Websites are a dying breed, right? That’s what every millennial thinks anyway leading many to ask are websites obsolete?
With mobile apps like Instagram and TikTok becoming more popular than their website counterparts, people claim that websites are declining in popularity making a business website unnecessary. Google Chrome even blocked all auto-playing of videos on websites to avoid user frustration.
While it’s true that websites are no longer the only way to access information online, they aren’t going away any time soon, Internet usage thus far in 2022 has increased by 1,355%. In fact, there has never been a better time to rebuild your website and make it an essential part of your marketing strategy and business goals.
Are websites obsolete today? No, and here’s why.
Access to Websites Via Mobile Devices Continues to Increase
Despite the increase in the use of apps, people are still using their mobile devices to access the internet using the built-in browser on the device. It’s why it’s more important than ever to have a mobile-friendly website.
People are spending twice as much time online compared to 10 years ago, fuelled by the increasing use of tablets and smartphones, according to new Ofcom research.
According to Statistica, in 2022, mobile internet traffic will account for almost 55 per cent of total web traffic on the Internet. Not only this, but the time we spend connected to the Internet continues to rise.
The story of COVID-19 from a technology perspective was the way we almost all adopted a digital life during lockdowns with enforced working from home.
As a result, your typical Internet user across the globe now spends 6 hours and 58 minutes connected to the Internet across all devices. Mobile Internet usage will continue to rise as we seek out more and more information no matter where we are.
Websites Are a Powerful Marketing Channel
Websites are powerful marketing tools for a number of reasons.
Traditional websites first and foremost, allow you to build a strong brand identity, which is essential to building trust with your customers. They provide crucial information about your business or organisation. In fact, most people today might even be suspicious if you don’t have a website, especially one that looks professional and trustworthy.
Your website is your chance to tell your story and position yourself as a thought leader in your niche. You can use it to showcase your product and services, as well as let potential customers know who you are and what you do.
Websites are also the best way to collect leads and manage your email marketing campaigns. In fact, there are many ways to integrate your email marketing with your website. You can use pop-ups to collect email addresses and embedded forms, and even have an email autoresponder to welcome new visitors.
With a website you can:
- Create welcoming landing pages
- Show off your brand
- Sell online 24/7 globally
- Generate marketing copy and quickly update it
- Grow an email marketing list
- Build membership and community areas
- Provide an education
- Build a podcast following
- Spread the news
- Grow your organic search traffic
- Increase your global outreach
- and more…
If you don’t have a website already, email marketing is the best way to introduce yourself to your customers, engage with them, and build a relationship with them.
Your Website Helps Build Product and Brand Awareness
Visitors to your website actively seek information about your products and services. They are interested in what you have to offer and want to learn more.
This is why corporate websites are so powerful and influential today with the marketing & media mix promoting company history and building an online identity. They might not be the most beautiful websites but you will never see a large business develop static obsolete websites anymore (or at least you shouldn’t). This is because active websites serve customers and businesses much more efficiently than in years gone by.
Your website can support the marketing team, the sales team and even business intelligence tools at the company. You have the chance to directly influence them and shape their opinion by providing them with high-quality information that is backed up by your research and data. This can also assist with the customer’s buying decision too.
A good website will address all of their questions and help them make an informed decision that leads them to purchase from you. The more often people visit your website, the more likely they are to buy from you.
Today, the average person visits a website 7 times before making a purchase. The more often they see, the more likely they are to make a purchase. This is why content needs to be a key consideration as part of your website development process and the use of dynamic websites vs static websites of years gone by.
Your Website Underpins Everything Else That You Do Online
A well-designed and user-friendly website is an essential element of a well-rounded marketing strategy. It can serve as the foundation for all other marketing efforts.
Your website plays a central role in terms of your digital presence and all of your:
- Social media accounts and social media marketing
- PPC campaigns
- Leaflets
- Emails
- Community support
- Video and audio channels
All of which should link back to your website.
By developing a robust website, you can build a powerful digital presence that will establish your brand and generate leads. It can also serve as a digital storefront that allows customers to purchase your products and services.
It’s true that people are increasingly turning to apps for digital services. But having a strong and well-developed website can help you capitalize on this transition. With a multichannel approach, you can easily integrate your website with other communication and marketing mediums.
This can help you cater to customers who prefer apps over websites.
The Future of Website Development
With the continuing rise of mobile devices, smart speakers, and other technologies, the way we use the internet is changing. Websites and web browsers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but they aren’t the only way to access online content.
New technology and trends in online usage are constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. But you should keep an eye on a few trends in online marketing.
Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
This is an evolving trend of turning your website into an app so that it provides a fully native mobile app experience on a device. The attraction to this is that it’s cheaper than developing full-blown business apps, but you also get the benefits from it such as push messaging and the ability to update the app just by updating your own website.
Voice Search
Voice search is the fastest-growing search engine. This means that people are using their voices to dictate what they want to search for instead of typing in a query. This means the information on your website needs to be up-to-date and clear moving forwards.
Visual Content
Visual content will continue to grow. People are more engaged with content that they can actually see, and visuals are more likely to be shared across social media platforms and with fellow social media users allowing you to reach broader audiences. This is why you need to be incorporating visual content into your marketing strategy such as appropriate imagery, videos and even infographics to engage visitors.
Virtual Reality
The accessibility of virtual realities is now real. The Oculus headset from Meta has introduced the technology just like Amazon did with Alexa for voice search. What’s interesting, is that in a VR environment, your website comes to life. It’s like walking around multiple huge websites in front of you, making the experience and your brand more visceral. The technology will improve as will the way we interact in the virtual world, but VR brings your websites to life without needing a mouse and keyboard in a fully immersive experience.
Dark Mode Surfing
There is a shift towards using devices and surfing the internet in dark mode. In fact, 81.9% of users prefer dark mode to use light mode according to Android Authority. Essentially a dark-themed website makes it easier for users to enjoy their web browsing irrespective of which device they are on.
Micro-Interactions
While traditional web pages aren’t going away anytime soon, the way we interact with websites is changing. We’re now seeing the rise of micro-interactions that are taking place within chatbots and virtual assistants. Short “snackable” videos will also start playing a role further which can be reused across social channels to drive traffic further to your site.
Supporting Web3
Web3 is a game-changer. Given the upcoming influence of decentralized technology such as blockchain, the web access structure, Web3, will be run by builders and users rather than by search engines and social networks that dominate the Internet today. This transition will change the way we collect marketing data from consumers, as we do today, to how it will be collected in the future, in hopes to maximize security services instead.
Are Websites Dead?
No, websites are not dead. In fact, websites continue to be a vital part of the internet and digital landscape. Websites are still the primary way that businesses and individuals present themselves online, share information, and engage with their audiences.
While social media platforms and other online channels have become increasingly popular, websites still serve a unique purpose. Websites provide businesses and individuals with complete control over their online presence, allowing them to create a branded experience and tailor their messaging to their specific audience.
Furthermore, websites are often the destination where users go to find detailed information about a company or individual. Social media platforms can be great for building relationships and engaging with customers, but they are not always the best platform for sharing in-depth information.
So while websites may have evolved and changed over time, they are far from dead. Instead, they continue to play an important role in the digital landscape and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future.
FAQs
Here are some common questions relating to whether websites are dead or obsolete:
Why are websites important?
Websites are important for a variety of reasons, including:
- Establishing an online presence: In today’s digital age, having a website is essential for businesses and organizations to establish an online presence and reach a wider audience.
- Building credibility and trust: A well-designed and informative website can help build credibility and trust with potential customers or clients. A professional-looking website can convey a sense of trustworthiness and legitimacy.
- Providing information: A website can be an excellent platform for providing information about a business, including its products or services, contact details, and other relevant information.
- E-commerce: Websites can also be used for e-commerce, allowing businesses to sell products or services online and reach customers around the world.
- Marketing and advertising: A website can serve as a powerful marketing tool, providing a platform for businesses to promote their products or services and attract new customers.
- Search engine optimisation (SEO): A website can be optimized for search engines, making it more visible to potential customers who are searching for products or services related to a business.
Websites are essential for businesses and organisations to establish an online presence, build credibility and trust with potential customers, provide information, and reach a wider audience.
Why is website usability important?
Website usability is important because it can greatly impact the user experience and the success of a website. Usability refers to how easy it is for users to navigate a website, find what they are looking for, and accomplish their goals.
Here are some reasons why website usability is important:
- User satisfaction: A website with good usability is more likely to satisfy users and keep them coming back. Users are more likely to enjoy their experience on a website that is easy to navigate, find what they need quickly, and complete their desired actions.
- Improved conversion rates: Good website usability can lead to improved conversion rates, such as increased sales, downloads, or sign-ups. A website that is easy to use can encourage users to take action and achieve their goals on the website.
- Better search engine rankings: Search engines like Google use website usability as a factor in their ranking algorithms. Websites that are easy to use and navigate are more likely to rank higher in search results, making them more visible to potential users.
- Cost-effective: Improving website usability can be a cost-effective way to improve website performance. By making small improvements to the website’s design and functionality, businesses can improve the user experience and achieve better results without significant investment.
- Competitive advantage: In today’s competitive online landscape, good website usability can give businesses a competitive advantage. A website that is easy to use and navigate can set a business apart from its competitors and help attract and retain customers.
Good website usability will improve user satisfaction, increase conversion rates, improve search engine rankings, be cost-effective, and give businesses a competitive advantage.
Are website still relevant?
Yes, websites are still very relevant in today’s digital age. With the increasing popularity of social media and mobile apps, some people may think that websites are becoming less important, but that is not the case. Here’s why they are more relevant than ever:
- Establishing an online presence: Websites are a primary means for businesses and organizations to establish an online presence and reach a wider audience.
- Providing information: Websites provide a platform for businesses to share information about their products or services, contact details, and other relevant information.
- E-commerce: Websites are essential for e-commerce, allowing businesses to sell products or services online and reach customers around the world.
- Marketing and advertising: Websites are a powerful marketing tool, providing a platform for businesses to promote their products or services and attract new customers.
- Search engine optimisation (SEO): Websites can be optimized for search engines, making them more visible to potential customers who are searching for products or services related to a business.
- Credibility and legitimacy: A professional-looking website can convey a sense of trustworthiness and legitimacy, which is essential for building credibility with potential customers or clients.
Are Websites Obsolete Conclusion
Are websites obsolete? No.
For any business owners thinking it’s time to move on, the future of websites is bright and will continue to play a role in any business model.
With the rise of new technologies and the increased use of voice search and visual content, the way we interact with websites is changing but websites are far from obsolete, and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
- Your website provides credibility to your business, it is your virtual and digital home.
- Your website is your voice, your personal piece of the internet and it will continue to play a pivotal role in how people find you.
- You control your website unlike using a platform created by a third-party company that can switch its algorithms to suit them in an instant (or worse turn it off completely).
- Your website will continue to be your anchor away from the noise.
- Traditional websites play a vital role for your target audience and sales funnel
There will always be a place for strong websites that provide relevant information, build trust with your customers, sell your product, and help you build your brand.
You should strive to keep up with the latest trends in online marketing and use them to your advantage, but developing a robust website is essential for success in the modern digital landscape. It can help you drive more leads and sales, strengthen your brand, and position yourself as an industry leader. If anyone asks are websites obsolete? You now know they are here to stay for a long time yet.
