Making sure all of your website content is up-to-date, original, and provides enough information to bring in revenue might seem easy enough on paper, but actual implementation can be a little difficult if you don't have the right tools or services. Having a provider for website content is a very common service for businesses to use, especially if there is a lot of content that needs to be created. But what happens when your provider starts to, well, suck?
If you're seeing bad ROI, even poorer SEO and Google rank results, and just an overall "blah" attitude toward your website content, it might be time to look into a new content creator to really spice up your site. But relying on just a feeling might not be the best bet for a business deal, so that's why there are some signs to look out for to see if it's time to update that website content and find a new website content provider.
1. It has been more than 3 years
Technology changes faster every year, and even website content isn't an exception from this. Google has been busy creating keyword and content standards to make sure websites aren't "cheating" their way to the top of a Google page with shoddy content, which is why it's very wise and safe to update your content to reflect that. If the provider won't help, then it's time to find someone else.
2. The content isn't original or informative
The Web is becoming more about information and less about sales pitches or content for the sake of ranking on search engines. If your website content provider is still only producing content that sounds like a gimmicky sales pitch or keyword stuffed content, don't hesitate to end that partnership immediately. You'll be thankful both in the immediate and far future.
How can you tell if your website content is original and informative or not? Easy, have someone just look over your website--preferably someone who doesn't work for you--and let them give their opinion. Did they learn anything about your brand or business? Was the content engaging and have social media options? Did they feel like your website just wanted to sell them something? These are a few questions to consider.
3. No rich media to speak of
In the same vein as technology always changing, another area that has been drastically updated is the use of multimedia on a website. Back in the day (some of you might not remember), websites with video or GIF images took awhile to load the content and weren't as common because of this. Now, it's a requirement for a website to have images, video, widgets, and much more. Is your website content provider still stuck in the 90s? Well, time to update to the 21st Century.
4. Overall bad website content
Mistakes happen, but constant mistakes shouldn't be excused. If your website content provider is always leaving behind glaring problems like spelling errors, broken links, buggy multimedia, and other bugs it's high time to find someone who can make sure the final product is error-free.
Skimping out on quality for the sake of budgeting can cost your business hundreds or even thousands of dollars more. It can also cost you both loyal and potential customers. Take the time to really comb through the website content as well as assess to see just how good of a job the content provider does. Don't be afraid to spend a little more for quality, especially when it comes to the main hub of what your customers and potential business partners see on a daily basis.
What are some other signs you think businesses should look out for when it comes to questionable website content providers?