Outdated design? Slow load time? Learn the key website redesign signs that indicate it’s time to refresh your online presence.
One of the clearest website redesign signs is when your site no longer makes a strong first impression-your website is often the digital storefront and brand ambassador for your business. It’s an essential element in referral marketing, online ads and even in-person interactions as it serves as the next best step in learning more about what you have to offer.
But if your website is outdated, performing poorly or making it challenging for visitors to find what they are looking for, your website might be harming your business more than it is helping it.
Some common problems that poor brand website experience that require an urgent redesign include websites that:
So why might you consider an urgent redesign of your website? Here’s a look at some common aspects of your website that might necessitate an update or upgrade.
If a customer visits your website and is immediately greeted with an experience that no longer meets modern standards, they’ll likely bounce. Plus, it can lead to trust erosion or loss of business.
Some signs of an outdated website include:
This all reduces the reader’s ability to ascertain the most important aspects of the site while also reducing their ability to learn about and understand who your brand is.
Traffic from mobile devices makes up 62% of all global traffic as of January 2025. Businesses who have poor mobile optimization are ostracizing more than half of their total website visitors. Some signs of poor mobile friendliness include the following.
Websites with poor mobile optimization also won’t rank well for SEO. That’s because Google uses mobile-first indexing. A responsive website design will ensure your website looks great on all devices.
Slow websites are deal breakers for visitors. Research shows that 40% of website visitors will leave if the site takes longer than three seconds to load. Some aspects of your website that might be contributing to slow load times can include:
Page speed is an important metric in a customer deciding whether to explore your website. Faster websites rank better for SEO and improve the user experience.
While your website might look great, if it isn’t generating sales and leads, your business will struggle to succeed. One of the key functions of your website is to drive business. A conversion looks different for different business types. But regardless, your website should generate leads, customers and subscribers.
Some signs that it might be time for an urgent redesign to improve your business outcomes include:
Your website should be one of the best lead generation engines for your business. Unclear messaging, poor user interfaces or weak calls to action are all signs that you should update your website as soon as possible to avoid missing out on crucial business opportunities.
Websites with ineffective navigation make it challenging for customers to find what they are looking for. You can frustrate your visitors and lead them to seek solutions elsewhere if your website lacks clear navigation.
Some signs that your website’s navigational properties are lacking include:
Disorganized websites waste a website visitor’s time. But smoothing out that experience can build trust and appreciation.
Websites with old branding, messaging or services and products can send mixed signals to customers. Some signs of inconsistent branding include the following.
Your website should reflect your business and its current brand promises. Websites must constantly evolve to match the customer experience of today. But if your website hasn’t kept pace with your business, an urgent redesign might be in order.
You should be tracking your SEO rankings and traffic from search. If you notice a steady or sudden decline in rankings and traffic, it’s cause for alarm. You might be suffering from some missing elements or poor optimization to meet modern algorithms. Some signs of poor SEO infrastructure include the following:
Search engines regularly update their algorithms to decide what is safe and build a good experience for their customers. That means you must adapt your website to meet these updated requirements or you might lose visibility.
If your team doesn’t want to direct people to your website because it is so outdated that it makes them embarrassed, this is a serious sign it is time to redesign. Some businesses direct customers to social channels instead of their website or create microsites for the wrong reasons because their primary website simply isn’t reliable. Microsites certainly have a role to play in marketing, but they shouldn’t be the main website you drive traffic to due to a poor customer experience.
The signs of this are just staff input and low use of your website across the board. If you aren’t putting your URL or a QR code on printed materials due to a poor customer experience, this is a serious sign it’s time to make a change.
Making changes to your website’s content and imagery should not be challenging or require your development team’s time. This can reduce your marketing team’s agility and lead to outdated content.
This might just mean it’s time for a new CMS due to these signs and symptoms.
Using WordPress or other modern tools can empower your team to make the necessary updates to keep your site up to date.
If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for in the physical appearance of your website, look to your analytics to help tell the story of whether you need an urgent redesign. Some signs that your website is underperforming include the following.
Your data won’t lie. Poor engagement or broken user flows will show in your website statistics if you’re paying attention.
New Light Digital specializes in digital marketing strategy, including website design and development. Allow us to modernize not just the appearance, but the functionality of your website. We can then help you make regular updates to keep it modern so you don’t need another urgent redesign in the future. Contact New Light Digital now to start seeing better results from your best marketing asset.
Further reading:
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