Pixel perfect: don't let outdated web design byte your business
Looks don’t matter, right? Don’t judge a book by its cover, there’s more than meets the eye, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – there are many commonly used phrases that bestow the virtue of looking beyond the aesthetics. And in many other scenarios we agree, but when it comes to a business website design, none of the above apply.
Is it shallow? Possibly.
Does it negatively impact your business? Hugely.
The world is image and technology obsessed, so how your website looks and functions is a big deal. A dated, clunky, or poorly designed website runs the risk of presenting your business as outdated and behind the times, at worse untrustworthy. If your competitors have sleek, modern, and user-friendly websites while yours feels stuck in the early 2000s, who do you think your audience will choose?
The hidden costs of an outdated website
An outdated website isn’t just a cosmetic issue. If you are missing the mark on the aesthetics, there are likely functional issues too. This negatively impacts your business in ways you may not even realise. Here’s what a poorly designed website tells your customers:
- You’re not keeping up with industry trends. If your website looks like it hasn’t been touched in years, visitors may assume your business isn’t evolving either or likely to offer the most up-to-date products or services.
- You don’t prioritise user experience. A slow, difficult-to-navigate website frustrates users and compels them to click away – life is too short to wait!
- You lack credibility. A poorly maintained website makes your business appear unreliable, reducing trust in your products or services.
- You’re missing out on sales. A confusing, slow, or non-mobile-friendly site prevents potential customers from taking action, leading to lost revenue and reputation.
Signs and symptoms you need a new website design
If you have a website, especially if you designed it yourself, you may be blind to areas where it can be improved – the attachment to an underperforming DIY website design is both relatable (we’ve all done it) and damaging to your business. However diverse website designs are, they share common signs and symptoms when overdue a website upgrade:
1. Outdated branding
Just as you have matured with the passage of time, your business has likely evolved too - has your website kept up? If your branding, messaging, or visual identity has changed, your website should reflect that. A mismatch between your brand and website creates confusion and weakens the power of all your digital marketing efforts, including Google Ads.
2. Slow website loading speeds
Did you know that for every additional second a website takes to load conversions drop by 4.42%? Speed is critical. If your site takes longer than four seconds to load, users will leave, resulting in a higher bounce rate and lower rankings on Google.
3. Poor mobile experience
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t a responsive website design optimised for smartphones and tablets, you’re immediately alienating a significant portion of your audience. Google’s mobile-first indexing means websites that aren’t mobile-friendly rank lower in search results.
4. Difficult navigation
A website should be intuitive and easy to navigate. If visitors struggle to find information or get lost in a maze of menus, they’ll leave frustrated—and they likely won’t return.
5. Stale content and incorrect information
Old blog posts, outdated pricing, or incorrect business hours create a negative user experience. If it’s been years since your last update, your website could be working against you rather than for you. Everything you publish online needs to have one goal: help consumers spend their money. Quality, accurate SEO content keeps your audience keen and Google happy.
From static to dynamic: transform your website with Digital Presence
The greatest barrier to businesses updating their website design is the fear of the additional work involved. Digital Presence specialise in working with small businesses in Christchurch and, as a small business ourselves, we appreciate the time and resource demands on business owners – which is why we do it all for you.
Upgrading a business website doesn’t have to be stressful, so if your website is showing signs of age, it’s time for a refresh. Here’s how we can transform your online presence:
1. Without risk affordable web design in Christchurch
Traditional web design can be expensive, often requiring thousands of dollars upfront. With Digital Presence, you get a professional, high-performing website for a low monthly fee - no hefty initial investment required. Plus, there are no lock-in contracts, giving you complete flexibility.
2. SEO-friendly web design
A stunning website means nothing if no one can find it. Digital Presence develops SEO-friendly website designs as the standard, ensuring your website ranks well on Google and attracts your target audience.
3. User-friendly experience
A good website isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about usability. Our designs are fast, reliable, and easy to navigate, ensuring visitors can quickly find what they need and take action. On the other side of the same coin is the ease of use for you to run the website daily and use back-office functions – editing, adding content and products etc.
4. Lead-generating power
We create websites that don’t just look good—they work hard for your business. With engaging, visually appealing designs, clear calls to action, and conversion-focused layouts, your site is a powerful sales tool.
5. Always up-to-date
We know you don’t have the hours in the day to exclusively devote to making sure your business website is up-to-date with the newly released Google algorithms, latest web standards, and security features, which is why Digital Presence do it for you. After three years, we give you a free visual refresh to keep your site looking on point and competitive.
6. Ongoing support and maintenance
Included in our website subscription packages is monthly editing time, so you don’t have to have another task on your to-do list. Digital Presence includes monthly editing time in our website packages, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining your site—we’ve got it covered.
7. The website: the heart of your digital marketing strategy
Your website should be a tool that drives business growth, not a liability that repels potential customers. As a SME website design, it serves as the central hub of all digital marketing efforts, acting as the primary touchpoint between your business and potential customers. It integrates various marketing channels—social media, email campaigns, search engine optimisation (SEO), and PPC paid advertising—into a cohesive strategy. Digital Presence targets specific audiences and directs them to your site, providing a controlled environment to inform, engage, and convert visitors.
We’ll show you how a modern, SEO-friendly website elevates your brand, generates leads, and converts visitors into customers—all without the high upfront costs. If it all sounds too good to be true, read our website design FAQ and contact Digital Presence to arrange a free no-jargon, no-obligation chat. There is no need to have an underperforming website, it’s time for a change!
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