By no means am I preaching that people and businesses should not develop a website and a great online presence. What I am saying is that sometimes a personal or business website does more harm than good.
We have all seen them kicking around the internet and I bet you may even be able to think of one off the top of your head. A website you have visited that left you frustrated and confused.
One of the main reasons this happens is due to the inability to maintain the website. A website is not a fad. It is extremely important and a fundamental online marketing tool. You own it and have complete control over it.
If you do not have the time to maintain your website it could be doing more harm than good for you.
Confuses Potential and Current Customers
It is no doubt that you are being searched for on the internet. Hopefully by now you have come to realize and understand this. The question is what information are your current and potential customers finding?
If your core website has outdated contact information or incorrect services and product descriptions then it will not only confuse the visitors but it will frustrate them as well if they try to use it to contact you.
Damages your Brand
As a business your brand is extremely important. It is your means to stand out. A website that is not maintained may be inconsistent with your current branding strategy – outdated logos, slogans, colors, marketing material, etc. It is important to align your website with the rest of your marketing initiatives.
Even if you are not using your website to its full potential as a marketing tool and are merely using it as an expensive business card it is still extremely important that the information be correct and up to date.
Personal and Business
This does not only apply to business websites. An outdated personal website has the same effect on you personally as an outdated business website has on a business. Employers, Headhunters, and even University admissions officers are using search engines and other online methods to research potential candidates. Are they finding your grade 8 website? Perhaps it is time to update.
Bottom line: make sure someone is responsible for maintaining your website or it may never get done.
