How Often Should You Redesign Your Website?

When was the last time you updated your website? And we don’t just mean adding in new content like blog posts, videos, or images. When did you last redesign your website from top to bottom? 

If it was so long ago that you can’t even remember when you did it, then it’s time for you to rethink your choices as a business owner! Just like all the products you sell need to be constantly modified, updated, and rejigged, the same thing applies to a business website.

Let’s read on to see how often you need to redesign your website and why. 

Your Website Has a Shelf-life

Are you surprised to learn that even websites have an expiry date? Well, it’s true and it is common knowledge among the people in the know. But many businesspeople ignore this fact much to their business’ detriment.

Think about it – every year, Google updates or adjusts its algorithms hundreds of times! Of course, most updates don’t affect search engine optimisation (SEO) for websites too much, but some do.

If you leave your website unattended and unchanged for too long, it will not be able to keep up with the demands of newer Google algorithms. And this means it won’t show up in any of your customer’s Google searches. 

The point of having a business website is to be visible to your customers – if your website isn’t able to accomplish that, then it’s pretty much useless.

Is Your Business on Point with the Current Trends?

Another reason a website has a shelf-life is that websites follow trends as well. For example, a few years back, websites that had a scroll-forever feature were quite rare. But now they are quite ubiquitous because it appeals to the aesthetics of customers and users.

It’s also important to ensure that your website is following current design trends because without them your customers will bounce off your website faster than you can say ‘no worries’. Within a year or two, your old website design will start looking shoddy and washed out. 

Modern consumers who are spoilt with beautiful website designs won’t glance twice at a website that looks like it was created in the early 2010s (or even earlier, shudder).

Also, if you have a website that was built a while back, it might not be a mobile-friendly website. Since 56.75% of total web visits are from mobile phones, you need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly asap! We have some clients whose websites are viewed more than 80% on mobile devices.

Website Redesign Timelines Depend on Many Factors

Interestingly enough, the rule of redesigning your website every 1.5 to 2.5 years (this is a commonly quoted timeframe in the industry) will differ depending on your industry, business goals, and market demands. 

If you are in an industry that has a lot of millennial customers, for example, you would need to redesign your website faster and more eloquently. Whereas if you cater mostly to the older generations, you wouldn’t need to bother with it as often. The same thing applies to industries – clothing and fashion websites are usually updated faster and more often than construction or lumber industries. 

You get the picture! You don’t want to delay redesigning your website especially if it’s been a while. But once it’s updated, you can’t rest easy – you need to keep on top of the design trends to ensure your website doesn’t start looking stale.

Everything on Your Website Must Work Well and Look Fresh

There’s nothing that irritates a website user more than trying to click on a link or button and have it go nowhere.

That’s another reason a website redesign is so useful. You can have your website redesign team go through your entire website, fixing any broken links, images, or buttons, and fix the navigation and aesthetics of your website as well.

Think about your website as the face of your company online. Just like you would want your customer service representatives or salespeople to go out into the world with a fresh face, and clean attire, you need to do the same for your online presence. 

Another thing your website redesign company will be able to strategise on is the presentation of your high-quality and important content. There’s no point in having highly important material on your website be 7 clicks (that is, 7 pages) deep. If it takes you forever to find something on your website, your customers will not have the patience for it, to be sure.

Also, consider what purpose you want your website to serve. Did you just slap it together because everyone else has a website and you were pressured into having one? Is it necessary to your business model? 

If you never asked these questions about your website, then it’s time for you to brush off the old brain cells and start enquiring. The clearer you can be about your websites’ true purpose, the easier it will be for your design team to create something that serves your business in the best way possible. 

Remember to include your social media links on your website and make them easy to find. 

Many customers will come to your website searching for all these details and will leave disappointed if they can’t find them right away. 

Is It Time for You to Redesign Your Website?

If reading all the tips above about business website design is giving you a headache, you need not fear. You don’t need to suddenly become a website expert. That’s where Polka Dot Marketing comes in. 

We are a digital marketing agency on the Gold Coast, and we are here to help you redesign your website and make it a resounding success. Contact us today and get started on refreshing your brand and online presence to appeal to your customers and potential leads better.