You know your site needs to be revamped when…

Few people think of websites as a having a set life-span, but it is inevitable that even the best sites need face lifts from time to time. It’s not always easy to determine when to hire a web development company to give your site a new look, so we’ve compiled some examples that may indicate your site has past its expiration date.

Your home page looks like something you’ve seen on Hoarders

Your site is an opportunity to make a good first impression to potential clients. Its appearance is a reflection of your business practices, so a busy home page does not translate well.Your site should be intuitive for the user to easily navigate to the information they’re looking for. Perhaps your site began organized and as your business grew, you added more content to your home page. Regardless, excessive graphics, noise, links, or blocks of content raise red flags in the eyes of site visitors. If it’s nearly impossible to sort through all the information on your home page, it is definitely time for a redesign.

Your business has undergone significant change

Keep all relevant information about your company’s leadership, services, and products up-to-date. If you have recently expanded the services and products you offer, you need to update your site as soon as possible so your site visitors can see your full potential. People visit your site to attain information about your company. More often than not, if they don’t see the service or product they need, they will go elsewhere rather than inquire more from you.

Your site is not compatible with mobile devices

How many times have you, or someone you’re with, accessed a restaurant’s menu from a smart phone? If you’re asking yourself what a smart phone is, pick up your brick-of-a-cell-phone and call your web designer immediately for a brainstorming session for your site’s update.  For those of you who are aware it’s the 21^st century, it’s time for your site to join the world of mobile access. Internet support has become a standard in mobile devices, and if your site doesn’t display properly, or at all, you will lose business to a competitor who has a phone-friendly site.

Your site generates more questions than it does answers

Site visitors are visiting your site for information, and while they should be encouraged to contact you for specific information about your products and services, they should not be contacting you because the content on your site confused them.  We’ve all come across sites that offer so much information that the message becomes muddled. While you may be able to save your client money by [insert your uber-specific business operation model here], you’re likely to drive them away by overwhelming them with minute details. If you find that you frequently receive calls from potential customers who need clarification on information they found on your website, it’s time to simplify and re-write your content in a way that speaks to your site visitor.

Your site hasn’t been updated within the past four years

Web design and development is in constant flux, and your site should be fluid enough to change as frequently as necessary in order to remain up-to-date. If your site is still black and pink and references Blink 182, you’re probably hurting your chances of converting a site visitor into a client.  While you do want to make your
site stand out from your competitors, using popular references and trendy color schemes may end up costing you business in the long run. Design your site in a way that will appeal to the most broad audience possible while still specifically targeting your ideal customer.