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You know the value
of being First ... and it shows . . .
You had a website long before the competition ... another 'First'. .
.
But the Web keeps changing ... getting better . . .
Now your competitors have newer sites...with newer web tools . . .
. . . and your numbers show it.
What to do? . . .Be First...Again!
For many companies and
organizations, their web presence began as far back as 1997
perhaps even earlier. In some cases, those websites have not been
updated in years. Like any other asset, web properties depreciate.
They need upkeep, maintenance, support and occasionally innovation
and replacement.
How does your
website measure up?
Does your website help or hurt your business?
Is the copyright date more than a year old on your homepage? If so,
your website should be checked for the need to update.
-
Have you noticed a
downward trend in your web traffic over the past year? It could
indicated a stale web presence and suggest that your site has
diminished in value to your site visitors, customers and
prospects.
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Has your business
or organization structure and/or function significantly changed
since your website was last updated? If so, then site visitors
are likely seeing incorrect information and perhaps following
invalid or worse broken links from your web pages.
-
Has your website
lost ranking in the most important and popular search engines
(Google, Yahoo, MSN)? Search engine guidelines change constantly
and differ engine-to-engine; and a website that did well a year
ago might not even be listed in the first dozen search engine
results pages (SERPs).
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Does your site
still use web forms (such as a Contact form) that are not
secure? Site visitors have become very savvy and will likely
avoid using a non-secure web form. Each time that happens, you
have lost a lead!
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If you answer
Yes to any of the above, it could be time to have your site
professionally evaluated. There are web development teams that
offer this service, and their trained eyes can quickly point out
any pitfalls and provide recommendations.
Once you know what
is wrong and what is right with your website, you can work toward
fixing any problems.
Pick the right web
development team. Choose a web development firm that you trust
and then work with them to create a plan that fits your needs and
your budget.
Set the right goals. Carefully evaluate the role that your
website should play in your business or organization.
Keep the Baby, Toss
the Bathwater! Examine your existing site and decide what should
be salvaged and what should be completely eliminated.
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This article is the property of the Gilman Group, and it may be
shared provided this block is included and proper credit is given.
Pam Hoffman is the owner of the Gilman Group, Web Presence and
Marketing firm in Glen Rock, PA. (www.gilmangroup.com). Their
clients span the globe and come from many different industries. If
you are considering
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