As your website is often a potential client’s introduction to your brand and its offerings, it’s crucial that it projects a favourable first impression. It needs to be working effectively and contain up-to-date content. And not just for first-time visitors. It’s just as important that current clients and other stakeholders using your website have a positive experience. It reflects on your business brand, as an indicator of the level of service you provide.
How do you know if your website needs a redesign?
If you find yourself asking ‘When should I redo my website?’ the chances are you’ve already seen indications that it could benefit from a refresh, and it’s time to do it.
So, what are the signs it's time for a new website?
1. It’s not serving your business goals
Whatever it is that you need from your website – to increase sales, educate and inform about your brand and products or services you offer, enable visitors to contact you, and everything in between, if things aren’t working towards your business goals, particularly as these change and evolve, it’s time to review it.
2. Low engagement
If your website visitors aren’t engaged and taking the actions that you want them to take, no amount of time, money or effort to get them there will be worth it.
You can gain this information from Google Analytics but what does it all mean? Engagement rate is a metric which looks at the percentage of sessions that are considered ‘engaged’ e.g. the website visitor either spends more than 10 seconds on your website, views at least two pages or completes a ‘key event’. A key event is an action which you determine to be important to your business e.g. submitting an enquiry form or clicking on a phone number of email address.
In effect, you are looking for a high engagement rate and the completion of key events. If you see the opposite, you know work needs to be done.
Remember, the longer a visitor spends on your website, the more chance there is that they’ll become a client.
3. Responsiveness to different devices
Responsive website design is vital in today’s digital world. Mobile devices increasingly carry global website traffic, even thought to outweigh the traffic that comes through desktop devices. Developing separate websites for desktop and mobile devices is a thing of the past. Responsive design – which interchanges a website for whichever type of device is being used – looks set to stay. This provides an enjoyable experience for all your website visitors and future-proofs your site, making it ready for new devices that may come along. It also assists with your Google rankings.
It's worth checking your website on a mobile device if it wasn’t created by WEBPRO (we use a mobile-first approach to website design). If you don’t have a responsive website, an imminent redesign is necessary.
4. Outdated design
Websites, just like cars, are a depreciating asset. They need to be updated regularly to keep up with design trends and advances in technology, otherwise you will fall behind. Remember, a lot of what people use to form opinions is visual so an outdated website is likely to reflect badly on your business and put potential clients off. This is why we release new template designs every few years and give our clients the chance to upgrade.
Even if it’s not time for a brand new website, it’s worth reviewing it on an annual basis to make sure everything else is still up to date. Is your text accurate or in need of some updates? Do your images still resonate? Is your brand standing the test of time?
Set your business apart the right way – the WEBPRO way. Contact our creative, friendly team of specialists today.
5. New functionality is needed to keep up with your evolving business
If your business has evolved and new functionality is needed – or processes need to be made simpler – it’s definitely a sign your website needs some TLC. Remember, your website should be an asset to your business and your clients.
6. A re-brand or change in service or product offering
If you are re-branding or making big changes in your business, it’s important your website reflects this, from the moment those changes are made. This may mean tweaking your website, though it may well require a full redesign.
7. User feedback
There is no greater way of ascertaining how your website is working for visitors than asking them. User feedback is like gold dust.
FAQs
When should I upgrade my website?
If your website isn’t serving your business objectives or engaging your audience, or if you change your offerings or re-brand, it’s time to upgrade.
How do you know if your website needs a redesign?
The best way to check is to try it out for yourself. Imagine you are a potential client who wants to interact with your website. Another great way is to ask your website users. Using Google Analytics help.
How often should I update my website?
We recommend at least every five years to make sure everything is looking and working to the levels stakeholders would expect, unless business or technological needs dictate sooner.
What happens if a website is not updated frequently?
Without frequent updates, a website will quite quickly become out of date, reflecting poorly on your business and putting potential clients off.
Recap: Keeping your website up to date and functioning is crucial for getting potential clients and other stakeholders to your website, for engaging them so they want to stay and for inspiring them to work with you. Design and functionality are equally important and need to work together to make viewing your website a seamless, enjoyable experience. Whether you need to tweak parts of your website, or redesign it completely, it can save time and money if you outsource the project to creative specialists. WEBPRO is in the know when it comes to all things website related.
WEBPRO knows
Visitors form their opinion about a website in 0.05 seconds.
