If you’ve ever looked at your website and thought, “I’m not sure this still feels right”
Websites don’t last forever. Just like your business evolves, your website needs to keep up too.
But how do you know whether it needs a full redesign or just a few tweaks?
Here’s how to spot the signs.
What to look out for
You don’t need to be techy to sense when a website’s not pulling its weight.
These are some common clues:
- It looks a bit dated – Styles change over time. If your site’s starting to feel a bit 2015, it might be time for a refresh.
- It’s awkward on a phone – More than half of visitors will be on mobile. If they have to pinch and zoom, they’ll probably give up.
- It’s running slow – Waiting more than a few seconds? So are your potential customers… and most won’t stick around.
- You’ve outgrown it – If your services have changed, or your branding’s evolved, your site should reflect that.
- It’s a pain to update – If you dread logging in, or avoid adding content because it's too fiddly, that's a big red flag.
A real-life example from a local charity
I recently worked with a lovely Devon-based charity whose site hadn’t changed much in years. It still worked—but only just. It was tricky on mobile, hard to update, and didn’t reflect everything they now offered.
We didn’t throw everything out. We kept their colours and logo, but rebuilt the structure to make it clearer, faster, and easier to manage. Now they can update events and news themselves—and they’ve seen a real boost in enquiries too.
So… how often should a website be redesigned?
There's no set rule. But for most small businesses or charities, every 3 to 5 years is a good ballpark.
Why?
- Technology changes
- Design trends shift
- Your business grows
- People expect more from websites these days
A full redesign isn’t always necessary. Sometimes a mini makeover can do wonders—tidying up your layout, updating colours, improving usability, and checking everything works well on phones.
Still not sure? Try this:
If you're wondering whether your site needs a bit of love, here are three quick tests:
- Look at it on your phone – Is it easy to use, or frustrating?
- Try editing something – Can you do it without help?
- Ask a friend to try it – Can they find what they need in under 10 seconds?
If any of those made you wince a little, it might be time to chat - check out my Website Redesign Service