When is it time to update or re-build your website?
It feels like Technology advancements move at lightning speed these days, and its no wonder we feel this way:
The first iPhone was released in June 2007, there have been 20 versions since then.
Damn…. I remember getting my first Nokia in 2002, and being able to play snake on it was groundbreaking. And don’t get me started on my blackberry, having emails and a full keyboard on my phone revolutionised my world.
It also feels like a short time ago I was playing battleships on Atari.
Not to mention music moved from vinyl to cassettes, to CD’s and now we have it at my fingertips through streaming services like Spotify.
So what does this evolution of technology mean for websites?
The Internet has been around since the 60s, but it wasn’t until 1991 that the “world wide web” was introduced. This was the creation of the Internet as we know it today. The “world wide web” transformed the Internet from a way to simply send files from one place to another to a “web” of information that anyone on the Internet could retrieve.
The world wide web transformed the Internet to the Internet as we know it today.
It was also at this time that the creator, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, of the “world wide web” realised the commercial opportunity. As a result, companies of all kinds hurried to set up websites of their own, and e-commerce entrepreneurs began to use the Internet to sell goods directly to customers.
The internet BOOM saw a massive increase in small business launching websites.
This is the first Website
The Answer.
Technology and design advancements now mean you should be re-designing and re-developing or at least updating your website every 5 years! Yep, that’s every 5 years and here’s why:
- Websites are built on ever-changing platforms that require constant maintenance and updates. Without maintenance, websites can “Break” causing an ever-growing number of issues. It can also cause the complete opposite; the website does continue to function perfectly fine until it comes time to update a small feature or product, this then turns into a costly venture or a complete website rebuild due to the lack of maintenance. Your website is like your body; it needs constant cleaning and healthy new additions to function correctly!
- Platforms become obsolete all the time just like the recent End of Life Windows 7 or Adobe ending support for their Website Building Muse. If you have a website built on the Adobe Business Catalyst platform, you have until 26th March 2021 to rebuild your website before it disappears forever!
- Design trends change. Colours, graphics, artwork, it all changes with different design techniques. Look at Google or even coca-cola their core brand stays the same, but they adapt to design trends. Microsoft has re-designed their website no less than 27 times since it launched its first website in 1994.
- Imagery can outdate very quickly, I’m sorry (not sorry), but it is no longer okay to use clip art. And if you have photos on your website, people can quickly identify if people are wearing Oakley sunglasses circa 2005. Why does this matter? The psychology of people viewing your site and automatically identify the website as old, therefore thinking that you are old and are no longer current. So it is crucial to ensure your imagery is relevant and current.
- People expect more from your website as technology advances, as do the expectations of consumers. People’s expectations of what they can find on the Internet and how they interact with it evolve as technology evolves. There is nothing more frustrating than finding old, outdated information, or even no information at all when looking for resources and services on the Internet.
We have even updated our website with the times too.
When should you start planning to update or rebuild your website? At least 12 months out from when you need the new website to go LIVE.
So as you can see, there are so many factors that can attribute to your website becoming outdated. Ask yourself, has your website reached the end of its lifespan?
