Re-evaluate your website these holidays

While many businesses take time off over the Christmas break – it is a good time to reassess your website and see if it meeting its original goals, and working as a positive tool for your company.
So if this all seems a little daunting, the team at Kiss Digital have compiled a list of the top five areas of your website that should be reviewed.

1)    Ensure your website is easily accessible
It is reassuring to know that everyone who tries to access your website is able to, however there are several issues that can hinder what people can and cannot view on your website.
The first way to ensure your website is operating properly is to confirm that it has no broken links. Broken links occur when a link to a page has been deleted or moved. A good way to measure broken links is through software like Xenu.
Another way to ensure your website is getting maximum traffic is by updating your alt tags which serve as alternatives for content like images. Alt tags are vital for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to view websites – and if the alt tags are absent – then they will be unable to view your website.
Lastly, and most importantly, you should try to eliminate as much flash from your website as possible. There is a long list of reasons why Flash is a disadvantage to many websites – however a key reason lies in the use of certain mobile devices. If people try to access a website via a mobile device, namely the iPhone, then they will be unable to view certain content because they are incapable of viewing Flash.    

2)    Compile statistics to see your website is meeting its original goals    
It is important to check whether your website is working to the best of its ability – fulfilling customer satisfaction as well as your business goals. A good way to these gather statistics for your website is through           Google Analytics  (which needs to be/should be built into your website).  You should login to Google Analytics once a week to see your website is performing to the best of its ability. Analytics measures a vast amount of important statistics which can clearly illustrate who is visiting your website, what pages they are viewing (and whether t hey are visiting the pages you want them to visit). These statistics will show if your website is serving its purpose which can ultimately assist with changes and improve the performance of any website.

3)    Is your web design user friendly?
When new users enter your website – your brand should be recognizable in the design – because the website maybe the only knowledge someone has of your company – therefore it must accurately portray your company, its services and values.
It is easy for any website owner to say their site is easy to follow – however for some new users who are unfamiliar with your brand may paint a very different picture.
For that reason – it is a good idea to get a second opinion about your website from a new user. The new user should preferably not be your best friend – unless they are brutally honest!

4)    Updates are key
Websites should never be an afterthought or an accessory that is constantly on the back-burner - it should be an asset and an alternative route to your business. Any website should be taken seriously because it can be a valuable way to gain revenue and new clients who may be unable to get to your physical office. As a result – your website should be constantly updated and remain relevant to your business. If you have done something drastic like moves offices or something minor like changed your fax number – then all of this content should be updated to keep clients informed. Users will feel a lot more comfortable viewing your online business knowing all of your content is relevant and up to speed.

5)    Skyrocket with SEO and keywords
When you are evaluating your website, read every word on every page and make sure you have relevant keywords on relevant pages. These keywords will not only assist your organic Google ranking – but more importantly – users can be assured that there questions will be answered and they will find the information they are looking for. Other ways you can implement keywords into your website include adding meta tags to each page, image titles and meta titles.

We hope these tips will help you when re-evaluating your website in the New Year.  
From the team at Kiss Digital - we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.