Like Facebook, Do You Need a Website 'Facelift'?
Facebook is unveiling a website "facelift," aiming for a sleeker user interface. Your company may not be like Facebook at all, but this is one strategy that may be worth copying.
Facebook's goal is to make its News Feed -- the site's equivalent of a home page -- more engaging for users. It will also be a plus for advertisers, something Facebook is likely hoping will increase revenue.
If your business' website is a source of direct sales, it's definitely important to keep it up to date. But even if your income comes from other sources, a website "facelift" for your business can be key to improving your bottom line.
Your Website Is Your Public Face
Whether or not you engage in e-commerce, a website can still be the first thing potential and existing customers see.
Whether it's to check your hours, your contact information, or just to find out more about your company, people are going to look you up online. If your website looks dated or is hard to use, that will reflect on your business.
A Facebook-style website "facelift," every six months to a year, will keep your website looking fresh and help you attract more customers. It's also a good time to check in on your business goals and make sure your site reflects them.
Update Necessary Disclosures
If you made your website back in 2000 and haven't updated it since, there's a good chance it's missing some required disclosures.
For example, what is your privacy policy? What about the terms and conditions of your site? Are they easy to find and easy to understand? If not, you could be breaking the law.
Talk to your attorney about what you need to disclose online about your business in order to comply with the law. It probably won't be a one-time discussion: This area of law changes frequently, so schedule some time each year to stay on top of it.
Keep Up With Legal Requirements
It's not just what you say on your website's front page that matters. How you deal with any information that comes in is also subject to legal scrutiny.
If you collect any customer or user data, whether it's through sales, a subscription-based newsletter, or any other kind of contact, then you need to be careful about how that information is stored. Some types of data are particularly sensitive and require added security.
And when you're fixing up the behind-the-scenes details to comply with data privacy laws, you may as well make your website look good too. Just remember to put your best foot forward.
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Related Resources:
- Facebook unveils 'mobile first,' picture-friendly newsfeed (Reuters)
- Avoiding Web Site Liability: Online and on the Hook? (FindLaw)
- Launching an App? Post Your Privacy Policy (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Is Your Company at Risk for a Data Security Breach? (FindLaw's Technologist)