5 Signs that You Need a New Website

I've been in the website development industry since the mid 1990s, so I've seen the entire evolution of the internet during my career. Websites that were made in the 90s would almost exclusively fail almost every usability and accessibility test. Why? For one thing, new devices are used to browse the web (much smaller devices). For another, we've had 20 years to monitor how people actually browse the internet. These two key facts (among many others) have driven the evolution of website design through the last two decades. Now, there's a LOT of marketing hype from website developers telling you that your website is out-of-date...not all of that hype is true, but some of it might be! Let's look at 5 signs that your website truly is out of date.

It's not mobile friendly
This is the most pressing concern. If your website isn't responsive/adaptive to different screen sizes, you need to ensure it is as soon as possible. Having a desktop layout for a mobile screen means it's an absolute pain to read and navigate - you're constantly pinching, zooming and horizontaly scrolling to read/navigate such a website.

It doesn't have an SSL certificate
OK, you don't need a brand new website in order to get an SSL certificate, but you do need a (slightly different) URL! You need to make that change from http:// to https:// because people nowadays know to look for secure websites. You might think "I'm not storing sensitive information, it doesn't matter!". It matters still. Your public content could be hijacked by a man-in-the-middle and client machines could be looking at content altered by the man-in-the-middle. Ensure that the content you publish is the content your visitors see by getting an SSL certificate. Furthermore, browsers and search engines insist on SSL these days.

Your website isn't updateable
Being able to update your content via a control panel/backoffice is an absolute must. Your target market and search engines love fresh content. How can your content be fresh if you have to post a second class stamped letter to you web developer in order for him to add a page to your website? OK, I might be exaggerating with the second class stamped letter, but it's still a pain to email a third party to make content changes to your website. You need to be able to that yourself, quickly and easily.

Your business goals have outgrown the template you're using
Many websites are developed with templates, and there's nothing wrong with that so long as it isn't restricting your plans. If you want any kind of bespoke feature that isn't possible with your current website, and your current website developer isn't able to give you anything outside the ecosystem of the template you're using, you need a new website, and a new website developer - a programmer that can develop bespoke websites.

Your website is pure eye-candy without any consideration for accessibility and usability issues
There is a problem in our industry. Many so-called developers are convincing businesses to "update" their websites simply because "they don't look attractive enough". Their solution is to develop an image-rich brochure-esque website that on first impression looks rather good, but on second impression, doesn't achieve much. There's no way to grow the site's content, there is little in the way of "call to action", it's just a pretty brochure. You need a website that allows your visitors to be customers to your product/service in some way - so they can interact with it, buy something, ask about something (easily), book something, find out in detail the benefits you can provide them.

Article kindly provided by wensumprint.co.uk

User Anecdotes

We've solicited a number of user anecdotes on this topic, and have hand picked some of the more interesting ones below. We feel that anecdotes can give a practical, human perspective on a topic.

"I recently had a very frustrating experience with my own business website. It was outdated, slow to load, and difficult to navigate. I knew it was time for a change, but I didn't realize just how much of an impact a new website could have on my business. Since launching the newly-designed site, I've seen a significant increase in customer inquiries and overall engagement. It's amazing what a difference a fresh, modern website can make! If you're on the fence about whether or not to invest in a new website, I highly recommend taking the plunge. You won't regret it!"
David G.

"My own experience with needing a new website came when I noticed that my site was not mobile-friendly. I found this out the hard way when a client tried to access my site on their phone and could not properly view my content or navigate the site. This was obviously a huge problem, as nowadays, so many people are viewing content on their phones and tablets. I invested in a new website and made sure it was optimized for mobile viewing. The results were incredible, as I saw my website traffic increase, and I now get many clients who have discovered me through mobile searches. If your website is not mobile-friendly, I highly suggest looking into updating it as soon as possible."
Anaïs L.

"I run a small online store and noticed a drop in sales over the past few months. After doing some research, I realized that my website was the main problem. It was difficult to navigate, the product images were low-quality, and the overall design was not appealing. I decided to invest in a new website, focusing on improving the user experience and showcasing my products more effectively. Since launching the new site, my sales have increased and I have received positive feedback from customers about how much easier it is to find and purchase the products they are looking for. If you are experiencing a decline in online sales, it might be time to consider a new website."
Ravi P.

"As an artist, my portfolio website is crucial to showcasing my work and attracting new clients. Unfortunately, my old website was not user-friendly and often crashed when trying to upload new images. I knew I needed a new website that could effectively showcase my work and leave a positive impression on potential clients. I collaborated with a web designer to create a visually appealing, easy-to-navigate site that allowed me to easily update my portfolio as needed. The change has been night and day - I now receive more inquiries and positive feedback from clients who have found me through my new website. If you're in a creative field, don't underestimate the importance of a professional, user-friendly website!"
Yuki S.

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