Having a clean, easily navigable website is essential for anything sports-related. Your website is your home base. It’s where fans of the sport, team, or athlete you represent are going to look first for any information, updates, schedules, tickets, merchandise, etc. But just because you have a website, doesn’t mean you have a successful website. We have all visited sites that look like they are stuck in the 1990’s (and if you need a visual representation of what we mean visit HERE, HERE, or HERE). Don’t be the guy we all make fun of. Take a moment to look at your website with fresh eyes and then ask yourself these questions:
1️⃣ Is your website mobile device friendly?
Most of your audience and past, present, and future clientele are using their smartphones for the information they want. So, check out your website on a smartphone AND a tablet and see if they buttons are big enough, the text is large enough, you can navigate the way you can on desktop, and if it cuts off any of your photos or graphics.
2️⃣ Has it been 3 years+ since your site was built?
Trends in user-preferences are as changing as the seasons. Not to mention, things in the sports world move FAST. Players transfer between teams, stats get updated, schedules shift… and all within hours sometimes. So consider that, and you’ll realize that 3 years in web-time is a decade in real-life. Don’t let that much time pass between design and layout updates for two reasons: 1) users already have a predisposition to consume based on the current trends in sports and 2) the longer you go between updates, the more work needs to be done which can take both a time and a financial toll on the process.
3️⃣ Does your website align with your current brand?
Has your team, athlete, or client changed their logo? Their slogan? What about a shift in brand identity? Any changes to the structure (or business plan) that happens with the team or individual should be reflected on the site. Even if it seems minor, UPDATE!
4️⃣ Are your social icons prominently visible?
Social Media is the mouth-piece of your sport, and a where most of the world lives and breathes. Make sure any and all of the links to your social media platforms are prominent on your site. This will build community on those places, and also keep you up to date with user-consumption habits!
5️⃣ Is it easy to navigate between pages?
Hansel and Gretel taught us a long time ago to leave breadcrumbs in order to get back to your home. Your website should be designed in the same mentality. If you cannot easily get back to the previous page, or even to the homepage, users will be frustrated and abandon your site. Avoid this at all costs!
We live in a digital age, and first impressions are still just as important as ever. If your website is not the best representation of your brand, quality, and offerings that it can be, you may not get a second chance to win that person back. Luckily, sports fans are pretty forgiving, but that doesn’t mean the work you put in to your digital imprint isn’t absolutely crucial. If this list stirred something in you and you’re itching for more information, our Scottsdale based full-service sports marketing agency is here to help! Hit us up HERE! We have all visited sites that look like they are stuck in the 1990’s (and if you need a visual representation of what we mean visit HERE, HERE, or HERE). Don’t be the guy we all make fun of. Take a moment to look at your website with fresh eyes and then ask yourself these questions:
1️⃣ Is your website mobile device friendly?
Most of your audience and past, present, and future clientele are using their smartphones for the information they want. So, check out your website on a smartphone AND a tablet and see if they buttons are big enough, the text is large enough, you can navigate the way you can on desktop, and if it cuts off any of your photos or graphics.
2️⃣ Has it been 3 years+ since your site was built?
Trends in user-preferences are as changing as the seasons. Not to mention, things in the sports world move FAST. Players transfer between teams, stats get updated, schedules shift… and all within hours sometimes. So consider that, and you’ll realize that 3 years in web-time is a decade in real-life. Don’t let that much time pass between design and layout updates for two reasons: 1) users already have a predisposition to consume based on the current trends in sports and 2) the longer you go between updates, the more work needs to be done which can take both a time and a financial toll on the process.
3️⃣ Does your website align with your current brand?
Has your team, athlete, or client changed their logo? Their slogan? What about a shift in brand identity? Any changes to the structure (or business plan) that happens with the team or individual should be reflected on the site. Even if it seems minor, UPDATE!
4️⃣ Are your social icons prominently visible?
Social Media is the mouth-piece of your sport, and a where most of the world lives and breathes. Make sure any and all of the links to your social media platforms are prominent on your site. This will build community on those places, and also keep you up to date with user-consumption habits!
5️⃣ Is it easy to navigate between pages?
Hansel and Gretel taught us a long time ago to leave breadcrumbs in order to get back to your home. Your website should be designed in the same mentality. If you cannot easily get back to the previous page, or even to the homepage, users will be frustrated and abandon your site. Avoid this at all costs!
We live in a digital age, and first impressions are still just as important as ever. If your website is not the best representation of your brand, quality, and offerings that it can be, you may not get a second chance to win that person back. Luckily, sports fans are pretty forgiving, but that doesn’t mean the work you put in to your digital imprint isn’t absolutely crucial. If this list stirred something in you and you’re itching for more information, our Scottsdale based full-service sports marketing agency is here to help! Hit us up HERE!
