Are you a myth believer?

By Monica Pitts

I want you to go out to your website and pull it up on one monitor. If you’re a two monitor user, I want you to pull up your biggest competitor’s website on another monitor. If you don’t have a great competitor in your area, pull up the business you admire.

Look at your site and theirs, and ask yourself, “if these websites were Airbnbs, which one would I rent?”

If it’s not your website, then you probably believe these myths.

MYTH #1
A bad website is better than no website at all.

When you visit a bad site you immediately assume the company isn’t legit.

I know not everyone has a multi-thousand dollar budget to blow on your website and that’s OK. Your website does not have to be the sexiest thing on earth but it does need to tell your story well. There are tons of cost effective ways to amp up your website and give you the credibility you need. Start by taking new pictures, updating your text, adding a chatbot, or provide added value by taking payments or giving price quotes online.

MYTH #2
The most important thing is that my website is beautiful.

I’m not saying your website can be hideous, but if it’s pretty and doesn’t work well, you’re not doing yourself any favors.Beauty is not all there is to it.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful it is. If people have to think about how to use your website or wait forever to see it, you’re missing the mark.

MYTH #3
Stock photos make your site look more polished.

Using stock photos doesn’t make you look more polished. It makes you look like everyone else. People can’t tell who you really are.

Visitors to your website should be able to get to know your company when they look at your website. You’re better off using meaningful lower quality photos snapped with your phone on your website than stock photos that have nothing to do with who you are.

MYTH #4
It’s OK if it’s not great on mobile.

People use their phones to look at websites all the time. So why do we feel like our own websites are exempt?

When your website doesn’t work on mobile, it makes you look like you don’t care about your company or the people using your site. And if you don’t care about them right now, when they’re not your customers, how will you treat them when they do business with you? Think about the message you’re putting out there. Not to mention if it takes forever to load they won’t stick around to see if it works at all!

MYTH #5
Once your site is done, you don’t have to update it.

I have a secret for you.

When you never update your website, it makes you look like you’re dead.

You look like you’re not in business anymore. Your website is not a printed brochure. It’s an active thing you need to update.

I’m not saying you need to be blogging, though it does have some major benefits. I am saying as a business going about your normal day-to-day operations, there are things that need to be updated on your website. Obvious things like photos, staff, processes or shifts in operating hours. Show proof of your work, write tutorials for problems your clients face every day or add a FAQ section.

MYTH #6
A website is just for new customers.

If your website isn’t supporting your current customers, it’s not helping you build your business.

It is easier to kindle a relationship with someone you already know than go out and meet new people.

This is our insurance, taking care of the people we already have. Don’t ignore those folks. We love those folks.

At the very least post news, testimonials, or stories about how you’re making an impact in the community and delivering a service that improves the lives of your customers. Put it out there so people can see it and know what you’re all about.

MYTH #7
Redoing my website is going to take too much time.

You have to update your website, or Google will hate you.

It’s hard to grow your business when Google’s not your friend.

Not only that but your website should be built to solve problems within your company. It should work for you to grow your business.
If your website is a dinosaur it’s not doing its job anymore.

If it were an employee, you would fire it, but instead, you convince yourself you don’t have time to rebuild it. We make time to replace employees as they move on. Don’t let time be your enemy. If it is a priority, you can find time to do it.

Kick these myths to the curb and make your website a priority; it will help you grow your business. You deserve a website that’s a beautiful, scalable asset for your organization. Not a liability.

Monica Pitts is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of MayeCreate Design. She spends her days constructing a marriage of form and function; creating art with her design team to grow businesses through websites and online marketing. Monica considers herself an artist, marketer and web dork with the ability to speak geek and English.