Have you fallen out of love with your website?
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Do you remember how excited you were when you launched your website? Do you still feel the same way about it?
I bet you don’t, especially if it was more than three years ago. Design trends change, and so do your tastes. But is your design actually tired, or are you just tired of looking at it?
Remember, your website isn’t for you; it’s for your potential clients. If it no longer reflects your brand identity, messaging, or business goals, it’s definitely time for a change, but this doesn’t always mean you need to invest in a brand-new site.
Consider the following key factors before you dive into a complete overhaul.
Content
It doesn’t matter what your website looks like if the message isn’t clear. Ensure your content is concise and scannable. Long paragraphs are a big turn-off for online readers.
At the same time, your website needs to communicate your brand’s value proposition effectively. For further guidance, check out my posts about creating your Home, About, and Services pages.
Usability
Even with great content, if visitors can’t easily find their way around, they’ll lose interest quickly. Easy navigation and clear internal linking will improve their experience, making it more likely that they’ll stick around and engage with you.
As you review your copy, make sure that internal links are easy to find and clearly indicate where they go.
It’s fairly easy to modify navigation menus in WordPress, so if a confusing menu is the only issue, you probably don’t need a new design at all.
Appearance
What was considered modern when your site was new might now seem outdated and stale. An updated design will enhance visual appeal and signal to visitors that your business is current and innovative.
In the early days of WordPress, you could give your website a brand-new look by simply installing a different theme. Today’s themes are much more sophisticated, so switching to a new one often involves rebuilding many parts of the site.
If your theme has a lot of customization options, you may be able to redesign it without starting over from scratch, as I did for HuronBeaches Cottage Rentals.
I use what I call a “plain vanilla” theme when I build sites, so it’s not a major undertaking when it’s time for a new look, like my latest redesign. I hope you like it!
Functionality
Your site may have features that were added through plugins or custom coding. If you still need these functions, and they’re still working, it might make more sense to use your existing site as a starting point for your new one. This is especially true for ecommerce or membership sites with intricate functionalities.
Speed
Nobody likes a slow website, especially if they have to wait every time they click on a link. Badly coded themes can cause a slow website, so if your theme is slowing down your site, you’re probably better off with a different one.
This is only one factor affecting your site speed, so make sure you’re not also dealing with bad hosting or large images.
Mobile-Friendliness
With people increasingly accessing the internet on phones and tablets, a mobile responsive website is crucial. Run Bing’s Mobile Friendliness Test Tool to find out whether your site makes the grade. Most themes now are responsive, so if yours isn’t, you’re better off switching to a new theme than to try modifying an old one which is no longer supported by its developer.
Redesign or rebuild?
If you’re transitioning to WordPress from another platform, you will have to start from scratch. Depending on your platform, there a migration tool may be available, but it will only import your content, not your design or any functionality built into the platform.
If you already have a WordPress site but it has an outdated theme and/or plugins that may cause technical issues (or already do), you’re better off with a brand-new site.
If your WordPress site is fairly up-to-date and has been properly maintained, you can save time and money by modifying your existing site. Create a working copy of the site, usually referred to as a staging site, so your current site can remain live while the work is underway.
Conclusion
Keeping your website fresh and up-to-date is a good way to continue to attract and engage visitors, but it’s not always necessary to rebuild it from scratch. Assess your site’s needs carefully before deciding on the best course of action.
If you need help figuring out your next steps, schedule a free 20-minute Get to Know You Session.
Photo by OtnaYdur / DepositPhotos
Janet Barclay
I eliminate stress for my clients by hosting, monitoring, and maintaining their WordPress sites so they don’t have to worry about security, downtime or performance issues. When I’m away from my desk, I enjoy reading, photography, cooking, watching movies, drinking tea, and spending time with my family.
I’ve had to change a few plugins recently. Websites are sort of like living organisms that need regular nourishment and pruning. It feels like a lot of work for me. I was so happy with the result YOU got me a few years back. I’m hoping to stick with this for a couple more years, but even now I can see new design features that are becoming more common.
It’s definitely something to review periodically!
You’re so right about websites needing regular nourishment and pruning! As long as your website still works well for you and your visitors, there’s no need to sweat about following the latest trends!
My last big redesign was launched in early 2020. So I’m past that three-year mark you mentioned. But I still think the site works effectively and is uniquely me. I’ve made adjustments during the last few years, including adding a new page for my workshops and changing the description on the services page to reflect my pivot to virtual organizing.
As you know, I use the SquareSpace platform. It’s not as plug-in-heavy as WordPress is. So, there are fewer of those types of things to change and upgrade. I’m sure there will come a time when I’ll want to redesign again. For now, I’m happy with how things are and can make small changes as needed.
No worries! It was over six years since my last redesign. No wonder I was tired of the watercolor background!
Great tips! I agree it’s important to look at our business website differently at least once a year, especially for newer businesses where their business is evolving.
You make a really good point about newer businesses. I think that more often than not, people make big changes as they get established, in terms of what they offer or how they want to brand themselves, and the website needs to reflect all that!
My business had changed so much that I totally needed a website do-over, and you helped me achieve it last year. Thanks, Janet!
It was my pleasure, Hazel! I always enjoy working with you.
It’s very important to have this excitement feeling when opening your work computer, and thank you for helping with this task and updating the look of it, it looks refreshing and clear.
My pleasure, Janet!
Oh, gracious. We know my site needs a refresh. Stupid mobile-friendliness! Who needs it?! (OK, I guess we do.)
Thanks for always keeping us on our tippy-toes!
On my phone I have the option of viewing your site in “simplified mode” which lets me read your posts but removes your branding, comments, etc. If that makes you feel better!