6 Signs It's Time for a New Website

Technology is ever-changing. What worked 10 years ago most likely doesn't work today. In the early 2000's, simply having a website was a game changer. In 2021, most private practices have a website. It's not enough just to have a website up.

Your private practice's website design needs to be attractive, easily navigable, and built strategically for search engines to be able to read it. You may be asking "Why do I need all of this, my website works." The answer is because your potential patients who don't know you will judge your credibility based on the look of your website. According to Stanford University,75% of people judge the credibility of a company based on their website design.

Let's explore 6 reasons why your private practice may need a new website. If you can relate to any of these, it's time to invest in your practice's online credibility.

1. Your Website Is Not Built for Mobile Devices

More than 50% of all searches happen on a mobile phone according to Statista. This number will continue to grow as we get faster, more efficient mobile devices.

If your website scrolls left and right, or requires your visitors to pinch their fingers to zoom in to read your content, it's time for a new website. Google as of July 1, 2019 also indexes new websites using it's mobile-first indexing method. This basically means, your site should be built with mobile top of mind.

2. Your Search Rankings Are Low

If your website is not ranking well on search engines, it's probably because your website was not built with a strategy in mind. It could also be that your website was penalized for using old search engine optimization (SEO) techniques that no longer jive with how Google wants to reward websites for having great content.

You can review your rankings using a tool in Google Ads for free (keyword research), or you can reach out to a marketing company like mine to get a list of the keywords you rank for.

So why are search engine rankings important? Because according to Search Engine Journal, 93% of all online experiences begin on a search engine.

3. Your Website Looks Old and Outdated

Web design trends are changing. What used to look great 10 years ago looks way outdated today. When a patient sees your old website, they may think you're "behind the times" and don't keep up with current practices. According to Research Gate, 94% of people say that websites with a good design are trusted more than ones without a good design. Trust is everything in the medical world you operate in.

4. Your Website is Slow

If your website takes longer than 3 to 5 seconds to load, it may be time to invest in a new website. According to Kissmetrics, 40% of visitors will abandon a website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load.

There are many reasons your website could be going slowly. It typically goes hand in hand with old and outdated websites using technologies that aren't supported anymore. Your host could also be the problem. A new website will fix your website's speed and ensure visitors can find important information they need.

5. Your Private Practice Has Outgrown Your Current Website

We see many practices whose website looks like they belong in a horror movie. Things have been pieced together over the years from different website developers, different goals in mind, and even different brands. As your practice has grown through the years, new service pages were added and new elements have been coded in.

Growth is great, but if you don't plan your website strategy for growth, it can look very disjointed. A new website designer could account for all of your new services, and build a strategy for growth. Perhaps you're expanding into multiple locations. A new website strategy will implement templates that can handle any future expansion you're doing.

6. Your Competitors' Websites Looks Much Better Than Yours

First impressions matter. Your practice is not in a silo, in fact, you're competing against other private practices and other companies. Have you seen your competitor's website? Does it look better than yours? It can reflect on your potential patients choosing an option for care.

Imagine you're a patient and you see two websites of potential doctors. The first website looks clean and professional. The second website looks sloppy and disjointed. This potential patient may make a judgement about the 2 practices (fairly or unfairly) and the quality of service they offer. Your website should look as good or better than your competitors' websites.

Conclusions on Getting a New Website

A new website is a great investment for portraying the quality that you bring to the table. If you can relate to any of the above signs, you should invest in a new website for your private practice. Need some help? Contact one of our brands below!

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TherapistX helps psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals grow their practice using the power of the internet. TherapyByPro is a mental health professional directory and community that connects patients with mental health pros. Join today for 3 months free!

Anthony Bart is the President and Founder of BartX Digital, TherapistX, and TherapyByPro, a mental health professionals directory.