So, how has 2020 been going for you so far? With a week under its belt, the new decade seems to be whizzing by already. It’s important that your business doesn’t get whizzed away with it! To be specific, it’s important to have all of your systems updated so as to keep things current. That includes the copyright information that is displayed at the bottom of your website.
Have you never updated the copyright year before?
If so, you’re not alone. However, you’re not necessarily making your business look so good either. MeloTel’s Founder and CEO, John Meloche took to Facebook as early as nine in the morning on New Year’s Day to remind everyone to update the years on their websites.
“Got a website?” John asked in meme form, “Don’t forget to ask your webmaster to update the copyright at the bottom to 2020!!! (Smiley face).” So why is it so important to update this information? Well, as we’ve already insinuated, it makes your company look outdated to neglect this piece of information.
Vincent of Sonet Digital reminds us all that having an updated copyright on your website protects your rights as an owner of anything appearing on the site. That includes content, logos, images, photos – you name it. He points out that “content theft is rife on the Internet, so by copywriting your property you are giving yourself a certain level of protection, particularly if you should need to pursue the legal route of route of having your stolen content removed from the web.”
Copyright information should appear on every page of your website.
It isn’t necessary to explain the copyright, but it is pretty important to have one nonetheless. Vincent notes that it looks bad on a brand when the copyright year hasn’t been updated. Be honest. What would your impression be if you visited a site and saw a 2019 copyright? It looks like the business doesn’t care.
“If a visitor were to notice that a website was displaying last year’s date, they are going to assume the website is outdated or the owner is not bothered enough to change it,” writes Vincent, “This is not good for building brand or trust with visitors and will inevitably affect the engagement and conversions of the site.”
Updating your copyright year helps to build trust.
It showcases your company’s penchant for providing accurate and current information. It suggests that, when it comes to providing information to clients, only the up-to-date and correct variety will be delivered. This also suggests that any and all products and services provided will be of top quality.
“By displaying the correct copyright year it shows your visitors that you are on the ball,” says Vincent, “This subconsciously raises visitor expectations that your site is on top of the latest developments in your niche, as well as the world in general.” He goes on to note that making this change quickly each and every year shows your visitors that your website matters to you. If you are slow to update, however, you risk looking disinterested, out of touch or lazy.
At MeloTel, we proudly offer Website Maintenance Services to ensure that your website is functioning and looking its best while taking the burden of making updates off of your hands. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-888-MELOTEL or use the Live Chat feature on our website!
