Sad but true, websites are dying. The blame for this can be readily shared. It’s not that there aren’t enough web sites (this blog could easily have been titled the dearth of websites). Web sites are constantly being created, and will continue to be created for a long time; not to be supplanted, as some believe, by mobile technology.

Where the dying is taking place, is after the sites are launched. Often, after only a few months, there is a tendency for the site to erode. Perhaps the culprit is the prevalence of Content Management Systems (CMS) which allows users to maintain their site. Things start off well enough, with fresh content (text, images, video, etc.) being introduced. But then, minor wrinkles appear… large gaps between paragraphs; font sizes that don’t match; images not positioned correctly. Then there are personnel changes in the organization, and the new CMS expert proves to be less than expert.

 

Another contributing factor to the site’s demise is the absence of the website’s original provider. Freelancers and well-meaning, back-room hacks lose interest, off seeking the next great technological adventure, leaving businesses in the lurch. The site was cheap enough, but there was no follow through on the promises of ongoing support.

What we have found helpful to combat this phenomenon, is to be very clear upfront on objectives: how will the site serve the organization now, and over the next few years. Websites should be a strategic investment in the organization and reflect serious thought on what is really required, today and in the future. If the organization is planning to be vibrant, dynamic, and around for a long time, that same mindset should apply to their website…

 

Image Credit Flickr