Redesigning your website isn’t just about making it look fresh. It’s about keeping it effective, relevant, and easy to use. A website that’s clunky, slow, or out of date doesn’t just frustrate customers, it costs you opportunities.
So how do you know when it’s time? This guide will walk you through the signs, from design and performance to accessibility, and the practical steps you can take to improve your site without getting lost in technical detail.
Key Tip: Accessibility improvements often make the experience better for everyone. Larger text helps tired eyes. Clear navigation helps busy people on their phone. Faster loading helps anyone on patchy wifi. Accessibility isn’t a cost, it’s an upgrade.
Why Your Website Needs to Keep Up
Your website is often someone’s first impression of your business. If it’s working well, it builds trust and helps people take action. If it’s not, it quietly sends them elsewhere.
Here are the main reasons to consider a redesign:
- Performance. A slow, clunky site turns people away and hurts your search ranking.
- Mobile experience. More than half of your visitors are probably on a phone. If your site doesn’t feel easy on mobile, you’re losing conversions.
- Brand alignment. Your site should feel like a natural extension of your business. If it looks dated or doesn’t reflect who you are anymore, that mismatch costs you credibility.
- Accessibility. Every customer should be able to use your site. If navigation is confusing, text is hard to read, or images aren’t described properly, you’re excluding people and missing potential customers.
- Future proofing. Digital standards move quickly. If your site hasn’t had an update in three or more years, it’s likely falling behind.
Signs It’s Time for a Redesign
Still unsure whether you need a full refresh? Here are some clear signs.
1. Customers are dropping off
If people are landing on your site but not converting, it could be a usability issue. Confusing navigation, hard to read text, or poor mobile design are all common culprits.
2. Your site struggles on mobile
A mobile site isn’t just your desktop site squeezed onto a smaller screen. Buttons should be easy to tap, text should be legible, and forms should be short and simple.
3. It feels slow or clunky
If your site takes longer than three seconds to load, many people will leave. Big images, unnecessary plugins, or outdated hosting can drag performance down.
4. You’re getting complaints
Even one customer saying “I couldn’t use your site” is a warning sign. Most people won’t tell you they had trouble, they’ll just leave.
5. It doesn’t reflect your business anymore
Your website should evolve as your business does. If it feels off-brand or dated, it’s time to align it with who you are today.
Practical Steps You Can Take
Even if you’re not ready for a full redesign, there are simple ways to check and improve your site.
1. Review your text
- Keep language clear and concise.
- Use high contrast colours for readability.
- Make sure text is large enough to read comfortably.
2. Check navigation
- Can visitors find what they need in a few clicks?
- Does the menu feel simple and predictable?
- Do links and buttons look like links and buttons?
3. Add or review alt text
Alt text is a short description of an image. It helps people using screen readers, improves SEO, and makes your site more inclusive.
4. Simplify forms
- Use clear labels like “Email address” instead of “Enter here”.
- Keep forms short and only ask for what you really need.
- Test them on mobile to make sure they’re easy to complete.
5. Speed it up
- Compress large images.
- Remove unnecessary scripts or plugins.
- Check your hosting is fit for purpose.
6. Test with real people
Ask a few customers or colleagues to use your site on different devices. Watch how they navigate. You’ll quickly spot where people get stuck.
What to Do Now: Your Website Health Checklist
Use this as a quick sense check:
- Is your text clear, readable, and high contrast?
- Does your site feel smooth and simple to navigate?
- Are images described with alt text?
- Are forms short, clear, and mobile friendly?
- Does the site load quickly?
- Have you tested it with real people?
- Has your site gone three years or more without updates?
- Does the design still reflect your brand today?
If you’re answering “no” to several of these, a redesign may be the smartest way forward.
The Bottom Line
A great website isn’t just about looks. It needs to perform well, reflect your brand, and be usable for every visitor. When it’s working, your website is one of your hardest working assets. When it’s not, it quietly holds you back.
If you’re ready to improve your site without overcomplicating it, we can help. At Skyrocket, we design and build Webflow and Shopify sites that are clean, fast, and accessible by default. Get in touch if you’d like to talk about where your site could go next.
