5 Common Myths About Web Sites

Launching a web site for a business can be a huge undertaking, as there are numerous decisions to be made. You have probably already spent a lot of time doing research online about web sites, including looking at your competitors’ websites and asking friends and business acquaintances who have web sites about their experiences in the online world as well. However, this research has probably also resulted in a lot of conflicting information and advice about web sites, leaving you confused about which direction you should go in.

Here are five common myths about web sites you should be aware of:

1. Your web site will be listed on the first page of Google search results immediately. You might have heard that you can quickly get your web site to display on the first page of Google search results just by doing a few simple things, such as keyword stuffing or paying an SEO specialist. However, this is a myth. By consistently publishing new content on your web site, such as a blog, you will increasingly attract visitors to your web site and in turn improve your reputation with Google, which plays a big factor in helping your web site get listed higher in Google’s search results.
2. It doesn’t matter what your web site looks like. Keep in mind that your web site might be the first impression someone has of your business, and first impressions count! Therefore, it’s important that your web site not only look attractive but have quality content and is easy to use. If your web site contains spelling and grammar errors, is difficult to navigate, and is not mobile responsive, visitors will most likely leave your web site and go elsewhere.
3. If you outsource the development of your web site, you don’t need to work on it. Many businesses choose to hire an outside contractor to develop their company web site, but this does not mean you can leave all of the work up to them. You will still be expected to make decisions about the content, graphics, and the general look and feel of your web site.
4. You don’t need a web site if you’re active on social media. While you might be active on social media and have lots of followers, social media does not take the place of a web site. There could be potential customers that do not utilize social media and therefore wouldn’t be able to learn about your business if you didn’t have a web site, plus some social media platforms use algorithms that unfortunately prevent your followers from seeing your postings.

Once you have a web site built, you don’t need to do anything with it. Regardless of who developed your web site, your web site still needs to be maintained, including reviewing the content to make sure it is current and meets legal requirements and updating plugins. This will help ensure your web site is running at maximum capacity and help keep it secure.