Part 1 of 2: Does your website need a little attention (or an overhaul)?

Hi there,

I’ve been working on a few websites lately and loving it! While I’ve been creating new sites, I’ve also been poking around and noticed some sites that are not aging well or meeting today’s standards. In this newsletter, we’ll look at 3 aspects to evaluate.

All the best,

#6 | 16 October 2024

Part 1 of 2: Does your website need a little attention (or an overhaul)?

Other than the actual words, what is your website telling people?

A website allows you to update and refresh your content anytime and provides unlimited space to work with. You can also go beyond providing information and offer useful tools and functionality such as appointment scheduling and sign-up forms.

Take advantage of the medium! Treating your website like a static document is a missed opportunity. Don’t “set it and forget it.”

Maybe it’s time to take a good look at your site. Here are some things I suggest reviewing. (I’ll cover 3 more in the next issue of The Owl’s Edge.)

Responsive design

Websites that adapt to the user’s screen size are responsive. They provide a user-friendly experience on any device such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

With more than 50% of website views happening on mobile phones, responsive design is no longer optional.

Always check web pages on your phone to be sure they look good and work properly. Is there anything cut off? Can you find the navigation menu? Can you read the text?

Content quality

When reviewing your site, take the time to review every page. Read every word and click every link. Even if your website is relatively new, you may be surprised to find outdated or incorrect information and broken links. Things change more quickly than we realize.

More content questions to keep in mind

• Is your messaging clear and concise?

• Are you providing information that’s useful to your audience? Does your site answer common questions?

• Is there a reason for past visitors to visit again? Is there anything new?

• Is your content formatted for skimming? People rarely read entire web pages; they skim and scroll. You need to get their eyes to stop on something!

• Does the navigation and organization make sense to your audience?

• Are your images and graphics sharp or fuzzy? Are they adding value and interest to your content or detracting from it?

• Is it time for a new headshot? Does your photo look like you–this year?

• Is there anything else you could offer such as online booking or payment? Use your website to make it easy to do business with you.

Design consistency

A website with consistent elements, a thoughtful selection of colours, and complementary fonts (or typefaces) feels polished and professional.

Are your headings, body text, and links consistent across the website? The same element should have the same style throughout the site. For example, all body text should be in the same font and size. All headings of the same level should have the same capitalization, font, and size.

Are colours on your website consistent and effective? For example, buttons with a similar function should be the same colour and shape. Be sure to notice the colour of text and the background it’s on. Is your text easy or challenging to read? (Colour contrast is an important factor for accessibility which I’ll cover in more detail in part 2.)

These are just a few of the many design elements to consider on a website.

Your website is often the first place potential customers will form an impression of you and your business. Take steps now to make sure the impression is a good one!

When was the last time you reviewed your website? What year was your headshot or profile photo taken? Reply and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

If reading this on theowlsedge.ca, subscribers can log in and leave me a comment.

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