How to Tell When It’s Time for a Website Redesign

I have been building websites for over 15 years now – the last 10 of which have been primarily devoted to clients here at Calvert Design Group.  The average “shelf-life” of a website is approximately 2-4 years depending upon how the site was built and what technologies were used to deploy it.  While we have many clients that far exceed this time period with no ill effects it is important to continually examine your website with a critical eye (or have us do that for you) to determine if it is time to think about a redesign.

Here are just a few key questions to ask of both your business and your website to determine if the time has come to invest in a redesign.

1. Has your business changed significantly?

In today’s fast moving world of small business many times you have to adapt your business or it will die. Has your business gone through any significant changes that are not clearly reflected in the style and/or content of your website?

2. How do you stack up against your competition on the web?

Is your website “up to par” with your competition? How do rate on certain important search terms? Carefully examine what your competition is doing and evaluate if there are things you could be doing better on the web.

3. Is your website generating business?

Before you answer that make sure you have the tools in place to measure the effectiveness of your website. Do you monitor results by asking your customers how they found you?  Implementing something like Google Analytics and then understanding the results is your first step.  If your website is not paying for itself by an increase in business it is time to think about a redesign.

4. Examine the design of your website.  Is it dated?

It is very easy for a website’s “style” to become dated.  Examine things like the fixed width of your website.  Is it allowing for the increase in widescreen monitor resolutions? Are the graphics “heavy” or lacking the feel of today’s websites?

5. Is your website responsive to new browsers and technologies?

Gone are the days of only one or two browsers.  You need to take a look at your website in a full range of browsers AND take a look at your website on a mobile device and tablet.  Does it appear broken? Maybe a little “off” from what it should look like?  This is no fault of your web developer that built your website in the past. Times and technologies change.

6. How difficult is it to update your website?

Are you in the driver’s seat?  Here at Calvert Design Group we firmly believe in the concept of a well structured content management system where you have direct access.  We provide maintenance and updates (for a low, fixed monthly fee), but that doesn’t mean you should be left out in the dark.  You should be able to access your website and make changes any time you desire.

Time to Redesign

If you think a redesign might be in order do not hesitate to contact me directly.  I always like to say “ideas are free” and would love the opportunity to chat with you about the direction your website needs to take.

Redesigning a website in today’s technology market is no longer a major investment (or at least I do not believe it should be).  Technology prices become cheaper over time.

Now is also a good time to think about new technologies, like mobile, and social media Internet marketing tactics and techniques.

Is it time to start 2013 with a new Internet image for your business or brand?