Is it time to look at a new website?

When to consider getting a new website

You may have a website that has been working wonderfully for you over the years but when should you consider getting a new website.

Design and usability trends evolve all the time and compared to your competitors your site may appear dated, slower to use and less relevant.

To gain minutes of a user’s attention you must clearly communicate your value proposition within 10 seconds. Research shows the average visit to a website lasts less than a minute and visitors are likely to choose to do business with a company whose website is easy to navigate that helps them to find the information or product they require quickly.

So, when should you consider making a change?

When was your last site developed?
Research suggests that you should update your sites design and functionality every 2 to 3 years. Even if you do regular tweaks to ensure your site looks up to date sometimes it is better to do an overall upgrade to a new website rather than fitting new elements into an older site. Web design trends are constantly developing so a site can quickly become dated. Is your site visually appealing and easy to navigate. What are your competitors doing. If it looks outdated compared to competitors or contemporary design trends, it might be time for a refresh. It may also be more cost effective.
Performance
How fast does your website load. Slow load times can deter visitors this may impact your search engine rankings. If the website is slow, it might be time to optimise or have a rebuild.
What is your conversion rate?
Have you checked your google analytics are you getting visitors, but they are clicking away. Having new website built with SEO in mind can help you keep track.
Out of date Software
Out of date software can lead to security breaches, visitors need to feel safe when purchasing online or leaving information. Ensure software, plug-ins and SSLs are up to date.
Functionality
More people now search from mobile devices Is your website user friendly across different devices.
Staying relevant
Have you launched new products or is the content inconsistent across the site. Does your current website’s design and functionality align with your business goals? If your business has evolved or if you wish to target a new audience, you might need a new website to better reflect your current objectives.
Branding
Does the website reflect your brand identity. Ensuring your brand is consistent across the website and ensure marketing materials have the same colours, fonts logos, business name and design is imperative. This also applies to your social media platforms, digital and printed content, business cards and banners. This helps build visitor trust.