How to Know if Your Website Needs a Redesign in 2023?

Your website is an essential asset to your business; it should generate leads and sales whilst support the growth of your business. However, as technology accelerates, your website must do more than sit still year after year and hope to keep your business growth still. As the devices we use to search online change and the platforms, we build our sites advance, sites constructed only two years ago can quickly become outdated and ineffective. But how can you tell if your website needs a redesign in 2023? Is it simply a matter of aesthetics, or are there more critical factors to consider?

Read on to discover how to read the signs that your website may be falling behind the times and some crucial factors to consider when redesigning your website. We show you how to take the best of your existing site and transform the next version into a growth generator.

How Do You Know if Your Website is Due for a Redesign?

In an online business, having an outdated website can be a significant liability. An outdated website can drive away potential customers, inhibit your search engine rankings, and put your business and customers at risk through security vulnerabilities. The thing is, how do you know if your website needs to be updated?

In this section, we'll look at the key warning signs that your website is behind the times and needs to be updated, such as:

• Slow loading times
• Poor mobile optimisation
• Outdated design and more!

We will show you how to identify the signs of an outdated website so you can take action to keep your online presence fresh and effective in 2023.

Get in touch as we can help you by undertaking a website audit to isolate the key areas you can improve and provide recommendations to ensure high levels of search engine optimization. 

We are specialists in website redesign, conversion optimisation and SEO we can help you grow more business online, and rank well in search results.

‍

How Many Years Should a Website be Updated?

If your website hasn't been updated for so long,  for 2-5 years, then it is deemed outdated. The world of web design and development is constantly evolving, with new technologies, design trends, and user expectations emerging all the time. If your website hasn't kept up with these changes, it will likely look and function like a relic of the past. A bit thing with older website is the lack of responsive design and slow load times which makes for a less than ideal user experience. 

Websites play a big part in building trust with new customers and ensure your business can compete with others online so for a minimal investment you can see a huge change in how many leads you get coming through. 

Your Website Is Difficult To Update Without A Web Developer

If your website is difficult to update without a web developer, then a redesign or a re-platforming is an good investment. Having to rely on a developer for every change can slow you down and become pricey.

There are some great platforms available like Webflow that are user friendly and offer you far more flexibility. Anyone in your business would be able to jump on to the platform and change the content without the risk of breaking anything. And the best thing unlike clunky page builders Webflow is ultra fast, and ensures a great mobile experiences. 

Your Website Takes Too Long to Load

If your website takes too long to load, it is a distinct sign that it is outdated or under optimised. Users expect a seamless experience when loading websites and if they have to wait more than 3 secs for images or pages to load they are more than likely going to click out of your site. 

If you are concerned that your site is loading to slowly, metrics like bounce rate are one of the first things to check on Google Analytics. This is important as it allows you to understand if its effecting your user experience. 

Bounce rates do vary depending on industry so its important to compare your site's results against industry standards. E-commerce for example can vay between 20-45% 

If your site is experiencing higher than average website bounce rates, and loading too slowing could be due to various reasons, such as:

• Code heavy design elements
• Unoptimised images
• Videos or website code errors
• Poor server performance

There are also speed testing sites you can use to test the load speed.

Fortunately, there are simple yet effective solutions to help counteract these problems, including working with platforms like Webflow. They compress the images, highlight areas where improvement is needed and provide excellent user experience. Loading speed does effect your overall search engine rankings so its important to get right.  

‍

Your Website Isn't Mobile-Friendly

With the increasing number of people using mobile devices to browse the internet, having a mobile-friendly website is essential for providing a good user experience and staying competitive this year and in the future.

Moreover, part of Google's ranking algorithm is evaluating the mobile-friendliness of websites. If your website is not designed for mobile users, then you may never rank well unless you do something about it.

So, if you want to know how your website has been performing on mobile devices, grab a phone and try visiting your website.

If you notice that it took some time to load and once you're in, or if it is challenging to navigate, these are significant indications that your website isn't going to be rated as mobile-friendly by Google. In this case, your website may have broken elements or features that don't work properly on smaller screens. If your website is experiencing this type of pain point, then you should really consider employing an experienced  website designer.

Your Website's Design Looks Outdated

Outdated typography, color schemes and poor website layout are quick indicators that you need to invest in an update.

People are more inclined to stay on a site that they find is easy on the eye and with visual elements that are well balanced. They are also quick to judge and if your site looks old they may loose  trust in your business or choose a competitor with clean, modern site over yours. 

With technology and design advances and the far more knowledge of how optimise people's experience and user journeys in the industry now choosing a design that is modern and clean is important to keep online business flowing through. 

Why Redesign Your Website?

In today's digital age, your website serves as the online face of your business. It's often the first point of contact that potential customers have with your brand, making it crucial to create a positive and lasting impression.

Because of this, experts have this to say: in every 2 to 5 years, you will need to factor in a redesign of your website to ensure the growth of your business continues to track positively. Your redesign efforts will increase your chances of attracting and retaining visitors. This section will explore why redesigning your website is essential to staying competitive and achieving success in 2023 and beyond.

So what are the benefits of a redesign?

Align and Refresh Your Branding

Redesigning your website allows you to update and refresh your branding, creating a modern and consistent image that aligns with your current business goals. Refreshed branding can help improve credibility and attract new customers while enhancing user engagement and overall business success.

Improve User Experience & Conversion Rate Optimisation

Redesigning your website can provide an opportunity to improve the user experience by simplifying navigation, organising content, and making it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for.

By making your website more user-friendly, you can achieve these things:

• Increase engagement and retention, leading to more conversions and business success.
• Improve the ability for search engines to crawl your website, helping its visibility in the SERPs.

Improve Copywriting & Content Structures

Redesigning your website can provide an opportunity to update and strengthen your content, ensuring that it is relevant, informative, and engaging to your target audience. By providing fresh and valuable content, you can attract new visitors and retain existing ones, ultimately leading to increased conversions and business success. SEO Agency Wellington can help ensure they are also optimised for on-line SEO

Ensure Your Website is Secure

If your website has old there could be security issues, which can lead to exposure of customer information and harm your business's reputation.

Redesigning your website with updated security protocols and features can help ensure that your website and customer data remain secure. A secure website can increase customer trust and confidence in your business, leading to improved brand loyalty and customer retention.

Optimise your website for SEO Ranking & Increase Organic Traffic

If your website is not generating enough leads or sales, then your website might be lacking the ability to rank in the search results, or it does not engage your target audience, thus converting visitors to lost leads.

Redesigning your website can provide an opportunity to improve its design, user experience, and content, all of which can contribute to increased conversions and sales. Optimising your website for lead generation, sales, and SEO can improve your return on investment and grow your business.

Do Good Things is a full-service web design company Christchurch and digital marketing agency that specialises in helping improve businesses' online presence. If you want to know whether your website needs a redesign, feel free to reach out to us; we will be more than happy to attend to your website design and content marketing needs!

‍

How Much Does it Cost to Redesign a Website?

If you're considering a website redesign, one of the most important questions to ask is: "How much will it cost?" Redesigning a website can be a significant investment, and it's essential to understand the costs involved before making a decision. In 2023, website costs may vary based on their level of customisation and complexity. The following are estimated costs for websites:

• For simple brochure websites, the range can be anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000.
• For more complex websites with advanced functionalities, the cost may vary from $10,000 to $50,000.
• For E-commerce, the costs range from $10,000 to more than $100,000, making it the most expensive choice.

Feel free to read our complete guide if you want to know more about how much a website design costs.

How Long on Average Does it Take to Redesign a Website?

A benefit of picking a design agency to help redesign your site is a quick turnaround. They can redesign and launch a full site in a matter of weeks, not months. On average, Do Good Things would complete a project like this in 2-3 weeks, depending on how many pages and fast design approval.

The factors that affect the duration of a website redesign depend on the complexity of the project, the size of the website, the level of customisation required, and the availability of resources. Establishing a clear timeline and working with a professional web design agency is important to ensure the project is completed efficiently and effectively.

Steps to Take When Redesigning Your Website

When redesigning your website, there are important steps to take to ensure a successful outcome. From defining your goals to implementing the redesign, each step plays a crucial role in achieving your desired results. In this section, we will guide you through the essential steps to take when redesigning your website.

Audit your site. Know what is working & what needs more work.

Before redesigning your website, conducting a thorough audit of your existing site is essential. This involves analysing your site's performance, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and determining what needs to be improved. By conducting an audit, you will gain valuable insights into your site's current state, which will help you develop a comprehensive redesign strategy.

Align your Company & Marketing Goals with the Website

Aligning your company and marketing goals with your website is essential when redesigning your website. You need to identify your target audience and what you want them to do on your website, whether it is to make a purchase, fill out a contact form, or download content. This will help you develop a website design, content strategy, and user experience that effectively communicates your message and drives conversions.

Analyse Your Website's Performance Metrics

When redesigning your website, it's important to analyse your website's performance metrics to understand how visitors are currently interacting with your site. This includes tracking data such as page views, bounce rates, and conversion rates. By analysing these metrics, you can identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about the redesign. You can also establish new goals and metrics to measure the success of the redesign.

Conduct User Research and Testing

Conducting user testing is a crucial step to take when redesigning your website. This involves gathering feedback and insights from your target audience to better understand their needs, preferences, and behaviours. Conducting a usability survey is a great way to identify pain points and areas for improvement on your current website and make informed decisions on how to optimise the user experience on your new site. This can help you create a website that is user-friendly, engaging, and effective in achieving your business goals.

Create a Website Redesign Plan and Timeline

Creating a website redesign plan and timeline is an essential step in the website redesign process. It involves setting clear goals, outlining the scope of the project, establishing a budget, and creating a detailed timeline that outlines the various stages of the redesign process. This step helps ensure that all team members involved in the project are on the same page and that the project stays on track and within budget. Digital marketing agencies will do this automatically, setting milestones to touch base with you, ensuring the transparency of their work, and giving you control of key decision points in the build.

Design & Build the Website

The usual steps taken in this process are

1. Design concept, this allows you to discuss and align on the type of style that is use. You discuss colour pallet, font type, styles you like. 
2. Wireframing and UI/UX, the designer will create a mockup of your new site. 
3. Design revision, your feedback is applied to the design, content and structure can be amended before the build starts.
4. Website build, the web developers will then create the working website. 

Depending on who you are relying on to design and build your site depends on the timelines you set. If you are hiring a web design agency you will have a team of people working on your site meaning you should expect the site to be completed in under one month. You can read this article for more detailed information on the web design process 

Launch and Measure the Results of Your Redesigned Website

Launching and measuring the results of your redesigned website is a crucial step to take when redesigning your website. This involves thorough testing to ensure that the website is functioning correctly before the launch. Once launched, it is important to track website metrics such as traffic, bounce rate, and conversion rate to evaluate the success of the redesign. This data will help you identify any issues and make further improvements to your website.

Website design agencies will work with you after the launch to ensure the site is working smoothly and iron out any last finishing touches.

Hire a Professional Website Designer

Hiring a professional website designer is money well spent when redesigning your website. A professional designer has the expertise and experience to create a website that not only looks great but also functions well, is user-friendly, and meets your business goals. They can also provide guidance and advice on the latest design trends and best practices and ensure that your website is optimised for SEO and mobile devices.

Do Good Things is an agency that specialise in web design and digital marketing in Auckland and Queenstown that specialises in providing you with customer-focused marketing services, from website design to content optimisation. We are dedicated to getting to know your website needs better. This way, we can assist you in the best possible way to meet your business goals.

Get in touch with us today, so we can talk about how we can help you in leveraging your website design!

‍