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Health & Fitness

Got an 8 Track Equivalent Website?

So you plunked down hard-earned money to build a new website a few years ago. You figured you were making an investment in your business’s marketing strategy. Now they’re saying your site is no longer being “supported” and you need a new one. Is someone trying to pull a fast one?

Unfortunately, technology today moves so fast you can barely see the blur. It is entirely possible – and more than probable – that if you have an older website it’s obsolete already regardless of how reputable your web designer was or how much money you spent.

Think about how much has changed in the way we listen to music in our cars. Eight track tapes were designed for automobiles, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a car that plays them now. In fact, cars that have cassette or even CD players look pretty old-fashioned in today’s digital world.

But what does it mean exactly if your website is no longer being supported? And what should you do about it?
 
What It Means to Your Website:

  • No more fixes
The technical folks will no longer fix bugs so don’t bother asking. They’re busy coding the next newest version now.
  • Help is hard to get
Finding someone who knows how to use an older platform gets trickier. What used to be a five minute text change becomes a research project for a webmaster unfamiliar with your version.
  • Stuff stops working
Some features of your website may stop functioning entirely, orphaned because there’s no longer communication between the appropriate bits of code.
  • Hackers have a field day
Better security is one of the big reasons for improving web platforms. The newer versions try to stay ahead of the hackers, but your older version gets more and more vulnerable.
What You Can Do:
  • Nothing.

Your website won’t implode overnight. There are even enthusiast clubs that try to keep old versions of some platforms alive. Just realize that it’s a risk with the odds growing steadily against you.

  • Upgrade.
Depending on how radical the change between versions, you may pay very little or quite a lot to upgrade your old site to the most current version. Start the discussion with the original builder of your site or find someone else who has expertise with your site’s platform. Many web developers will automatically upgrade your site to the latest version if the change is within a certain range.
  • Build New.
Some platforms are just totally abandoned. No one will host it. No one will work on it. It’s just dead. If that happens, you have no choice but to build a new site on a new platform. There are some really good ones out there and you will probably be pleasantly surprised at how much better your new site can be.
Cellphones, televisions and other technologies become obsolete so it's no surprise that your website will as well. If it's that time for you, take your time, discuss your priorities and do a bit of shopping before making your decision.

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