How often should you redesign your website?

How long is a piece of string? OK, that may seem flippant, but there are no hard and fast rules about how often you should redesign your website. According to research by Orbit Media, the average lifespan of some of the world\'s leading marketing websites is just over 2½ years. But this is a very rough guideline, and remember it only reflects a specific industry. Some websites can function perfectly well for much longer than this, while others may need a makeover much sooner.

Why do websites need updating?

Technology moves fast, as do design trends. Customer expectations have become more demanding, and none of us want to wait while a site loads! More of us now also want to visit sites using a mobile device.

How do I know when a website needs updating?

Here are some tell-tale signs which you should look out for:

• Your conversions are declining
• Your site is not ranking on Google
• Your site is slow to load - Google will penalise sites which don\'t load within three seconds!
• Your core business proposition has evolved
• Your industry sector has evolved
• Your site is looking dated
• You are receiving negative customer feedback about the website
• Your site isn\'t easy to update
• Your site doesn\'t compare favourably with the competition
• Your site isn\'t mobile-friendly

If you're experiencing any of these issues, it\'s time for a redesign. However, if your site is not mobile-friendly, it really is time to do something about it. More and more traffic is coming through this channel, so it\'s imperative that your website delivers a good customer experience on mobile. If you don\'t address this, you are sure to lose business - it\'s sad but true.

When you go through a website redesign, it\'s essential to get it right, or it could lose rather than gain business. A few years ago, Marks & Spencer had a big website makeover, but the smart new look was forgotten due to the frustration experienced by customers who had to re-register to shop on the new site. Avoid costly mistakes like this by calling in experts, like Holly Small Design, when it comes to redesigning your website.

If you haven\'t budgeted for a major overhaul, just focus on updating the most urgent issues for now. Rectify any broken links, get your content updated, check your meta tags, and make sure you get the budget agreed for the full makeover as soon as possible, then come and talk to us!

To view some recent successful website redesigns for inspiration, check out Specsavers and Walmart.

Here at Holly Small Design we are happy to provide advice and guidance on whether your existing website needs some TLC for more information call 01923 260519