How Do You Know When To Redesign? 5 Important Clues Your Website Needs A Refresh

Redesigning a website can be a lot of work. With how many resources you are going to spend on it, it is better to know when a redesign is truly necessary. Naturally, it is generally recommended to have one at least every few years, but what are the signs? Let’s learn when website redesigning cannot really be postponed.

Outdated Design and Content

The first sign is simple: if your design and content are outdated, you may need to redesign your website. Look out for website trends. A sleek, modern look can attract the audience while old approaches are less likely to do so. The same goes for content: if it is not up-to-date, the website visitors may assume that you are no longer operating. Naturally, the technologies you use for your website need to be modern as well. Otherwise, you may experience difficulties when trying to update your site. Make sure that your social media links and other means of contacting you are up to date as well! It should be easy to learn your contacts from your website page.

Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design; it’s decoration.

Jeffrey Zeldman, entrepreneur

Redesign Because of Mobile Issues

Statista reports that mobile website traffic has reached more than 50% since at least 2020. The data fluctuates, but for now, mobile traffic is very important. However, a lot of websites are not made with mobile screens in mind. That is a major mistake. If your website is not mobile-friendly, it is time for a change. 

You can use responsive design, which involves creating a site that changes its layout. Another option is adaptive design, which means making different versions of the same website for different screens. The latter can be easier to load, but the former can be easier to develop. Both approaches are used nowadays, so you need to choose which option is better for your website. 

Unsuccessful Features Need a Change

Sometimes there is just something wrong with your website. Here are a few examples.

• Slow loading. Sometimes, the original website is not built quite right or something changed and slows down the loading. That is a major issue. Visitors do not like slow loading, so look into a redesigning that will solve this problem.
• Inconvenient navigation. With time and use, you can discover that the navigation of your website needs to be changed. Complex navigation turns customers away from you. Make sure to redesign!
• Poor readability. You might discover that customers find your website difficult to read. That stops them from being able to use it. And you cannot afford that, so it is time for a change.

Sometimes such issues are the results of errors and new additions. However, the existence of these problems is a good reminder to test your new design extensively. If you do not, you will waste a lot of resources on a website that turns your customers away.

Redesign Because of Bad Indicators

Websites have some performance indicators that can signal whether they need changes. Here are a few of them.

• Traffic. Your website must attract traffic. If it is low — and especially if it becomes low — a redesign might help to solve the issue. Remember that your website exists to draw attention to your business. If nobody visits your website, all the money spent on it is wasted.
• Bounce rate. This indicator checks whether the visitors leave your website quickly. If the bounce is high or becomes high, you need to redesign. You want your visitors to stay on your website for a while so that they learn more about your products and services.
• Conversion rates. Your visitors should become leads who should become customers. Conversion to customers is a critical parameter that should be high. Otherwise, your website is not achieving its potential. If conversion rates are low, consider a change.

All these parameters should be monitored. Make sure that you know if your website is doing its job! You have already invested in it quite a lot. You will keep working on it for as long as your business exists. That means you need to know whether there is any return on investment from your website.

Competitors Redesign Their Sites

It is generally considered good practice to observe one’s competitors. It is very important not to let them outshine you. If a competitor has redesigned their website, it might be a reason to look at your own. 

Observe what the competitor has done. Was it a new technology? Have they implemented a chatbot while you do not have one? Or have they made their website more modern? Take cues from their approach to improving the website.

That said, you do not have to repeat every action a competitor takes. Analyze your own website and decide what it needs. Perhaps, it was time for a change anyway, and the competitor has merely pushed you in the right direction.

In Conclusion

A website is an ongoing project for any business. It is recommended to redesign them every now and then. Some of the key reasons to do so include existing issues. However, if you have an idea on how to improve a perfectly good site, use it as well! 

Insolvo freelancers are ready to help you with the redesign if you post a task!