Why Does Web Design Become Outdated?

A new website can take your company into new territory. Today, it’s become common knowledge that most people go straight to the internet for research and even now, purchasing. If your business has a terribly outdated or non-functional website, you most certainly are losing tons of leads and potential clients. There’s no question that a re-design by a competent web designer is imminent to grow your sales, your digital presence, and you company image.

But what about those businesses that went through this process a few years ago? As a business owner, constantly keeping up with evolving technology can be very challenging. As a web developer, I get this question all the time:

“Why do I have to re-design my website again?”

I get it. Consulting, re-designing, and re-developing takes money, time and commitment. It’s not always an easy-task, especially if you have a large organization. Some salesmen might try to convince you that this is a yearly process, but the truth is, you don’t have to re-design every year. I’m not saying that regular maintenance isn’t important, but technology does move fast, and so do design trends. So, how do you know when it’s time to re-design?

How Often Should I Re-design My Website?

Imagine your website is your vehicle. You’ve just purchased it and you are proud driving it around town. You feel a certain sense of joy in showing-off your shiny new automobile. You drive around with the windows down, letting the highway air blow through your hair and it feels amazing! The speed, the handling, the new-car smell. But we all know the honeymoon phase eventually ends. After a few months or so, it needs an oil change – then the taillight burns out – then you start hearing weird noises – then your back-up camera software needs an update. It goes on and on and on until you start thinking about a new car again.

After 3 to 5 years, if you are like most people you start to notice that your vehicle’s design is not as fancy as it was. It doesn’t reflect who you are anymore. You evolved as a person. Maybe you feel more dignified and responsible, and that shiny sports car doesn’t represent you anymore. You want a black luxury vehicle now. You want a car with a push-to-start engine, better gas economy, and so on.

Websites are very much the same. After 3 to 5 years, the software has evolved so much that your current website can’t be optimized for today’s faster speeds. It can’t be updated to the latest versions because there are too many outdated moving parts. And the web design looks stale and old. Maybe it doesn’t even represent your business anymore, since we all know that a lot can happen in 5 years. While I don’t advocate that a re-design is always a must, I definitely think you should re-design your website if:

It’s not responsive, meaning it adapts to all mobile devices
The look doesn’t represent your organization’s goals anymore
Your website’s speed is low and causing your rankings harm
Your industry is competitive, and your competitors are already moving forward
A newer website could increase your sales or conversions
or, if you simply don’t love it anymore

Want to fall in love with your website again? Give me a shout. I can help.