Is It Time for a Website Redesign? 5 Signs Small Business Owners Should Look Out For
The first impression of a website is formed within seconds by a new user. As such, the importance of your website design in representing your business cannot be overstated. It serves as the digital storefront, the virtual handshake, and the primary touchpoint for potential customers. However, just as storefronts require periodic renovation to stay inviting and relevant, your website also needs regular evaluation, a website redesign, to ensure it remains a powerful tool in attracting, engaging, and converting visitors.
So, how can small business owners discern whether their website is keeping pace with evolving digital expectations?
Here are five key indicators to consider when it comes to a potential website redesign:
1. Outdated Website Design
Take a critical look at your website’s design. Does it look like it belongs in another era? An outdated design can give visitors the impression that your business is behind the times or even untrustworthy. Look for signs such as clunky navigation, overly flashy graphics, or a lack of mobile responsiveness. A modern, visually appealing design is essential for capturing and retaining the attention of today’s consumers.
Everyone reading is old enough to remember this, right? Right?
At Strottner Designs, we offer programs for companies looking to convert from outdated sites to new, responsive sites using WordPress.
2. A Poor User Experience (UX) Leads to Website Redesign
User experience is paramount in keeping visitors engaged and encouraging them to explore your website further. If users struggle to find what they’re looking for, encounter broken links, or experience slow loading times, they’re likely to abandon your site and turn to your competitors instead. Conduct usability tests or gather feedback from customers to identify pain points and areas for improvement in your website’s UX.
At Strottner Designs, we pay attention to what Google requires in their best practices (colloquially known as Core Web Vitals, an evolving standard) for search result success, and run regular testing to ensure compliance.
3. Website Redesign Due to Low Conversion Rates
Your website should be a powerful tool for converting visitors into leads or customers. If you’re seeing high traffic but low conversion rates, it may indicate that your website isn’t effectively engaging or persuading visitors to take action. Analyze your conversion funnels, calls-to-action, and overall messaging to identify barriers to conversion and opportunities for optimization.
At Strottner Designs, we perform a monthly review of Analytics, Impressions, Clicks and other Insights, and share those with our Concierge clients, along with recommendations.
4. Website Design Not Aligned with Brand Identity
Your website design should accurately reflect your brand identity, including your values, messaging, and visual style. If your website feels disconnected from your brand or if you’ve undergone a rebranding since its creation, it may be time for a redesign to ensure consistency across all touchpoints. Your website should serve as an extension of your brand, reinforcing brand recognition and trust.
At Strottner Designs, we take branding very seriously, and often our first experience with clients is in the creation of their logo, style guide and physical point of sale materials. This typically leads to the design of their website, and an ongoing relationship where we maintain the site, perform Search Engine Optimization, and other services!
5. Limited Functionality
As your business grows and evolves, so too should your website. If your current website lacks essential features or functionality that are now standard in your industry, it may be holding your business back. Whether it’s integrating e-commerce capabilities, adding a blog, or enhancing security measures, investing in new features can enhance the overall user experience and support your business objectives.
The website doesn’t do that…same as this road.
At Strottner Designs, we are continually learning about changes in the marketplace. For example, over the past year we’ve been working to ensure ADA compliance for our Concierge client sites, and we’ve been recommending that as part of new site designs.
Final thoughts about Website Redesign
Your website is a dynamic, visible, asset that requires regular attention and updates to remain effective. By being proactive in monitoring for these signs, you can ensure that your website continues to support your business goals and provide value to your customers. A website redesign may require an initial investment of time and resources, but the long-term benefits in terms of increased traffic, engagement, and conversions make it a worthwhile endeavor for any small business owner.
If you worry that your site might be out of date, consider running an audit on our homepage, or contact us at support@strottner.com!
