Websites are oftentimes the first face of any online presence, and it’s essential to keep them updated to meet the ever-changing demands of your audience. Whether you’re launching a new product or service, revamping your brand, or looking to improve user experience, a website redesign can help you achieve your goals.
But how do you know when it’s time for a website redesign? Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:
1. Poor Search Rankings
Having poor SEO can be a telling sign that your website needs a redesign. If your website is not optimized for search engines, it can be challenging for potential customers to find you online organically. This can result in lower traffic, fewer leads, and decreased conversions. A website redesign can help improve your website’s SEO by implementing best practices, such as optimizing your content for keywords, improving site structure and navigation, and ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly.
The impact of design on SEO rankings is often overlooked despite Google considering User Experience (UX) to be one of the most critical factors when determining a website’s ranking for a particular search term. In a survey conducted by GoodFirms in 2021, a non-responsive design was rated as a top reason for visitors leaving a website. A poor user experience can significantly impact your business’s ability to achieve its full potential on organic search result pages, leading to reduced conversions. For a better approach to optimization, check out our article on what search engines are now considering when ranking domains and what you can do to improve.
2. Your Website Is Outdated
Determining whether or not your outdated website needs a redesign can be tricky. If your website is mobile-friendly, has good rankings, and has a healthy bounce rate, you might not need to make any changes. If your site serves its purpose and your users like it, it’s best to leave it alone. Remember, your website is for your ideal customer first! However, if your website is not performing well in the first three areas, and looks outdated, a website redesign could be the fix you need.
Additionally, if you’re looking to expand your business and reach new prospective customers, a custom website design could be a crucial part of your new marketing goals. In this case, it’s important to ensure your redesign strategy and content strategy align to achieve your desired results.
It may be an unfortunate fact, but the lifespan of websites is growing shorter and shorter as a result of changes in search trends, search engine criteria and UX standards among other factors. Recent estimates have sites lasting a little over 2 1/2 years and shrinking. We get it; keeping up with such a demand may seem impossible, but as long as each move you make on your site is pushing the site’s health, ranking and relevance forward, you will always be in good shape.”
-James Weiss, Big Drop’s Senior Director
3. Your Website Is Not Responsive
In today’s mobile-first world, having a responsive website is a must (we wrote all about this for you a few months ago). If your website doesn’t adapt to different screen sizes, your audience will have a hard time viewing and interacting with your content on their mobile devices. A responsive website can help you reach a wider audience and improve user experience.
61% of users will never return to a website that is not mobile-friendly. To check whether your website is mobile-friendly, you can use Google’s free mobile-friendly tool. If you require any assistance, please feel free to reach out to us for a review.
4. Your Website Is Slow
If your website takes over three seconds to load, you lose visitors. Slow-loading websites can frustrate users and make them leave before they even get a chance to see your content. A website redesign can help you optimize your website’s speed, and improve user experience and overall brand perception.
A slow website can be detrimental to your business. In 2019, Google commissioned a study conducted by 55 and Deloitte, which found that reducing mobile site load times by just one-tenth of a second resulted in significant increases in conversion rates. Specifically, retail sites saw an 8.4% increase in conversions, while travel sites experienced a 10.1% increase.
Today, users have become extremely impatient, thanks to the high-speed internet connections available across the US. If your site takes too long to load, potential customers will leave. Check out our article on the importance of bounce rates.
By updating your site and building it on a faster platform, you can capture more traffic and increase your business revenue.
5. Your Website Is Hard to Update
Is editing your website still a highly tedious task for you? With the advancements made in Content Management Systems (CMS) over the past few years, there is no need for a Developer’s knowledge to make certain modifications to your website. It’s crucial that your content remains relevant to your users, which requires regular updates to your website in line with their demands and search trends, and by using an easy-to-use CMS, you can streamline the process of keeping the website relevant.
Your website serves as the digital face of your company. Ensuring that your website meets your users’ requirements will have a significant impact on your business. If you feel that your website falls into any of these categories, it might be a good time to consider investing in a website redesign. Check out our article on how to find the right CMS.
6. Your Website Is Not Secure
On average, about 50 000 websites get hacked every day. When a website does not have proper security measures in place, it can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can compromise users’ personal information such as their login credentials, credit card information, and other sensitive data. This is especially concerning in today’s digital age, where data breaches are becoming more common, and consumers are becoming more conscious about their online privacy and security.
One crucial security measure that websites should implement is an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate, which encrypts communication between a website and its users, ensuring that any information exchanged is secure and cannot be intercepted by unauthorized parties. Websites with SSL certificates display a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating to users that their connection to the website is secure.
If a website does not have an SSL certificate or other security measures in place, users may be hesitant to provide any personal information or make purchases on the site, which can significantly impact the website’s credibility and reputation. Therefore, it’s essential to consider implementing security measures during a website redesign to protect your users’ data and improve their trust in your business. This can include implementing secure login systems, using firewalls, and keeping software and plugins up-to-date to ensure that any vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. And, once your redesign is complete, be sure to keep your site updated and maintained to avoid security vulnerabilities (alongside general frustration for you and your audience).
7. Your Website Is Not Aligned With Your Brand
Your website is often the first point of engagement that potential customers have with your brand. It’s crucial that your website accurately reflects your brand’s values. If your website’s design or content does not align with the brand, it can lead to confusion, mistrust, and a lack of engagement with your target audience.
A website redesign can help align your website with your brand by incorporating your brand’s visual identity, tone of voice, personality, and messaging throughout the website. This can include using the same color palette, typography, and imagery that is consistent with your brand guidelines. It can also involve revising your website’s content to ensure that it accurately represents your brand’s personality.
A website that is aligned with your brand can significantly improve brand recognition and help build loyalty among members of the target audience. By consistently presenting a cohesive brand image across all touchpoints, including your website, social media, and other marketing channels, you can establish a strong brand identity that resonates.
To learn more, check out our articles on branding:
- Design: Building Better Brands
- Steps to Creating an Effective Brand: Copy that Ranks
- Steps to Creating an Effective Brand: Messaging Framework
In Conclusion
A website redesign can help improve user experience, reach a wider audience, and align your website with its brand. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs mentioned above, it’s time for a redesign. Reach out to our team at Big Drop to ensure your website meets your business’s needs and goals.