Ahh, the joys of launching a brand-new website for your small business! You spent the time and money getting everything exactly how you like it. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and let the profits roll in.
If only it were that easy!
No matter how much you spent on your new site design, it’s eventually going to become an antique. Website maintenance is like home ownership: you’re never officially “done.” (Think of all those houses that haven’t been updated since the 1980’s. Ouch.)
So how often should you redesign your website?
As it turns out, there’s plenty of good reasons to regularly redesign your site. (And we’re not just saying that to keep ourselves in business.)
Why Should You Redesign Your Website?
Hey, I get it. Maybe your last web designer did a really great job and you’d hate to see all that work go to waste. Perhaps you don’t want to spend the money right now. Or you simply hate change.
But just like houses, cars, clothes, and everything else you own, websites can break, too. They can become outdated. Your business might even outgrow them.
If everything is working well for you and you have more customers than you know what to do with, fine. Feel free to keep your web presence exactly the way it is and enjoy making those extra trips to the bank. But if you’re starting to get the sense that your website isn’t pulling its own weight, I would take a good, hard look at updating your site design and functionality.
How Often Should You Redesign Your Website?
Most experts suggest updating your website every three years. This ensures that you’re keeping up with the latest trends and technology. After all, search engine algorithms take their information from what other businesses (i.e. your competitor’s websites) are doing, so it’s in your best interest to stay relevant.
However, there are some cases where you may need to tweak things a bit more frequently—especially if your last web design wasn’t done right.
Here are some signs to look out for.
1. Low Web Traffic
The saying “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t apply to websites.
There are literally trillions of web pages out there and only 10 of them fit on the first page of search results. You have to work at being #1, or nobody’s visiting your website, bestie.
Improving the search engine optimization (SEO), aesthetics, and content of your site can increase traffic, reduce bounce rates, and (most importantly) attract paying customers.
2. Your Business Goals Aren’t Being Met
Websites don’t exist to sit there and look pretty. They can help your business meet specific, measurable goals. If any of these goals aren’t being met—you’re falling short, plateauing, or even losing ground—a website redesign can help you catch up.
And if you don’t have any website goals, it’s a good idea to set some.
3. Your Site Isn’t Responsive
A responsive website is one that adapts its display for different sized screens. With more than half of all web traffic being conducted on mobile devices, this is one feature you can’t afford to ignore.
4. Your Website Isn’t Working
Redesigning your site is about more than just aesthetics, it’s about making your website work for you. And having a broken website should be taken as seriously as a crumbling foundation or a cockroach problem.
If your website has any of the following, it’s time to call in the experts:
- Slow page loading times
- Frequent crashes
- Error codes
- Poor security
- Broken or outdated links
5. Your Site Is Ugly
As much as we like to sing the praises of SEO, it’s also important to remember that computers don’t buy from you. People do. And people like things that are attractive.
Redesigning your website to make it look more visually appealing can improve how your customers see you. So go ahead, give your site a glow up.
Say Hello, and Let's Get To Work Together
Conclusion
In the end, you should redesign your website as much as you need to as often as you need to. But the only way to know whether you need to is to know your business inside and out.
Your website is both a visual reminder of how much time has gone by since you last examined it and a way to track how successful your efforts have been.
So, how much does it cost to redesign a website? Probably not as much as you think! Especially when you consider the return on your investment.
If you’re concerned about the website redesign cost putting your company out of business, then just focus on the updates you need most and do the full makeover when you (and your digital marketing budget) are ready.
Plus see our most recent case study to see the benefits of a redesign done right and the results.
Clarity Creative Group is a web design & internet marketing company located in beautiful Orlando, Florida. I get that the ’80s are coming back in style, but that’s because Gen Z didn’t live through them the first time around. They haven’t seen the things I’ve seen….
(Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated to expand on our initial ideas and to remain current.)
Save