that website. An extension of yourself, it has remained close to your heart. But that was back in 2004, and those new features are no longer new, and the fancy design seems clunky at best. Wondering if it’s time for an update? There are 6 signs that your website is showing its age.
- It’s over 3 years old. You’re probably thinking, 3 years? Especially considering the time and money you put into the development of your current site. But the shocking truth is that the typical lifespan of a website is only 2-3 years. Advances in technology are moving so quickly that your site can get out of sync with your practice in no time flat. When you, your practice, or your patients change, your site ages. So, ask yourself if your site is out of sync with your practice?
- It’s not mobile-responsive. This is a big one—people are always on their phones. In 2018, more than half of site visits were from mobile devices. So, if your website does not adapt to the size of a mobile screen, providing a good user experience, your visitors will move on, frustrated and unable to navigate your site. And just like that, another conversion bites the dust. Your site is not doing its job.
- It’s not getting you new patients. Remember that the number one goal of your site is conversions, specifically encouraging website visitors to fill out your contact form. Ranking high on Google (sign #4) brings new website visitors, but those visitors mean nothing if they do not contact your office. If you are not getting new patients through your site, those visiting it must not find it helpful. A revamp with patients’ goals in mind would be advantageous.
- It’s not on the first page of Google search. A beautiful, modern site doesn’t actually amount to much if it’s not ranking well. Ranking at the top of Google and being seen by potential patients is one to the most important jobs of your website. You need visitors to get conversions.
- It has outdated branding. Your site sends a strong message about who you are. If your practice has gone through any sort of rebranding, and your site does not reflect this, you’ve missed the bus as far as customer recognition. When potential patients need a service, will your practice be the first to pop in their mind?
- It loads very slowly. In today’s world, time is money. And your load time is directly related to the number of visitors to your website. It’s simple math. The longer your page takes to load, the more visitor—potential patients—you are losing. In fact, 40 percent of online users will leave a site that takes more than 3 seconds to load. You want to keep their attention? You’ve got 3 seconds.
Your website plays a huge part in determining the success of your practice. The trick is to keep it as young and fresh as you can, particularly if you want to present your practice as cutting-edge. If people see a modern website, they’ll assume the same of your practice. If you find it is falling short and you’re ready to make the leap to a new, up-to-date design, give the experts at PBHS a call.