New Years Resolution

In gooWee News by Ian StrouseLeave a Comment

So you’ve got a New Years resolution. Something about getting it together, tightening up the straps, and sailing into 2019 on a strong wind? Do you want to put yourself out there, dig in hard, and really engage with the world in a new way in the New Year? I think we all feel like that.

Maybe your grand itinerary for the next trip around the sun includes the addition of a new web presence to represent yourself or your organization to the world. If so, congratulations! There’s no better time to bring your planet-facing message up to speed with the latest in modern web development.

Here are a few items at the top of the list…

MOBILE RESPONSIVENESS

Since half of all web surfers these days are browsing with their phones, if your site doesn’t look good or is difficult to interact with a small screen, you’re likely to lose your users before they even figure out what they’re looking at. Like any craft, the end result of good modern web development shouldn’t draw attention to itself. It just fits the screen. And it’s easy to interact with thanks to clear fonts and big, tappable buttons.

Viewing a site that was designed only for computer screens is like trying to read a microfilm with no magnification. Or like trying to fire an arrow at a target a thousand feet away. Don’t let your site be that site.

ACCESSIBLITY

Think of a building with no wheelchair access, or a TV show with no closed captions. That’s the same thing as a website that doesn’t meet current accessibility standards (yes, they exist and they’re thorough). Internet access has become a human need, so of course there are ways to make website content accessible to all.

The items at the top of the accessibility list are appropriate organization and labeling to help the visually impaired, who use screen readers to interpret content audibly. If your site is not organized logically and semantically, screen readers will not be able to parse the content clearly. This will result in garbled and incoherent interpretation and users will be more likely to leave. The same goes for images that don’t have alternate descriptions. Users will be more likely to get confused and, you guessed it, leave.

ENCRYPTION

In the 90’s the internet was wide open, like a bank with no vault. But this is 2019. Our well-being is tied to the internet more than ever, and we require dependability and security from our web technology. Google knows this. That’s why in the past year, they moved to make encryption the default for web browsing. If your site is not encrypted, Google will warn your users not to trust you. Who can afford that?

How do you know if your site is encrypted? Look at the URL. Does it start with “https?” If not, it’s not encrypted. Here at gooWee, we encrypt our websites by default. It’s not an extra service, it’s just the norm. See this blog from last summer to learn more about encryption.

If you’re missing any of these things, or if you just want to give your site a fresh look and feel, we’d love to hear from you! Clients who sign up for a new website by the end of January 2019, will receive a $300 discount. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, and let us know how gooWee can help!

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