A website redesign can seem like a daunting undertaking. While redesigns can vary in scope, they all entail broad changes to your website's look and feel, often accompanied by content revisions. But you shouldn't let redesigns intimidate you: a well-considered redesign schedule is key to keeping your website relevant and usable.
Why a Redesign?
A website redesign doesn't have to be a complete do-over for your website. Instead, think of it as a timely, targeted revision. A redesign gives you the opportunity to assess what's working and change what isn't so that your web presence is as effective as it can be.
How Often Should I Redesign?
Redesign Now If...
It's difficult to give a hard-and-fast rule for when to redesign your website. You should certainly redesign if there is evidence that something about your site isn't working: lagging conversions or traffic, for instance, are red flags to revisit your design. The same goes for clearly outdated visuals or, worse, a non-responsive design in this age of mobile browsing.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on your competition. Is your website (and company) looking old and dated compared to your competition? That may be a sign that it’s time.
A General Schedule, and Why
Barring any of these reasons to redesign your website yesterday, we generally recommend a cadence of redesigning every 2-3 years with smaller updates or revisions every 6 months to keep it fresh. The primary reason for this is to keep your web presence in line with your company's broader vision. Branding strategies and business models change, so it's important to ensure that your website reflects the most current picture of your company's unique value.
If none of these variables are changing, you may not be innovating, which speaks to a larger problem. Innovation is key to growth and survival in business, so if you feel like nothing has changed after three years in business, it might be time to reassess your strategy. Adapting to your industry's trends proves your resilience and leadership, which inspires confidence in prospective buyers.
Frequent redesigns also establish credibility in another way: they give your website a modern, professional feel. An outdated website screams amateurism, which in turn harms confidence in your brand.
Let Neon Rain Handle Your Redesign
A redesign is only as effective as the team developing it. Neon Rain specializes in creating highly-personalized, responsive websites to help your company stand out. If it's been a few years since you made any serious changes to your site, let us know so that we can get you on the path to a more effective web strategy.