Given any quick Google search, the most common suggestion for when you should redesign your website circles around the three year mark. Some research recommends biannual redesigns, others recommend two years, and the more you’ll look the more you’ll come to realize that there’s not much in the way of citable evidence for determining the best time to pull the trigger on that site redesign. Anecdotal recommendations aside, coming from the mouth of a premiere WordPress developer in Fleetwood, PA, we can’t faithfully condone following through on rigidly scheduled website redesigns.
With as many advice columns throwing redesign period estimates like darts at a board, the truth is there’s no concrete site redesign frequency that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you need to update your website within any given time frame. LaunchDM is a proponent of the “ain’t broke, don’t fix it” crowd. If your site still pulls excellent traffic numbers and generates value for your company, then leave it as it is (with an update schedule, of course).
When Should You Redesign Your Site?
Every website is designed differently, with coding, infrastructure, CRM incorporation, interlinking networks, and so on contributing to the success of your site’s online presence and visibility separately from how other companies may have designed theirs. The nature of this diversity within the digital landscape means no broad generalizations can govern when a site redesign is called for.
When should you redesign your site? Simple. You redesign it when it needs to be redesigned.
Redundant phrasing aside, if analysis shows that your website is still functioning within acceptable margins and continues to churn out leads and revenue, chances are you’re doing just fine with it. The problem is when it stops making returns, when it stops being a good website. These are some categories to keep an eye out for when it’s just about time to renovate:
- Your site has stopped generating new leads and business at an acceptable rate
- The aesthetic design and makeup of your site is outdated, old, and unappealing
- You can’t update it anymore because it’s unusable to anyone without an IT background
- It doesn’t reflect your business goals, services, offerings, or message
- No SEO ranking
If any of these apply to your site, changes need to be made. A site redesign is only necessary when it directly impacts the form and function of your company. It’s a judgement call, more or less. If you get the impression that you, your audience, or both have a hard time interacting with your website, the next step is to fix your mistakes.
Preparing for the Redesign
If everything were as simple as hitting a big red button and your site redesigns itself, then… that’d be pretty great. In reality, site redesigns are tricky, delicate, and reliant on a lot of moving parts and personnel to get right. Making the appropriate preparations is an iterative process where you lay out your timeline, goals, steps, and detailed planning before executing the plan. Covering all your bases first helps mitigate any chance of disaster or failure along the way.
With decades of experience working with website design, deployment, and optimization, LaunchDM is the foremost WordPress developer in Fleetwood, PA to draft your perfect site redesign architecture. If you’re interested in partnering with us, call us at (610) 898-1330 or visit our contact page to set up a free 15-minute consultation.
