In this digital age, it is nothing less than a suicide to run a business without a website. As 81 per cent of users research online before making a purchase, having a website becomes your first step to enter the market.
Feeling proud that you already have one? Wait, let us delve a bit deeper into the reality.
Statistics reveal that every minute, 571 new websites make their way into the digital world. This means 34,260 websites per hour and a whopping 8,22,240 in a day.
The above figures are indicative of the fierce competition stemming from the deluge of websites, which naturally means that a majority of the them will fail to make any impact. Ultimately, they will either find their way into the trash cans of the digital world, or simply remain unnoticed somewhere in a remote corner.
Having a website is indeed the first step, but it is just the first. Although it is true that the majority of sites fail to have any influence, it is also a fact that there are many that are wooing users very effectively. You too can make your site one of the latter, and make it do wonders for you.
As “Knowing is Half the Battle,” this blog helps you identify the 5 major reasons why your website could be failing to make an impact:
Here you go:
1. Bad SEO
In the list of reasons, SEO jumps the queue both chronologically as well as priority-wise. Nothing will work until you take care of your SEO. This is because 60 percent users start researching products on search engines before heading to a specific site. Hence, if you do not show up early in search results, you miss out on the majority of your potential customers, as most of them do not go to websites directly.
Many consider SEO to be a part of content strategy. However, though they are related, the difference is that content strategy plays a role in keeping visitors glued to your site, whereas SEO is responsible for bringing traffic.
If your website does not appear in the first page, rework your SEO because being on the second page literally means you are untraceable.
2. Unattractive Design
Interestingly, a study reveals that most users take just 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) to make a judgment about a website. Their stay depends on an opinion made in a jiffy. Some of you may wonder what can be judged in such a short span of time.
Another study clarifies it is the design. 94 percent of the negative feedback for websites is design-related. These figures place a great deal of responsibility on web designers, and their services are crucial to the success of a website, but they can also be responsible single-handedly for its failure. However, the situation can be remedied easily by opting for UX (user experience) design.
Additionally, a large percentage of users surf websites on mobile devices. The last thing they want is to zoom in and out while navigating through a website. Make sure that your website is designed for desktops as well as mobile devices.
3. Not Giving Importance to Analytics
Launching a website is not a one-time job. It certainly is an evolving process, and it requires a lot of patience and intelligence to continue hitting the right chords over time. For this reason, one needs to be meticulous in knowing and interpreting how visitors are interacting with your website.
By closely watching the metrics on Google Analytics and other software you may use, you are able to know exactly what is working with your website and what requires improvements. By knowing about the source of the traffic, bounce rate, time spent on pages, most liked pages, most shared pages, etc. you will be in a better position to make necessary alterations in order to meet the expectations of your visitors.
Ignoring analytics will inevitably make you website redundant.
4. Snubbing Blogging
Blogging regularly is akin to breathing. Sure, you can hold your breath for a while, but eventually you’re going to run into trouble.
You may find the idea of blogs boring, or it can seem like an unnecessary effort; yet it proves to be the most convenient and effective way to interact with your customers and win their trust.
People search almost anything on the internet and your blogs act as signboards that draw users toward your site. Studies prove that companies that have blogs get 55 percent more visitors than those that do not.
Offering thought-provoking and problem-solving content projects you as an thought leader in the eyes of users and gives your site more credibility.
5. No or Bad Website Localization
The last point holds true only for global websites. Often, businesses ignore this crucial element, which is responsible for making their websites successful amongst users.
In simple terms, Website Localization is fine-tuning and customizing the content, visuals and design of a website, so that it suits the sensibilities of the people in a particular region where the business is attempting to make a mark.
Imagine your website having images of the La Tomatina festival portraying revelry. It will be understood positively in Europe, but countries like Africa will simply consider you indifferent to human sufferings.
Many times, ignoring the sensibilities and cultural nuances of the audience we are addressing can backfire. Tailoring a website’s content and visuals holds the key; else, it will only result in a higher bounce rate.
The above list, despite not being comprehensive, highlights the major possible reasons why your website may be failing to appeal to its targeted users. By working on these factors, you too can join the league of those whose websites are doing great in the digital arena.