As we discussed in our last post, a stand alone website is a must. So, if you already have one then you are on your way to keeping your business online and ahead of your competitors. With all the other things you have to do in running your business on a daily basis, your website and social media marketing may end up being neglected. Websites can get costly, so how can you determine when it needs an update? Here are three helpful hints:

1. Your website relies on Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash

In the 2000s, Macromedia Flash dominated the web landscape, and was the tool of choice for delivering video, audio, and in browser games. It allowed for some great menu animations, effects, and just all around eye candy that HTML could not deliver at the time. Fast forward to 2014, and Flash (now an Adobe product) is on its last legs. HTML5, CSS and Javascript have been extended so far that they can now provide much of what Flash was able to. HTML5 is leaner, runs on multiple devices, and all around performs better. Just remember, if you rely too much on Flash, you will be cutting out iPhone and iPad users, as Apple does not support Flash on its products – and we all now that is a huge part of the market.

2. Your content is getting difficult to manage (WordPress anyone?)

Many great sites are built only in HTML, or frameworks like codeIgnitor. If you have an older site that is just a collection of a bunch of HTML files, managing it is probably a nightmare. One of the best trends that the 2010s gave website owners are Content Management Systems (CMSs). Do you have a website with tons of pages, blog posts, images, product listings or other items that have just become too many and too difficult to manage? Great solutions like WordPress (which powers this very site) make it easy to add or update pages, blog posts, and other types of content. Not only that, but if you want to give your site a new look, just find the right theme and you are good to go. Need to add more functions like contact forms, newsletter, or social media integration? WordPress has tons of plugins that can add new features instantly. For any small business without complex technology needs, a solution like WordPress is a must.

3. Your website just doesn’t work on a smartphone or tablet

Every day, more and more web searches happen via mobile devices. If your site cannot accommodate smartphone and tablet users, you have just lost a significant part of the market. If a user cannot view your website on a mobile device, their next search is likely going to take them to a competitor.

Think that you might be in trouble? Don’t sweat, a website upgrade can be painless. Google always has a collection of great insights, and if you are stuck, get in touch and let us put together a solution for you.