Okay, you have your website! You’re a professional now, bring on the traffic! But… How can you tell if your website needs a redesign? 

Many business owners assume that once a website is launched, the work is done. In reality, websites age just like anything else. Design trends change, technology evolves, and customer expectations continue to rise. A website that looked modern five years ago may now be costing you leads without you even realizing it. 

If you’re wondering whether it’s time for an update, here are some of the biggest signs your website may need a redesign.

Your Website Looks Outdated

This one might be obvious. Your site didn’t age well, and now times have changed, trends are different and evolving. Now you can either update or stay stagnant. As I’ve mentioned in my other articles, first impressions matter. Research consistently shows that visitors form opinions about a website within seconds of landing on it. I know I find myself doing it, too. It’s instinctual, deciding whether it’s worth the time and effort to read. 

Signs of an outdated design may look like:

• Cluttered layouts
• Small fonts
• Poor use of white space
• Stock photos that look generic
• Old color schemes and graphics
• Design elements that haven’t been updated in years

If your website looks significantly older than your competitors’ website, then you have a problem. Potential customers may assume your business is behind the times, too. 

Not Mobile-Friendly

Let me start by asking, why? 

Why isn’t your website mobile-friendly? 

Nobody has time to scroll left and right on a phone or tablet screen to try and read your website. That creates an inconvenience. Which means your odds are extremely likely to be scaring off potential customers with no return. Today, a large percentage of website traffic comes from smartphones and tablets. Don’t make it any harder on your business by keeping a design that isn’t responsive and functional on a mobile device. 

Ask yourself:

• Is the text easy to read on mobile?
• Are buttons large enough to tap?
• Do images resize properly?
• Is navigation easy on smaller screens?

If your visitors need to pinch, zoom, swipe, to find information –– you’re losing business. A modern website should provide a seamless experience across ALL devices. Make sure your site is checking the box for this one. 

Your Website Loads Slowly

Okay, I might give a website a retry at least once, because sometimes my services just sucks! (Yay modern ages, but slow service still?) So, you might have one good shot to turn this one around. But if it fails, I’m done. I’m off to another site that has relevant information to my problem and now i’ll be checking their site out. And if it loads fast, I’ll stay.  

Website speed affects both user experience and search engine rankings. If your site isn’t even passing with the search engines, you’re not even getting your shot with real people. 

Common causes of slow websites are:

• Large image files
• Outdated themes
• Too many plugins
• Poor hosting
• Unoptimized code

Many visitors will leave a website if it takes more than a few seconds to load. A redesign often includes performance improvements that help keep users engaged. So, if you find your loading speed struggling, a redesign may be in your future. (For the better?)

You’re Not Getting Leads or Conversions

Your website has been launched for months, and no improvements on traffic and stability –– that’s a problem. Your website should be more than an online brochure, it should help generate… business.

Warning signs could look like:

• Few contact form submissions
• Low phone call volume
• Poor quote request numbers
• High bounce rates

Sometimes the issue isn’t traffic; it’s the website itself. Poor layouts, confusing navigation, and weak calls-to-action can prevent visitors from becoming customers. Your website must be functional and responsive, plain and simple. 

Your Business Has Changed

Businesses evolve over time. Is yours staying up-to-date? Just recently I called to schedule an appointment to a local vet, and I found most vets in my area were charging a deposit for new clients. Mind you –– I have worked in a veterinarian clinic before, I was taken aback. But it made sense. After 2020, local businesses had to evolve and secure their business, and this was one method as an example. 

How has your business changed?

Maybe you’ve:

• Added new services
• Expanded your service area
• Changed your branding
• Updated your pricing
• Shifted your target audience

If your website no longer accurately reflects your business, customers may receive mixed messages about who you are and what you offer. 

Navigation Is Confusing

Your website should be easy to navigate and customers should find what they are looking for without feeling like they have to pry the information out of your site. A site difficult to navigate is a lost one. Losing visitors, traffic, and those potential customers. 

Common navigation problems usually are:

• Too many menu items
• Hidden pages
• Broken links
• Poor page organization
• Inconsistent user experience

When users can’t easily find information, they will leave and find a site less challenging to review and potentially buy from. Don’t make it that easy for visitors and potential customers to leave…there’s enough competition without being your own opponent.

Your Website Isn’t Ranking Well on Google

Search engine optimization (SEO) and website design often work together. Get familiar with SEO. Read about it, breathe it, dream of it –– SEO is what pulls Google’s attention to your website. It allows Google to understand what you are all about and how you would benefit the user in their search. 

This is a perfect concept to realize to determine if your website needs a redesign. 

Your website could struggle based off:

• Poor site structure
• Missing meta descriptions
• Slow loading speeds
• Lack of mobile optimization
• Outdated content

A redesign can provide a stronger foundation for SEO and improve your website visibility in search results –– getting your website seen and found. Don’t let your website fall into the abyss of abandoned and random abyss. Get found and be optimized.

Security and Technology Are Outdated

Just like businesses change, so does technology. Tech is ever changing and evolving in this day and age. Unfortunately, if your website is challenged by old tech and security –– you’re risking your website and business. 

An outdated website can have:

• Outdated plugins
• Unsupported software
• Security vulnerabilities
• Compatibility issues

Keeping your website current helps protect both your business and your customers while ensuring everything functions properly. 

Competitors Have Better Websites

Ouch –– does the competition have a better website? That doesn’t have to stop you. If it’s broken, do fix it! Take a look at your competitors and be inspired to transform and upgrade yours. Many things are no longer original. That doesn’t mean copy verbatim, it just means find the inspiration and see what you can implement into your own website to bring it back to life. 

Ask yourself:

• Do their websites look more professional?
• Is their content easier to understand?
• Is there branding stronger?
• Do they make it easy to contact them?

If competitors are providing a better online experience, customers will probably choose them before ever reaching out to you. And that hurts. It doesn’t have to. Improve your site with a redesign and make sure you’re checking all the boxes customers want checked!

You Avoid Sending People to Your Website

Okay, this shouldn’t even be an option, yet it is. This is often the biggest sign of all that a redesign absolutely should be in the very near future…

If you’re hesitant to share your website because you’re embarrassed by how it looks, feels, or performs, it’s time for an update. 

Your website should be something you’re proud to promote on:

• Business cards
• Social media
• Email signatures
• Marketing materials
• Google Business Profile

A strong website builds confidence and credibility. Make sure yours is doing just that. 

What Does a Website Redesign Actually Include?

Many business owners assume a redesign simply means changing colors or updating some images. But it’s much more in depth than that.

A professional redesign often includes:

• Updated branding
• Mobile optimization
• Faster load times
• Improved navigation
• Better calls-to-action
• SEO improvements
• Enhanced security
• Updated content and messaging

So… as you can see here, it’s more than a little fluff make-over. We are talking about a revamp in these situations. There’s often many things lacking in the check boxes (don’t worry! It happens.) A redesign is a healthy, deep-dive, make-over, designed to improve all the things listed in this article.

Without these improvements you’ll probably find yourself in that abyss of random and abandoned sites, even if yours isn’t meant to be there. 

Does Your Website Call For a Redesign?

Well hopefully after making it through this article, you will better understand where your website stands. Your website is the first impression potential customers have of your business, so make sure it’s leaving a lasting impression that brings them to your business. Outdated, slow, difficult to use, or no longer reflecting your company, are all signs your website is in need of a redesign. It’ll be the best investment you could make for your business in the long-term. 

A modern website can improve credibility, generate more leads, provide a better user experience, and help your business stay competitive online. 

If several of the signs above sound familiar, it is probably time to take the next step and reach out for a redesign. Take a moment and take a closer look at your website and consider whether a redesign could help you reach your business goals. 

When you do –– you can reach Niched Variety LLC to help with all your design needs. Listening, weighing, and transforming your website into the site it deserves to be.