10 Signs You Need a Website Redesign

Sep 04, 2020 | 5 min

Kati Terzinski

Millennials and Gen Zers have grown up with electronics and all things digital. Because the younger generations are so comfortable with technology, businesses have to keep up with current digital trends to reach their target audience where they want to be reached – online. With the norm being the instant gratification of finding what you’re looking for via a Google search, businesses are sprinting to keep up and be found.

Since the digital world is an integral part of our existence, we relate the credibility of websites, businesses, blogs, etc. to their digital presence. As such, if yours is behind the times, it may have a significant impact on your sales and overall company success. Websites need to be engaging, well-designed, and easy to navigate in order to spark consumer interest and gain their trust.

So, how is your digital presence doing? Here are 10 signs that your website may need a facelift:

1. It’s Not Optimized for Mobile

Optimizing your website for mobile devices is imperative. 46% of people use their mobile devices as their primary research tool, while 67% of customers are more apt to purchase when a site is mobile-friendly.

According to Search Engine Watch, Google reported that 50% of smartphone users say they visit a local store within a day of researching it, and 18% of local searches lead to sales.

If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on potential customers – don’t get left in the dust!

2. It’s in Flash

If your website is still in Flash, it’s time for an update. Although Adobe is still promoting it, Flash is becoming a thing of the past. There are several reasons for nixing Flash:

No quality SEO
Site loads slowly
Not optimized for mobile devices, and
Updating your site becomes difficult as a result.

As you will see below, all of the above criteria are assets of a good website that you do not want to ditch. So, sorry Flash, but we’re voting you off the island.

3. It Has a Low Search Engine Ranking

Did you know that 93% of online experiences start with a search engine, like Google? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an incredibly important factor in your digital presence.

SEO affects where your website is ranked when a potential customer searches for the services you provide. For example, if a customer were to search “insurance,” would your insurance company’s website show up on the first page of organic search results, or page 100? 75% of users never scroll past the first page, which means your potential customers are more than likely reaching out to your competitors who live on page 1 instead.

A top SEO ranking boosts traffic to your website, and therefore your sales. If you’re struggling in this department, it could be time for a website redesign.

4. Customers Navigate Away Quickly

A high exit and/or bounce rate is most likely an indicator that visitors aren’t finding your website advantageous, which can have a negative impact on your website performance.

Who is your target audience? What are your goals? What are your strategies to draw them in? Does your website answer these questions? If not, it may be time to update your website and brand messaging to ensure you’re providing value to your targeted audience.

Work with your buyer personas in mind and develop tactics with your design and development teams to reach these goals.

5. It Has Undesirable Aesthetics

Let’s face it – most people judge a book by its cover. Similarly, people identify with websites that they find appealing. Web design trends are constantly evolving, which means you have to constantly pay attention and implement new designs. Here at Pyxl, we redesign our own website every 3 years or so to keep up with current trends (in fact, we’re going through a website redesign right now!). Having a clear, navigable, aesthetically pleasing site can make all the difference.

Your customers’ perceptions are critical to your site’s health. Judgments are made quickly and often imperceptibly, so it’s essential that your site look professional and engaging. Your website design should showcase your services and give your current and future customers a quick idea of who you are as a business.

According to a study done by Matthew Casey, the decision to stay on a webpage can be made in as little as 50 milliseconds, mainly due to the page’s visual appeal.

Take a good look at your website and think: Would I be a customer of this business? Is the design reflective of the business and services we offer right now? If the answer is no, then it’s time for a website redesign.

6. It Has a High Load Time

If your site is slow, people are more likely to abandon it before they even see how valuable your business could be to them. According to SEO expert, Neil Patel, 47% of consumers expect a web page to load in 2 seconds or less.

If your website isn’t loading quickly, customer satisfaction will decrease just as fast. This will not only hurt your reputation but your SEO as well. The ripple effect of a slow-loading site can reach farther than just one frustrated customer.

7. Your Company is Growing

This is a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. If you’re running out of space to promote the many services you offer, it may be time to reorganize and make your site more navigable for users. Transition your business into the future with a website that drives your growth.

8. Your Brand Messaging Has Changed

If your brand messaging has changed as your company has evolved, this is another indication that your site may be in need of a makeover. Since a website can be the main motivator that drives visitors to choose to do business with your company, you want to make sure that it caters to your target audience and makes a good first impression.

9. You Don’t Have a Content Management System

A Content Management System (CMS) allows you to easily edit your website from a central interface. You’ll want to be able to manage your website and update the content without having to change codes and/or hire a web developer to edit the code. A CMS allows you to go in and modify, delete, add, and/or organize content without excess hassle. Your website should be used as a tool to engage with your customers, and a CMS allows you to easily edit content related to special offers, campaigns or rewards, and contests that tend to change often.

10. You’re Embarrassed to Give Out Your URL

Clearly, if this is the case, you’re in need of a website redesign! Your site is an extension of your business and should be looked at as an investment in the future of your business – a vehicle for connecting with potential and existing clients and customers. In this digital age, it is one of the first and most important steps in drawing in traffic, so make sure it’s worth checking out!

Are you in the market for a website redesign?

If your current website is guilty of even just one of the signs listed above, then it’s time to redesign your website. A website redesign could be what takes your business to the next level. Not sure where to start? At Pyxl, website design and development is our bread and butter – we’d love to work with you to enhance your website’s effectiveness and bring it into the modern digital age. If you’re interested in learning more, check out some of our recent work and download our e-book on responsive website design. Ready to take the next step? Contact us today!

See what it’s like to build a website with Pyxl as your digital agency partner using Pyxl’s very own website redesign as a real-life example of what to expect: