Let’s be honest, it’s easy to let your website sit there for years. You’re busy running your business, and that digital shop front just sort of... fades into the background. But here’s the rub: a stale, outdated, or broken website isn't just sitting there doing nothing, it's actively costing you customers.
Your website is often the very first impression someone gets of your business. If it’s slow, confusing, or looks like it was built in 2010, what does that say about you?
So, how do you know when "good enough" isn't good enough anymore? How can you tell it’s time to stop tinkering and go for a proper redesign? Here are a few of the big warning signs we see all the time.
1) It Just Looks OldThis one's a bit of a vibe check, but it's probably the most obvious. You know an old website when you see one. The layout might be really narrow, the fonts are tired (hello, Times New Roman), the colours are a bit garish, or it's just cluttered with too much stuff.
Design trends change, and what looked cutting-edge five years ago can look ancient today. A dated design doesn't just look bad, it erodes trust. It makes your entire business feel like it's stuck in the past, and that’s a terrible first impression.
2) Your Site is Awful on a PhoneThis isn't a minor issue anymore. It's a deal-breaker.
Open your website on your mobile. Right now. Are you having to pinch and zoom to read the text? Are the buttons tiny and impossible to tap with your thumb? Does the menu even work?
If the answer is yes, you have a problem. The majority of people will be looking at your site on a phone. If it’s a frustrating experience, they won't stick around. They’ll just hit the 'back' button and go straight to your competitor. Google also knows, and it will rank mobile-friendly sites higher, meaning your hard-to-use site gets pushed further down the search results.
Businesses grow and change. It's a good thing. But your website needs to keep up.
Maybe you're a tradesperson in Swansea who has moved from general repairs to specialising in high-spec kitchen fits. Perhaps you're a consultant who has added three new, valuable services. If your website is still shouting about the old stuff, it's not selling what you actually do.
Your site is your number one salesperson. It needs to have the correct script. If it’s describing a business you were running three years ago, it’s time for a major update.
We are all incredibly impatient online. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, visitors are gone.
Site speed can be dragged down by all sorts of things: chunky, unoptimised images, old code, or a clunky, bloated theme. A modern, custom-built website is designed to be lean and fast from the ground up, giving your visitors what they want without the wait.
Do you dread having to add a new blog post or change a price? Do you have to email your old developer (who may or may not reply) just to get a simple change made?
This is a huge red flag. We see this constantly with sites built on generic, off-the-shelf templates, bloated with dozens of clashing plugins. You end up fighting the system just to do the basics.
Your website shouldn't be a house of cards. A good, custom-built site is designed around your needs. The content management system (CMS) should be simple, intuitive, and built for you, letting you make changes easily without fearing you'll break the entire layout.
If you find yourself nodding along to one or two of these points, it’s probably time to have a serious think. A redesign isn't just an expense, it's an investment. It’s about making your website your most valuable tool again, one that attracts new customers and makes your business look as good as it truly is.
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