9x why you do NOT need a new website after all

And all this even though the old website is only a year and a half old, 80% of it is still good and, with some simple adjustments, could even do what it needs to do much better.

Then I googled 'reasons for new website'. Well, there are a lot of worthless arguments there. So I thought it was time to list some reasons that don 't necessarily mean you need a new website.

Ps. Are you curious about where I got these arguments from? Then Google "reasons new website.

The website does not convert well

If your car has a flat tire or doesn't run quite right, you don't throw it away, do you? You don't take it to the junkyard, you have it repaired.

The same goes for your website. You don't just shove that one aside either.

If your website is not converting, it could be due to a lot of things:

• Are the forms working properly?
• Does your website have a clickable phone number and email address?
• And does your website have any converting capabilities at all?

Once you've checked all that, the next step is to check if your website has enough converting elements. And by that I mean, among other things:

• Reviews
• Customer cases or projects
• Logos
• Microcopy
• Cialdini's principles of persuasion
• Persuasive text

Add this kind of content first. That can already increase your conversion rate significantly.

Website load time is poor

A long loading time is obviously bad for the website user. How irritating is it when a page takes 5 seconds to load!?!!

Irritating, so usually visitors are then gone before they've even seen the page.

But besides being bad for the visitor, Google doesn't like long loading times either. For example, website load time also impacts your website's findability.

Now chances are that the load time of your 10-year-old website cannot be improved. This is because the load time depends on CMS used, the code, your developer and a host of other factors that have improved over time, among others.

But there is also a very good chance that the loading time of your website can be improved just fine. Again, this depends on the same factors.

In fact, often with a few simple changes we can save a lot of time. So you had to try or discover that before talking about a new website.

Competitors' website is prettier

I really had to laugh out loud when I read this argument. I haven't seen such a lame argument for taking on a new website in a long time.

Because what is beautiful? And does pretty immediately mean more conversion? I dare say that the bulk of all fancy websites created perform less than a website built for conversion and SEO.

And who should think your website is ugly or beautiful? After all, in my opinion, your customers don't care what you or your website builder think of your own website.

The website does not have SSL

If your house does not have a porch, will you move to a house with a porch or have a porch built?

Right. You have one built.

Suppose your website does not have SSL. Do you then have a new website built or do you request an SSL certificate and run your website over https?

Right. You request an SSL.

This can sometimes be arranged in an hour, so no reason to immediately shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for a new website.

The findability of your website is poor

The findability of your website, of course, largely has to do with your website and what is on it. If you've never done anything about SEO, then it makes sense that your website will not be easily findable.

But that doesn't mean you need a new website. If the website is otherwise fine (read: is not a technical wreck), you can build on that just fine.

When we talk about SEO, there is more to it than just the technology. The content and backlinks you have are extremely important. So you can have a website that is SEO perfect, but due to poor content and no backlinks still doesn't rank well

You are not happy with your website

Why aren't you happy with your website? Does it have old photos on it? Is it not working properly? Or is there something else going on?

Probably you, as a website owner, don't have much of a clue. So you need to make that "not happy" more concrete first.

In addition, a potential customer will never think "What does the owner of this website think of his or her website? No. They won't. Nor is it important that your (potential) customer is happy with your Web site.

That doesn't tell you anything either. What's important is that your website does what it's supposed to do. Sell. Or rake in leads.

You don't see any visitors back in Analytics

The first thing that comes to mind is: Does your website have Analytics? Are you looking in the right Analytics account? And did the implementation of Analytics go well?

If all that has gone well and is working properly, then you may go back to the heading about findability. Because it is more likely that you are not good at SEO / online marketing, than that your website is really disastrously bad.

Nothing has been posted on it for a long time

If you haven't cleaned up your bedroom for a long time, then clean up your bedroom. And if you haven't posted anything on your website for a long time, kick yourself.

Aren't you responsible for posting content? Then go to your marketing person or your online marketing agency. Stick your foot out and kick the ass of whoever is responsible for your content.

Content = King and the basis for SEO / findability. Quality is most important then, but quantity should certainly not be discounted.