Scary Website Problems You Need to Fix (Before They Haunt You!)
Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃 As we sift through our kids’ candy stashes, we couldn’t resist taking a moment to talk about something equally terrifying—scary things we see on websites every day. Your website is the digital face of your business, and you definitely don’t want it giving off the wrong (or creepy!) vibes.
In this blog, we’re discussing five spine-chilling website mistakes that can cost you credibility, visitors, and ultimately, business. Let’s dive in—if you dare!
Is watching a video a better treat for you than reading an article? Watch the Spring Insight team dish out tips for fixing frightening problems on your website.
1. Ghost Websites 👻
Nothing sends potential customers running faster than a “ghost website.” What’s a ghost website? It’s when your site feels outdated or abandoned—like it hasn’t been touched in years. You know the signs: old copyright dates, a blog that hasn’t been updated since 2019, or, our personal favorite, social media icons that point to dead platforms (looking at you, Google+).
Fix It:
Make sure your website stays alive by regularly updating your blog and refreshing content. Check those social media icons—only link to platforms you actively use. And hey, a fresh copyright date won’t hurt either!
2. Alien Copy 👽
In the age of AI, it’s tempting to let tools handle all your content. But beware! Alien copy lacks the personal touch your audience craves. If your web copy reads like it was written by a robot, or worse, it’s filled with cringe-worthy phrases like “navigating the complexities of…”, your visitors will quickly tune out.
Fix It:
Use AI as a starting point but never as your final draft. Work with a copywriter to ensure your content sounds human, authentic, and resonates with your audience. Authentic, human-focused copy is the key to building trust.
3. Skeleton Websites: Lacking Structure & Accessibility 💀
A website with poor technical bones is a nightmare for both visitors and search engines. We’re talking about pages with missing alt tags, multiple H1 headings, unlabeled form fields, and inaccessible features like poor color contrast. These issues harm your SEO and make your site difficult for users with disabilities. Accessibility is not only a mandate in some cases, it’s just the right thing to do! Not to mention, it can affect your search rankings.
Fix It:
Start with an audit to catch and correct these technical horrors. Spring Insight offers audits to help identify weak spots in your site’s structure. Don’t leave these invisible issues to fester—they’re scarier than they look!
4. The Graveyard of Logins 🪦
You set up your website, social media, and analytics accounts ages ago. Now, when someone asks for access, you have no idea where the logins are buried. Even worse, you’ve hired new team members and lost track of who has access to what. Yikes! In the “least bad” scenario, this leads to downtime and unnecessary panic when you need access your site assets. In the scariest scenario you can lose access to services.
Fix It:
Create a central location where all your login info is securely stored and can be shared when needed. Important: It is essential that this be owned by a company email, not a vendor or employee’s personal email and that others can access it. Review access regularly and remove permissions from anyone who no longer works for your company.
5. Unsecured Digital Assets 🕸️
When you hire someone to build your website, make sure your digital assets—like domains and analytics—are tied to your business email, not theirs. We’ve seen too many clients lose control of their digital assets because they were registered under a contractor’s email. Scary, right?
Fix It:
Ensure all accounts and assets are tied to an email address that you and your team can access. Regularly update and maintain control over your digital accounts to avoid future nightmares.
Wrapping It Up: Don’t Let Your Website Haunt You!
The scary truth is, any of these issues could be haunting your website right now. But don’t panic! The first step is recognizing the problem, and the next is taking action.
Need help exorcising those digital demons? Book a complimentary consultation with Spring Insight. We’ll work with you to make sure your website is fully optimized, accessible, and ready to keep visitors coming back for more—no tricks, just treats!
Happy Halloween! 🎃