Website Redesign: How to Update an Outdated Site

Redesigning a website is not straightforward. There are many steps between deciding to make a change and achieving the result you want.

What does it take to redesign or update a website successfully? In three words:

Blood, sweat and tears. We are joking — mostly.

What is a website redesign?

A redesign changes or renews your website, improving the parts that need attention, from core functionality and the management system to the appearance of its pages.

It goes beyond minor updates such as changing the shape of a button or replacing a few photos. Those are small adjustments.

During a redesign, every detail needs testing and adapting to the website, whether it involves new visual elements, functionality or something else.

Think of renovating a living room. A simple refresh might mean painting the walls and buying some furniture. A redesign could include that, but also cleaning the old carpet, knocking down walls, installing new lighting and adding chairs by the window to watch the squirrels outside. The room's basic structure is still there, but you are doing much more to improve it.

How much does a website redesign cost?

If you handle the update yourself, the main cost is your team's time. If you hire a developer or team, the price depends on the work involved. Your requirements, website size and design complexity are among the deciding factors.

When should you update your website?

Everyone else is updating their website, so you should too — right? That is the wrong starting point.

If your website works well and helps you achieve your business goals, extensive changes may be unnecessary. Smaller updates, such as fresh colours or revised copy, may be enough to make the site feel new without a large investment.

The clearest reason to start a redesign is that your website no longer helps you reach your goals despite efforts to improve it. Run tests to find out what is not working and what frustrates visitors. You may need fundamental changes that a fresh coat of paint cannot solve.

The first reason to redesign your website is therefore that it no longer supports your business's growth. Other signs include:

• The design is outdated or no longer reflects your brand.
• The website does not work well on mobile devices.
• Customers regularly complain about the website.
• Analytics show that visitors spend little time on it.
• The website does not function as it should.

A redesign takes work

Your website will never be perfect. Keep testing its elements, improving search engine optimisation and making adjustments to get the most from your updates. Alternatively, hire a team of designers and developers to handle the redesign professionally.

Good luck with your redesign!