A web presence is critical for any and every business in 2023. It doesn’t have to be a mind-blowing virtual reality experience with every slider, trendy color scheme, or buzzword possible (although great SEO practices in your web copy sure helps!)

It just has to be a solid, consistent, clean experience for your customers. And that requires maintenance.

If your business does have an online presence, chances are you’ll need to update your website eventually as part of your maintenance efforts. But how can you tell when it’s time to make a change? Here are five signs that your business may need a new website.

5 Signs Your Business Needs a New Website. Badly.

Sign #1: Outdated Design

One of the most obvious signs that it’s time for a website overhaul is an outdated design. 

What makes a website outdated?

Dated content is fairly easy to spot. Do you still have a “copyright 2011” somewhere on your site? Do you have an image-heavy layout that makes a visitor wonder where they’ll find your “Top 8?” (if you somehow escaped 2006 unscathed, that’s a reference to social media from the dawn of time.)

If your site looks like it’s stuck in the past or doesn’t reflect your current branding, it’s time for a refresh. A modern, up-to-date website will give customers a better impression of your business.

Sign #2: Slow Load Time

Another key indicator that your website needs an upgrade is slow load time. If visitors to your site are waiting too long for pages to load, they’ll leave. Plain and simple. 

A great resource for checking your own website speed is PageSpeed Insights. If it is in the red, chances are it is hurting your SEO

If that’s the case, then it’s imperative to make the needed updates and fixes so that your site is running smoothly, and that errors are troubleshot (we know, yay grammar) by your developer promptly. 

Sign #3: Inadequate Functionality

If your website isn’t doing everything you need it to do, it’s time for a new one. If you’re missing important features like e-commerce, online appointment booking, or customer support avenues, a new website design can add the functionality you need to take your business to the next level.

Pro tip to further confirm if your page needs a redesign? See what your competitors are doing with their websites. Take note of what common looks they all go for: what colors, buttons, verbiage, calls to action, etc. Compare, and then find a web developer and marketing pro who can help you do it better.

Sign #4: Incompatible With Mobile

Mobile compatibility is essential for any business website hoping to succeed in 2023. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on a huge number of potential customers (and we mean huge). A new website can make sure your business is accessible to customers browsing from their smartphones or tablets, as well as desktop.

Sign #5: Low engagement rates

Finally, the tell-all: if your bounce rate is super high (people who visit your site, do nothing, and just leave), or your engagement rate is just not what it used to be, it’s definitely time to consider a website refresh. Take smaller steps like updating and properly optimizing your written content — then seriously think about a big ol’ overhaul.

Granted, redesigning your website is not a guaranteed fix-all for waning conversion rates — but it sure helps make your business look trustworthy, present, and alive. Taking intentional steps to revive and maintain your site will go a long way toward gaining more traffic and leads. It can be a frustrating and long process, but it’s well-worth it.

How do I begin to freshen up my website? 

If you’re seeing any of those five warning signs, or other signs it’s time to freshen your website, it’s time to think seriously about who will step in with you to design the perfect website for your business. A modern, secure, well-managed website can make a huge difference in your online presence and help your business grow.

R Creative helps you with every stage of web development, whether you need to launch a new website or reimagine your brand. We build custom WordPress websites that are optimized for search engine results. We provide you with managed hosting and support, along with a full complement of WordPress maintenance services, including feature rollouts and technical support.

Your next step to improving your website (and overall web presence) is as easy as contacting us.