If it’s been a while since you made any significant changes to your website, there’s a risk that it’s become outdated or it’s not delivering what your brand (and customers) need.
When it comes to how often you should update your website, some people would say that you should update your site every 2-3 years, but this isn’t a universal rule.
There are key factors that determine whether it’s time for a redesign, so ask yourself the following questions:
How fast is your website?
If your site is slow, not many people are going to stick around and wait for it to load. A webpage should load in under three seconds, or within two seconds if you’re running an ecommerce site.
Website load time is a ranking signal too, so you could be harming your SEO if your pages are slow. Page speed is more important than ever, so if your site is slow, it’s time for an update.
Are your website’s features up to date?
Having up-to-date functionality and features can often be the difference between getting a conversion or losing your potential customer to a competitor. Are you using responsive design, high-quality images, and hamburger menus, or does your site use outdated tech like Flash?
If you’re running an ecommerce site, can your users check out super-fast as a guest, and do they receive recommendations for other products based on their purchases? Web technology is constantly changing, so you have to be willing to change too, or you’ll be left behind.
Is your site easy to navigate?
Another good reason to update your website is to improve the navigation. Just like a slow-loading site, a messy, difficult-to-navigate site will turn people off, and they’ll head for somewhere with a better UX. Consider the design and flow of your pages and put an emphasis on intuition.
Have you changed your branding or the direction of your business?
If your business has taken a new brand direction or your goals have changed, it’s always a good idea to update your website design to reflect that. Your website should always be an extension of your branding, and it is often the first point of contact for your audience, so make sure they get a clear idea of who you are and what you do the moment they arrive.
Is your site mobile-friendly?
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it’s definitely time to update your website, if only to make it more appealing for mobile users. Mobile users account for over 50% of all web traffic, so you could be turning away over half of your potential audience just by not updating your site.
Is your site SEO ready?
Even if your site looks good, is in line with your current brand direction and has got up-to-date functionality, it may still need an update if you’re nowhere to be found on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO can’t be neglected if you want to be successful online, and it requires more than just a fresh lick of paint. You’ve got to give serious thought to your website architecture, the content on your web pages and the technical capabilities of your site to make sure it’s fully optimised.
Does it feel outdated?
Rather than worrying about how often you should update your website design based on any formulaic answer, just be honest with yourself about the feel of your site.
If it feels outdated, then it probably is and could do with an update. What looked good a few years ago can quickly look dated, so even from a purely aesthetic angle, it’s worth sprucing it up when the time feels right.
How often you should update your website isn’t down to a hard-and-fast rule but is dependent on asking yourself questions about the functionality of your site and answering honestly. If you think any of the above points are relevant to your site, then it’s probably time for a change.
If you are ready for a change, and are looking for website designers in Exeter, get in touch with our expert team. Don’t be shy!