Have you ever gone to a website only to find that it looks like it was designed 10+ years ago? Maybe the colour scheme is outdated, the font is hard to read, or the overall aesthetic is just… bleh.
As someone who works in web design, I can tell you that first impressions matter—a lot.
In fact, studies have shown that it takes about half a second for an online user to form an opinion about your website, and visual appeal can be assessed in as little as 50ms. And once that opinion is formed, it’s very hard to change.
That’s why having an outdated website can be so detrimental to your business. Not only do you risk turning potential customers away, but you also send the message that you don’t care about your online presence.
In today’s digital world, that’s simply not an option. If you want your small business to succeed, you need to have a website that is fresh, modern, and engaging.
So how do you know if your website needs an update? Here are some tell-tale signs:
- Your Website Looks Like It was Designed Many Years Ago
- The Content on Your Website is Outdated
- Your Website isn’t Responsive
- There are Less Visitors to Your Website Lately
- You Conversion Rates have Decreased
- Negative Reviews / Feedback have Increased
- Your Website is Slow
- Poor User Experience
- You Don’t have a Blog (or haven’t Updated it in Forever)
- Your Competition has a Nicer Website than Yours
Your Website Looks Like It was Designed Many Years Ago
If your website is starting to show its age, it might be time for a redesign.
While there’s something to be said for retro aesthetics, when it comes to your website, it’s best to err on the side of modernity.
If you’re not sure whether your website looks dated, ask a friend or family member for their honest opinion—and then be prepared to make some changes based on their feedback.
The Content on Your Website is Outdated
When was the last time you updated the content on your website? If it’s been more than six months (or if you can’t even remember), it’s time for a refresh.
Online users are bombarded with content 24/7, so if they land on your site and see that the information hasn’t been updated in months or even years, they’re likely to click away and find a source that is timelier.
To ensure that doesn’t happen, set aside some time each month to add fresh content to your site in the form of blog posts, new photos, or updated product descriptions.
Your Website isn’t Responsive
In case you’re not familiar with the term, “responsive design” refers to websites that are optimised for viewing on multiple devices—including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
In today’s mobile-first world, having a responsive website is essential if you want online users to stick around.
Research from Google has shown that 61% of internet users will leave a non-responsive site and go elsewhere if they didn’t find what they were looking for right away. So, if yours isn’t responsive, now would be a good time to make some changes.
There are Less Visitors to Your Website Lately
If you’ve noticed a decline in traffic to your website, it could be due to any number of factors—including an outdated design.
Online users are creatures of habit, and if they don’t like what they see when they first land on your site, they’re likely to click away and never come back.
Fewer visitors means less opportunities to make a sale, so if your website traffic has been declining, it might be time for a redesign.
Your Conversion Rates Have Decreased
Conversion rates measure the percentage of visitors to your website who take a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for your email list, phone calls, or contact form submissions.
If your conversion rates have been declining, it could be a sign that your website is in need of an update. After all, if users don’t like what they see, they’re not going to stick around long enough to convert.
To find out if your conversion rates have dipped, take a look at your analytics data. If you see a decline in conversion rates, it might be time to give your website a makeover.
Negative Reviews / Feedback has Increased
If you’re getting more negative reviews or feedback lately, pay attention to their feedback and act accordingly.
For example, if they’re saying your website is hard to navigate, that’s a clear sign that you need to make some changes. If they feel misled by your website content, that’s another issue you’ll need to address.
Of course, not all feedback is created equal, and you don’t need to make changes just because someone didn’t like the colour of your website. But if you’re getting a lot of negative feedback about your site, it’s definitely something to take into consideration.
Your Website is Slow
Slow loading times are a major turnoff for online users which only serves to increase your bounce rate.
In this instant access world, no one wants to wait more than a few seconds for a website to load. If yours is taking too long, chances are good that users will click away before it ever has a chance to load.
Not sure how fast your website is? Do a visual test yourself and see how long it takes for your website to load. You can also use online testing tools like Pingdom or GTmetrix to get a more accurate picture.
Tip: Don’t pay too much attention to the scores these tests give you. Instead, focus on the load time itself. Speed is measured with time, not with a grade.
Poor User Experience
User experience (UX) refers to how easy it is for users to find what they’re looking for on your website.
Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and test your website. Ask yourself:
- Is this easy to use?
- Is it visually appealing?
- Can I find what I’m looking for?
- Is the content informative enough to make a purchase?
- Is the check-out process easy to follow?
- How’s the experience?
If you find yourself struggling to answer any of these questions, it might be time for a change. After all, poor UX can lead to lost sales and customers.
You Don’t have a Blog (or haven’t Updated it in Forever)
One of the best ways to keep your website fresh is by regularly publishing new blog content.
Not only does this potentially give online users a reason to keep coming back, but it also helps boost your SEO.
If you don’t have a blog or haven’t updated it in ages, now would be a good time start (or restart) blogging on a regular basis.
Your Competition has a Nicer Website than Yours
This one should be pretty self-explanatory, but if your competition has a nicer, more modern website than yours, they’re probably getting more online traffic —and more customers —as a result.
Obviously, you don’t want that to happen, so take a close look at their site and see what changes you need to make in order for yours to measure up.
Conclusion: Give Your Website a Much-Needed Update
Is it time for your website to get an update?
If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, chances are the answer is “yes”. But don’t panic, the process doesn’t have be as daunting as it may seem.
Start by making small changes here and there until eventually, you’ll have created a brand-new site that looks amazing and helps grow your business.
Recap
- Your website’s dated design may be deterring potential customers, as studies have shown that online users form an opinion in only a few milliseconds.
- To ensure your small business succeeds, you need a website that is modern and engaging.
- Look for tell-tale signs of an outdated website: aged design, out-of-date content, non-responsive design, less visitors, decrease in conversion rates, negative reviews/feedback, poor user experience, no blog/blog hasn’t been updated in ages, and competition has nicer website.
- Take corrective action by refreshing the content on your site monthly, making sure it’s responsive, testing the loading times, evaluating the user experience, starting or restarinting a blog, and analysing what the competition is doing.
Limitless Networks, A Kerry Website Design Company
If you’re seeing any of these tell-tale signs, it might be time for a redesign. Contact us today and we’ll help you create a website that’s not only beautiful but helps grow your business.
