Your website is often the first impression customers have of your business. Ensuring it’s modern, mobile-responsive and user-friendly is crucial. But how often should you update or redesign your website to stay ahead of the curve?
For the most success, you will want to update your website every two to three years. Technology evolves quickly, and design trends change just as fast. A website that is over three years old can look outdated and is probably not providing the best user experience. Regular updates keep your site looking fresh, keep your customers engaged and ensure it remains functional across all devices.
What Makes a Good Website?
User Experience
Studies have found that 88% of consumers are less likely to return to a website after a bad experience. Poor web design, outdated aesthetics and low usability are major credibility killers and are a turnoff to prospective clients/customers.
A redesign can enhance the user experience, making your site more intuitive and easier to navigate. This keeps visitors engaged and encourages them to return.
Mobile-Responsiveness
As of 2024, statistics show that more than 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. So, if you have a website or plan to create one, making it fully mobile-responsive should be a top priority.
Making a website mobile-responsive goes beyond it just being mobile-friendly. To be truly responsive means that, instead of shrinking everything down, clickable items are enlarged, and pictures are resized and reformatted for optimal display across all screen sizes. This safeguards the user experience when turning the phone or tablet from a vertical view to a horizontal view.
Technical Performance
Technical performance of your website is essential for user experience. Faster load times, better security and mobile responsiveness are key factors that affect how users interact with your site. Regular updates ensure your website is up to date with the latest technical standards.
Scalability & Ease of Use
A new design can make your website easier to update and scale as your business grows. Modern content management systems like WordPress offer adaptive and responsive design options, making it simpler to add new features, add new pages or make changes.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine algorithms change frequently. A redesign can help you incorporate the latest SEO best practices, ensuring your site ranks well on Google and other search engines. This includes optimizing for speed, optimizing content and using the right keywords.
What Makes a Website Bad?
If your website is slow, outdated or unresponsive, it can be signaling to customers that your business may be lacking in other ways.
While the design of a website is subjective, there are some objective factors about a website that can be make or break:
- Ignoring Mobile Users: You want to ensure your site design is responsive and looks great across all devices.
- Overcomplicating Navigation: To improve the user experience, you will want to keep navigation simple.
- Neglecting SEO: You should integrate SEO best practices from the start to improve your website’s search engine ranking.
- Slow Loading Times: Be sure to optimize images and code to ensure quicker load times.
How Much Does It Cost to Redesign a Website?
The cost of a website redesign is based on several factors. Often, website developers will price the website based on the number of pages your site has, its complexity, and any custom extensions or features needed. If you are unsure of the best size for your website, the process of developing a sitemap can help you determine the optimal number of pages.
Need a New Website? Contact J. Fitzgerald Group.
Has it been more than three years since you have updated your website? JFG can help you transform your website into a high-performing digital asset for your business.
Contact us today for a consultation to help create a stunning, modern website that will keep you ahead of the competition.