A quote from Jack Canfield says, “Your habits will determine your future.”
He doesn’t just mean your good habits; he means your bad habits too. Good or bad, your habits snowball over time and affect your outcomes. This is true for many areas in life and business.
Bank and credit union websites are one business avenue regularly victimized by bad habits. And when 76% of people visit a website before going to a physical location, bad website habits are downright vampiric. But what are some of these online parasites?
Let’s take a look at three website habits to avoid.
1. Ignoring Loading Times
Nearly half of consumers don’t wait more than two seconds for a website to load. Two seconds! That’s a crazy statistic…but a crucial one to recognize and address.
Your website is a small fish in a massive ocean. If your website doesn’t load quickly, rest assured someone else’s website does. You may be giving away business to competitors in a mere couple seconds.
This is especially important when it comes to mobile device loading times. Many younger people first visit websites via their phones, not on laptops or desktop computers. Community financial institutions always want to “get younger,” but it’s not possible without a properly optimized mobile site.
What are some ways to stay on top of bank and credit union website loading times?
- Optimize image sizes. Large images (1 MB or more) might slow you down.
- Do regular speed tests. This allows you to pivot quickly.
- Don’t “set it and forget it.” Monitor how changes affect the site.
2. Lacking Copy Moderation
Cut the copy. It’s an oft-repeated refrain on this blog. And it’s true – bank and credit union websites use the written word way too much. You simply don’t need seven lengthy paragraphs to describe your auto loan.
But you also need more than two sentences.
That’s right, as with many things in life, moderation is best. Really, readability is best. A super long description isn’t readable, but neither is a short, vague statement.
If you left the reader confused, your copy failed. Do enough to maintain clarity without going overboard and writing a novel.
Plus, Google rewards you writing a little more. The search giant often equates length with quality, and writing too little damages SEO. Find the balance between too long and not long enough.
3. Creating a Kitchen Sink
Bank and credit union websites are frequently in need of curation. Your website is not a repository or an online brochure; it’s an exhibit.
Are you putting your best foot forward? Or are you tossing everything onto the site, creating a kitchen sink?
84% of web designers say busy webpages are a common small business mistake. Don’t be afraid of some white space. You don’t need to fill every corner.
Consider your content too. Combine similar loans and accounts onto common pages to simplify the menus. Carefully select causes and events to show on community pages. We saw one credit union website with community updates from more than ten years ago. Consumers could tell no one updated this website regularly.
Curation takes work, but it’s worth it. Put in the time to curate your site, and you’ll see powerful results.
Need a new starting point to implement good habits? On The Mark Strategies helps build bank and credit union websites for institutions nationwide. Book a free consultation today.
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