• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Services
    • New Website Development and Design
    • Website Updates, Maintenance, and Redesign
    • Web Consulting and Education
  • Portfolio
  • Website Tips & Resources
    • Articles on Websites and SEO
    • Successful Web Design Tips
    • Guide to Starting a New Website
  • About
    • Web Design Process
  • Contact

Adam Barkafski, Website Consultant

Websites for people who make a difference.

Adam Barkafski, Website Consultant

December 1, 2011 by Adam Barkafski

Top 6 Changes in Business Websites in the Last 6 Years

How has success for your website changed over the years?

This holiday season marks Dream Seed Multimedia’s sixth. When I reflect on the kind of work I was doing for clients by the end of 2006 and what I’m doing now, I find it interesting to see just how online marketing has changed is such a short time. In honor of my sixth Christmas with Dream Seed, I thought I’d share with you six big changes I’ve noticed in effective small business and nonprofit websites.

Change 1: A website needs a stronger purpose.

In the early days of my business (and even earlier when I was designing websites years before I was in business), people wanted websites because they were cool, or because it seemed that the competition had sites. Sometimes, despite my protestations, not much more thought went into them. Now that websites are everywhere, people are now moving beyond using a website as an electronic brochure and thinking about how their websites can most effectively serve their businesses. This planning ahead leads to better success later.

Change 2: Websites can do so much more.

Many websites have moved beyond the electronic brochure. In the early days of the internet, websites really were nothing more than postings of static content. Later, we realized that financial transactions and commerce were possible. People could interact with one another and have conversations. Videos and podcasting became popular. Now websites are just one part of an ever-evolving internet that allows almost full-scale interaction from person to person (think Facebook and Skype), financial management, and complete business solutions…and all are interconnected at the click of a button. What solutions can your website really do for you?

Change 3: The competition is more fierce.

I remember hearing people say that they didn’t really need a website. They couldn’t think about how a website could bring in business. Those days are over. A website is now a foregone conclusion for customers who are looking for a place to do business. However, the flip side to that is that there are millions more websites than there were just a few years ago! That really heats up the competition, and it’s more important than ever to make sure that your own website stands out from the crowd and showcases your unique selling proposition.

Change 4: Search engine optimization and marketing matters.

When search engines were new, they were a miracle that organized the internet and made it searchable. Soon after, it became apparent that if you wanted your site to be found, you wanted it to rank highly in search results. Throwing a few keywords in the text and in meta tags seemed to do the trick (as did some other sneaky tactics). Today, what you do on your own site (keywords, updates, content) are only part of the puzzle. What other people do with and about your website matters so much more today. Your social media presence (and audience interaction), customer reviews left on other websites, people’s behavior on your website, and other websites linking to you are crucial in determining your search engine ranking. But even more important than that, people are beginning to realize that search engine rank is not as important as turning website visitors into paying customers.

Change 5: Social media is a crucial part of online marketing.

Honestly, in 2006, it seemed that general consensus was that social media was a passing fad, just for kids, just for tech-heads, and the like. We now see that it isn’t going away. Just like your website, your presence on social media is quickly becoming a necessity, not an option. More of your customers are on social media, and there is a growing number of people who only use social media, not any other websites, when they’re online. Companies are now embracing that by recruiting employees through Facebook, providing customer service on Twitter, and more. If you’re not actively engaged in social media yet, you might want to make it a priority in the upcoming year.

Change 6: Mobile devices cannot be ignored.

It is expected that by 2014 (or even 2013, depending on the research) that the majority of internet interactions will be done on mobile devices—smartphones, tablets, e-readers—and that computers will become the minority device. Anyone who’s used these mobile devices knows that not all websites work as easily on them as they do on a computer. That’s why many companies have already created mobile versions of their own websites, or even apps for customers to use. Businesses and nonprofits hoping to keep their online presences relevant in the future are already making plans for their mobile strategies.

There you have it! At the end of 2006, I only saw glimmers of a few of these changes, and others weren’t even in my imagination. But now they are a reality in how business on the web works. You can use these to your advantage and lead yourself to success in the new year!

Filed Under: Search Engine Optimization and Website Marketing Tagged With: Customers, Keywords, Mobile, Reviews, Search Engine Listing, SEO, Social Media, Web Design

About the author

Adam Barkafski has been designing websites since 1998. He founded Dream Seed Multimedia in 2006 to offer affordable web design specifically for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Since 2016, Adam works exclusively with WordPress websites for individuals who seek to make a positive difference.

Primary Sidebar

Need a new website?

Click here to learn what you need to do!

Articles to Help Improve Your Website

  • Internet and Technology
  • Marketing
  • Search Engine Optimization and Website Marketing
  • Web Design and Hosting

Footer

I’m ready to help

Let's start your new website.

What people are saying

  • My needs and preferences were thoroughly assessed and listened to, which made drafts and concepts right the first time and made the whole project flow smoothly.
    Lori Baer, Writer
  • Adam, you are great! You listened to what we wanted, and you produced it. We are extremely happy with the website! We will definitely come to you for all our website needs.
    Ronda Brubaker-Brooks, Beaver Creek Farm Cabins
  • Adam took the time to learn my business and to answer all my questions to help me learn how my website operates. Great job! Thanks!
    Bob Sims, Steel Expressions
  • You taught us so much, but the biggest thing was holding our hands through the process! You were awesome! We get great reviews on our website.
    Jody Sambrick, Red Rose Coffee Roasters
  • I truly felt my website and my business were as important to Adam as they are to me.
    Lori Baer, Writer
  • It has been a pleasure working with Adam. All my questions were always answered and our requests completed. Customer service is excellent, and the overall experience was very positive. We will definitely refer Adam to our coworkers and friends!
    Evelyn Billings, Billings Bilingual
  • Adam treats me like a friend and always takes the time to listen to me and understand my needs. I never feel like I have only two minutes to say what I need to.
    Linda Fisher, Wings of Angels
  • Thank you so much for your hard work and keeping our website up to date. We are so fortunate to be able to do business with you!
    Nadinne Ziegler, Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster
  • You worked hard to fit my needs when others proposed more expensive unneeded elements. Thanks for all your hard work and advice. You do an excellent job!
    Lance Noel, Spinning Moon Press
  • Not only has Adam been extremely helpful during the building of our site and in helping us to maintain it, but he has gone out of his way to provide ongoing assistance, tips, and education designed to help us succeed.
    Jennifer Murray, Bournelyf Special Camp
  • Adam’s professionalism and clear communication throughout the project made for an efficient and effective web development process.
    Lori Baer, Writer
  • You helped me through some confusing decisions and pointed out some important considerations that I hadn't thought of. I've gotten nothing but positive comments on the site. Thank you!
    N. Dianne Gadbois, Hana Bento
  • I am so impressed with Adam’s communication and can-do attitude! This project was a complete success, and I am so happy with the end result!
    Barbara Hostetler, HostetlerBenefits
  • You do create something from nothing, or at least from just a sketch on a page and create something ‘magical.’ You’ve taken our website ideas and made them come to life, and I just can’t thank you enough!
    Karen Mann, Grace United Church of Christ
  • No problem is too large or small…thank you for finding an answer to them all!
    Michelle Miller, Wheatland Custom Homes
  • Adam Barkafski is SUPER DUPER who is very interested in learning about his clients, their likes and dislikes. Working with Adam to create a website for my church was so easy. He is fun to work with and has some very good ideas and suggestions. Website updates are done very quickly. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
    Karen Mann, Grace United Church of Christ

Get in touch

  • Adam Barkafski, Website Consultant
  • Adam Barkafski
  • Email here
  • business 717-723-8680
  • P.O. Box 423
    Smoketown, PA 17576 United States

More

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Site Map

Copyright © 2021 Adam J. Barkafski and his licensors. All rights reserved.