Do You Need To Constantly Reinvent Yourself Online?

There’s a lot to be said for reinventing yourself.  It gives you the chance to start again.  It gives you the opportunity to try new things.  And it can get you out of a rut that is dragging you down.But this process doesn’t just apply to individuals – it can equally apply to online businesses as well.The question is whether the process of reinvention needs to be a constant one, or whether it should only be tackled occasionally.  Online businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and no matter how well you are doing you should never settle.  Even considering whether or not to reinvent your business can lead to exciting new developments as you move ahead.There is no doubt that all online businesses should be examining and reviewing all aspects of their progress on a regular basis.  For example, how is their search engine marketing doing?  Is it bringing in the desired results that are needed, or is that business relying on old and outdated methods all the time?Similarly, is their website design in need of a make over?  The current design of many online businesses may have worked wonders a year or more ago, but is it in need of a modern and fresher feel now?And this just scratches the surface.  While the most important thing is clearly to keep doing business with those who bring in the profits, it’s easy to slip up and not see how your business is faring for the long term.  Some businesses may be happy with the level of sales they are achieving at the moment.  But if they were to reinvent themselves and their website, could they actually achieve more?Almost always the answer is unmistakenly “Yes”.  But is it essential to reinvent your business ‘constantly’?  If you did that it would be extremely easy to confuse your customer base.  They come to you because they know you, they are familiar with your business and they understand what you offer.  What would they make of it if you constantly changed things in the name of ‘reinvention’?  The chances are they might even land on your site and not recognise it.So it’s a careful balance that must be drawn here.  Every business wants to advance and develop.  But it must do so in a way that retains its core audience, whilst attracting new customers as well.Reinvention sounds like a process that should be enjoyed – and it is.  But it also sounds like a process where all the old beliefs and ideals should be thrown out in favour of the new.And this is where some people – and businesses – trip up.  Reinventing any online business should not be viewed as an ‘all or nothing’ event.  It should be viewed as an opportunity to change what isn’t working and carry on with what is… all the while keeping the number one priority firmly in mind.And that of course would be the customer.