Risks of keeping an old outdated website includes putting your business at risk for cyberattacks. Plus, your website is challenging for today’s mobile users to use and navigate.
The biggest risk to an older website’s performance is functionality. Keeping outdated website software and plug-ins that are no longer supported means your site can fail at any time.
Running outdated content management software like WordPress will pose a significant cybersecurity risk, leaving your website vulnerable to a wide range of attacks.
Ultimately, it’s your business that will suffer.
Security Vulnerabilities
Older websites that have not been updated with new security measures or patches will make them more susceptible to hacking, malware injections, or other cyber threats. As security standards evolve, vulnerabilities in older website frameworks or plugins may not be addressed, leaving them open to exploitation.
Compatibility Issues
Your old website won’t be compatible with modern browsers, mobile devices, and varying screen sizes. This can lead to a poor user experience, decreased functionality, and potential loss of visitors or customers who cannot access or navigate the site effectively.
Old Outdated Website Content
Content on an old website may become obsolete or irrelevant over time, potentially harming the credibility or reputation of the organization. Outdated information can confuse visitors or mislead them, leading to dissatisfaction or distrust.
SEO Challenges
Search engine algorithms favor websites with fresh, relevant content and modern optimization practices. An old website will no longer rank well in search results, which means your business will lose visibility and potential customers.
Decreased Performance
Speed is a factor for mobile users and for Google. Your old website is probably suffering from slow loading times, inefficient code, or deprecated technologies.
If your site is slow to load, people will be frustrated – especially mobile users – and they will hit that back button. This leads to higher bounce rates, which tells Google people aren’t finding value in your website.
Don’t Wait – Update!
If your website is outdated, it will be extremely damaging to your business. You risk hurting your reputation and exposing yourself to security attacks.
Don’t gamble with your online success. Invest in updating your website with the newest server software and the latest version of WordPress.