It’s been said that you should get a new website every 2-3 years, but considering the average cost of a new website can range from several thousand dollars to $30,000+ — how do you really know when it’s time to stop making short-term upgrades and invest in a whole new web presence?
Rather than relying on a vague expiration date, ask yourself the questions below to audit your website for a few key issues:
Am I spending too much time making simple content updates?
This issue is twofold, so let’s break it down. First, your time is valuable. If you have a small change within your organization, like hiring a new employee, changing a product offering, or updating your hours of operation, and making that change on your website takes more than 15 minutes, you have a serious problem on your hands. Time is a limited resource, and at some point you have to ask yourself, “What is my time worth?” This takes us to the next issue.
If updating your website is frustrating and time-consuming, then there is a good chance you’ve been putting it off. Having outdated or stale content on your website can be more harmful than you might think. In fact, Google deems having inaccurate, “low-quality content” on your website as a sign that your organization lacks authority. What does that mean? You won’t rank well in a Google search, and your website will slowly start to lose traffic.
Updating your content doesn’t have to be a chore… and if it is, then you have a surefire sign you need a redesign.
Is my website actually mobile-friendly?
Almost 60% of all online searches are now carried out on a mobile device (source in paragraph).
Just because you can access your website from your phone does not mean it is mobile-friendly. If visitors are forced to zoom in and/or scroll left-to-right to view the contents of your site, then it’s not mobile-friendly. This is something humans and search engines alike are not willing to deal with. And, in case you missed it, more Google searches take place on mobile devices than on desktops.
If your website is not optimized for mobile visits, you’re missing a HUGE opportunity. Investing in a website redesign will help you show up for more users and structure your website for success for years to come.
NOTE: Not sure if your site gets along well with mobile? Google has a free, simple test you can use to be sure.
Am I receiving a lot of quick phone calls or emails?
There are certainly situations where you may want to leave details off your website (such as pricing) so that visitors can reach out for more information. If your services are wide-ranging and highly customized, it is more beneficial to engage in a conversation with a prospective customer rather than giving them everything upfront.
That being said, if your phone is ringing off the hook with simple questions that should be easy to find on your website, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. Not only are you wasting your team’s time fielding easy-to-answer FAQs, but you’re also making your website visitors search high and low for the information they need.
Inevitably, for each inquiry you receive, there are probably a handful of people who got frustrated, left your site, and never took the time to reach out.
Verdict? It’s time for a redesign. Your website is the best salesperson you have, and having all of the important, useful information quickly accessible empowers your team and your buyer.
What is my conversion rate?
Throwing money at lead generation techniques like SEO or Google Ads is not going to help your organization if your website isn’t helping people convert on a fundamental level.
Many business owners are concerned that their website is not bringing in as many new customers as it should.
If you find that you have plenty of site traffic but a low conversion rate, that’s a good indication that people are finding your website, but they’re not satisfied with what they see. Throwing money at lead generation techniques like SEO or Google Ads is not going to solve this problem if your website isn’t helping people convert on a fundamental level.
First, check out our blog on 8 simple ways to increase conversions and evaluate what you can or can’t improve. If you’re still stuck, or there’s too much you’d need to update, consider a redesign with a company that’s focused on creating content that converts.
It might be time.
If you find your answers to these questions concerning, it may be time to consider a website redesign. To summarize, you should know…
- Are you spending too much time on simple content updates?
- Is your website really mobile-friendly?
- Are you having to answer simple questions that should be easy to find on your site?
- Is your website difficult to find, or are your visitors simply bouncing off the pages?
Asking these questions will allow you to honestly evaluate your website, and having these answers will better equip you when making a purchasing decision.
Still unsure if a redesign is right for you? We’re always happy to talk! Just schedule a free consultation at the link below.
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