If you’ve ever heard me speak, you’ve heard me say the following words: “Your website is the heart of your business.” And that’s absolutely true. Your website is often the first place a customer will look to find out more about your company, searching for everything from what type of products or services you offer, your hours of operation, and even how to discover your social media handles.

[Tweet “Google’s search engine rankings system will prioritize sites that are mobile friendly over sites that are not.”]

Check out this graphic, which shows that while half of all searches originate on a search engine (generally Google), a third of searchers go directly to a brand website to discover what they want to know:

That shows how important your website is. It’s also incredibly important that your website be mobile-friendly. Starting tomorrow, April 21st, Google’s search engine rankings system will prioritize sites that are mobile friendly over sites that are not. Even if you currently enjoy a front page ranking, if your site is not mobile friendly that will not necessarily be the case after this change has been implemented.

If you want your business to continue to exist as a profitable entity, you need a mobile friendly website. Another factor that is hugely important is social media integration. In addition to letting website visitors know where to find you on Facebook, Pinterest and other social media platforms, integrating content from social media is a smart strategy to boost both SEO and consumer interest.

The final thing business owners really need in order to ensure their website remains a viable marketing tool that serves them well is a willingness to evolve. Many times, so much thought, energy and money goes into creating a company’s website that there’s a reluctance to make changes as they’re needed. This can apply to both aesthetic changes to keep the brand’s look fresh and relevant to today’s customers as well as functionality issues such as mobile friendliness and social media integration. Change can be scary, but it is also necessary for business growth.

If you know your website needs help, but you don’t know where to start, give us a call. We can help your site get to where it needs to be without overwhelming you with tons of tech babble or ridiculous prices. It’s simple, smart, and strategic – so call today!