Your website serves as the digital face of your business, often forming the first impression potential customers have of your brand.
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, having an up-to-date and user-friendly website is not just an option; it’s a necessity.
But how do you know when it’s time for a website makeover?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the telltale signs and key considerations that indicate when a business should consider updating their website.
From staying current with design trends to ensuring optimal functionality and performance, we’ll guide you through the important decision-making process to keep your online presence as vibrant and engaging as your business itself.
Top Reasons a Business Should Update the Design of Their Website
A fresh, modern design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic move to enhance user experience, improve functionality, and stay competitive in the digital marketplace.
Some of the top reasons why a business should update the design of their website:
1. Improve user experience
A modern website design can improve user experience, making it easier for customers to navigate, find what they are looking for, and make a purchase or inquiry.
2. Stay current with web design trends
Web design trends are constantly evolving, and updating your website design can help you stay current and relevant in the eyes of your audience.
3. Increase website speed
A modern website design can optimize page loading times and improve website performance, which can lead to better search engine rankings and increased traffic.
4. Mobile optimization
With the rise of mobile devices, it is essential that your website design is optimized for mobile use. This will ensure that your website looks great and is easy to use on all devices.
5. Branding and image
A modern website design can help reinforce your brand image and convey a professional and up-to-date image to your customers.
6. Competitor analysis
Updating your website design can help you stay ahead of your competition by ensuring that your website looks better and offers a superior user experience.
7. Better conversion rates
A modern website design can help improve your website’s conversion rate by making it easier for customers to take action and make a purchase or inquiry.
8. Improved accessibility
A modern website design can ensure that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, which can help you reach a wider audience.
Overall, updating your website design is essential to staying current, improving user experience, and remaining competitive in today’s digital landscape.
How often should a company update their business website design?
The frequency with which a company should update their business website design depends on several factors, including the industry, the target audience, and the website’s goals.
However, in general, a website should be updated every 2-3 years to ensure that it stays up-to-date with the latest design trends, technological advancements, and user behavior changes.
Here are a few indicators that suggest it may be time to update your website design:
1. Your website looks outdated
If your website looks old-fashioned and doesn’t reflect your brand’s current identity, it may be time for a redesign.
2. Your website is not mobile-friendly
With more and more people accessing the web on mobile devices, it’s crucial that your website is mobile-optimized. If it isn’t, you may be losing out on potential customers.
3. Your website has a high bounce rate
If your website’s bounce rate is high, it may be an indication that users are having difficulty navigating or finding the information they need. A redesign can help improve user experience and reduce bounce rates.
4. Your website is slow
If your website takes too long to load, it may negatively impact user experience and search engine rankings. A redesign can help optimize page speed and improve website performance.
5. Your competitors have updated their websites
If your competitors have updated their website designs and you haven’t, you may be at a disadvantage. It’s important to keep up with the latest trends and advancements in web design to remain competitive.
Your website has the potential to be an EMPLOYEE of your business. If you’re employee never showered or showed up in the same clothes day after day, how would that look for your business?
Not great!
For this reason alone, it’s important to regularly evaluate your website’s design and update it as necessary to ensure that it remains relevant, user-friendly, and competitive in your industry.
The effectiveness of updating a business website for design
Case Study: MightySkins
MightySkins is a company that offers high-quality vinyl skins and protective cases for electronic devices such as phones, laptops, and gaming consoles. In 2019, MightySkins decided to update their website design to improve user experience, increase conversions, and stay ahead of their competition.
The redesign involved a complete overhaul of the website’s visual appearance and navigation, including:
- Simplifying the navigation menu to make it more user-friendly and intuitive.
- Adding high-quality product images and videos to showcase the products’ features and benefits.
- Improving the website’s load speed to enhance user experience and search engine rankings.
- Making the website mobile-responsive to cater to users who access the website on their mobile devices.
After the redesign, MightySkins saw a significant improvement in their website’s performance. Here are some of the results:
- 31% increase in overall revenue: The redesign led to an increase in sales and revenue for the company, which they attributed to the improved user experience and more streamlined purchasing process.
- 42% increase in mobile traffic: With the new mobile-responsive design, MightySkins saw a significant increase in mobile traffic to their website, which translated into more sales and revenue.
- 17% decrease in bounce rate: The simplified navigation menu, improved load speed, and high-quality product images and videos contributed to a decrease in the website’s bounce rate, which meant that more users were staying on the site longer and exploring the products.
- Improved search engine rankings: The improved load speed and mobile-responsiveness contributed to a higher search engine ranking, which meant that MightySkins was getting more organic traffic to their website.
Overall, the redesign of MightySkins’ website had a positive impact on their business, with increased revenue, improved user experience, and better search engine rankings. By staying current with the latest design trends and catering to their users’ needs, MightySkins was able to stay ahead of their competition and achieve their business goals.
Beware of Disrupting Website User Experience with Deisgn Updates
Why is it important to not update the overall flow of a website while updating the design?
It is important to not update the overall flow of a website while updating the design because changing the flow of the website can confuse users and negatively impact their user experience.
The flow of a website refers to the sequence of actions that users take as they navigate through the website to accomplish their goals, such as finding information, making a purchase, or filling out a form.
Users are accustomed to a certain flow when they visit a website and if that flow is changed significantly, they may become disoriented, frustrated, and may even leave the website without accomplishing their intended task.
This is because users have developed mental models of how websites work, and when a website’s flow is changed, it violates their expectations, making it difficult for them to achieve their goals.
Instead, website redesigns should focus on improving the website’s aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, while maintaining the existing flow of the website.
This can be achieved through a variety of design techniques, such as updating the color scheme, typography, and imagery, and improving the website’s responsiveness and accessibility.
By maintaining the existing flow of the website, users can continue to accomplish their goals efficiently and effectively, while also enjoying an improved user experience. This can lead to increased user engagement, better conversion rates, and ultimately, increased business success.
Design Updates & User Experience Awareness
When it comes to updating the design of a website, it’s essential to keep user experience (UX) in mind throughout the process.
UX refers to the overall experience that users have when interacting with a website, and it plays a critical role in determining whether they will return to the site in the future, recommend it to others, or make a purchase.
Here are some of the top design updates that can improve UX:
1. Simplify Navigation
Navigation is the backbone of any website. Updating the navigation menu to make it simple, intuitive, and easy to use can make it easier for users to find the information they need and accomplish their goals on the website.
A clear and concise navigation menu can also reduce confusion, frustration, and bounce rates.
2. Improve Layout
The layout of a website is crucial for usability and readability. Updating the layout to include ample white space, clear headings, and visual hierarchy can improve the readability of the content, making it easier for users to scan and understand the information presented.
3. Optimize for Mobile
With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the web, it’s crucial to optimize a website for mobile users.
Updating the design to be mobile-responsive ensures that the website can be easily accessed and navigated on small screens, improving user experience for mobile users.
4. Enhance Visual Appeal
The visual design of a website can influence how users perceive the website and the brand it represents.
Updating the design to reflect the latest design trends, using high-quality imagery and videos, and choosing a color scheme that aligns with the brand’s identity can improve the website’s visual appeal and make it more engaging for users.
5. Use Consistent Branding
Consistent branding across a website helps to establish a brand’s identity, making it more recognizable and memorable for users. Updating the design to ensure consistent branding across all pages, including colors, fonts, and imagery, can help reinforce the brand identity and create a more cohesive user experience.
6. Include Better CTAs (Calls to Action)
Effective calls to action (CTAs) are the lifeblood of a successful website.
They act as digital signposts, guiding visitors toward the actions you want them to take, whether it’s making a purchase, subscribing to your newsletter, or scheduling a consultation.
CTAs serve as the bridge between your website’s content and its conversion goals, turning passive visitors into engaged customers.
A well-crafted CTA can transform a casual browser into a loyal client, providing a clear and compelling path to engagement.
Having good CTAs isn’t just important; it’s essential for maximizing the impact of your web presence, driving conversions, and ultimately, achieving your business objectives.
Updating the design of a website with user experience in mind can lead to a more engaging and enjoyable experience for users, ultimately leading to increased customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty.
By focusing on improving usability, readability, mobile responsiveness, visual appeal, and consistent branding, businesses can create a website that meets the needs and expectations of their users.
What are the Average Cost of Business Website Design Updates?
The cost of a website design update can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the project, the size of the website, and the specific needs of the business.
In general, a simple website design update can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. This may include updating the color scheme, typography, imagery, and layout of the website.
More complex website design updates, such as a complete overhaul of the website’s structure, user interface, or functionality, can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
This may include a redesign of the website’s navigation, content, and information architecture, as well as the integration of new features, such as e-commerce functionality or interactive elements.
It’s important to keep in mind that the cost of a website design update should also include ongoing maintenance and support, as well as any additional costs associated with hosting, security, and backups.
Ultimately, the cost of a website design update will depend on a variety of factors, and it’s best to consult with the WEB801 team to get a more accurate estimate based on the specific needs and goals of the business.