A decade ago, having a website was cutting edge, but not anymore.
To have a well-designed, easy-to-navigate, engaging website that meets the needs of both your customers and your business, you need to invest time, talent and resources into it.
Stanford University found that 75% of people judge a company's credibility based on the design of its website. Possibly indicating that websites today play a much bigger role in establishing your reputation, building trust and securing business.
Have we mentioned how quickly web technology is evolving?
Check out our guide on website must-haves and best practices for manufacturers.
Here are five reasons you might want to update your manufacturing company’s website:
According to Smart Insights, 1 in 5 Google searches are performed on a mobile device. And in the United States alone, 1 in 4 internet users only access the internet on a mobile device. In China that number is close to 100 per cent of the population.
Mobile devices have taken over the world, and if your website isn't optimised for mobile, it's time you redesigned it. Your stakeholders are part of the larger demographic and are probably accessing your website through their phones.
Remember: your website's user experience can make or break new opportunities. You don't want to be left behind because you were slow to adopt mobile browsing trends.
Learn more about mobile optimisation best practices with our ebook on website best practices for textile manufacturers.
In web analytics, a high bounce rate, low time on site, and low average pages per visit indicate that your visitors do not find your current site useful for one reason or another.
Likewise, if you’re trying to get a Return On Investment (ROI) from your site, and you’re not seeing potential customers reaching out to you – either because conversion opportunities aren’t set up, to begin with–– it’s likely time to re-evaluate your approach to web and redesign your website with both your target audience and your goals in mind.
You will undoubtedly see increased qualified traffic and leads by first considering the personas and goals for your redesign, then working with your development and design teams to tailor your site to them.
As a textile and garment manufacturer, you should make sure that your website is visible to brands and designers because it will let them know what fabrics you offer and if your business aligns with their sustainability needs.
Your website is one of your most important business assets as a manufacturer. The look and feel of your site should align with what your current target audience is looking for. If it doesn't, it's time to update it.
There's no denying it, web design trends change rapidly, and an outdated website just looks out of date. It might be something obvious like your copyright information still stating 2009, or it could be a laggy video with a musical intro when a visitor lands on your site, or even the entire website.
A great deal has changed in the way websites work over the years. The focus today is on easy navigation and clean design. If your site is a cluttered mess that looks outdated, it’s time for a re-design.
An article by ResearchGate found that 94% of people believe websites with good design are more trustworthy. Therefore, redesigning your website can help you gain the trust of your customers and potential customers.
A good place to start would be to:
Content Management Systems (CMS) allow you to manage your website content without using code to update it. For a variety of reasons, it’s important to keep your content relevant, which means you need to be able to edit it whenever easily, without having to involve a web developer to edit the code.
If you can’t easily make content updates to your site, it’s time for a new one.
The good news is: when you have a site on a CMS, you’re in control. If you need to make a content update to support a campaign, it’s easy!
Re-developing your website in a CMS is a great move that really empowers your marketing team.
Need help with evaluating your website’s content management system? Talk to a web development expert here.
Search Engine Journal reports that 93% of online experiences begin with a search.
Search engines have become much more sophisticated in recent years, so if your organic (non-paid) search engine rankings are low, it could mean it’s time for an update.
People used to think that the key to SEO was to plug your content with as many keywords as possible.
But that won’t get you far, in fact, it might hurt your website's performance. Today, it’s all about having original, high-quality content on your site, which is why sites with blogs perform so well.
For textile manufacturers: high-quality content includes:
If the content on your site isn't optimised or tailored to your industry and customer segments, i.e, too general, you’re going to have trouble standing out. Creating your site with SEO in mind will ensure that potential customers can find you online.
Now that you know how to make your website more effectively, it's time to decide where to begin. For example, if your website needs content, identify what type of content you need to help your customers make better purchase decisions. If the layout and design are outdated or inconsistent with your messaging, talk to a web design expert who can help you figure out the best design for your business needs.
On a final note, your website needs to be nurtured and given the opportunity to reach more people. Think of it as your star salesperson and use it as a vehicle to provide information to those interested in your products and processes. Once you do, you’ll see an incredible difference in your returns. Wouldn't you want that for your business?
