So you have a website. Is it time to get a new website or a redesign? How do know when time’s up? The answer is that you don’t.
Every single website on the web serves a different purpose. Some people have a website just to say they have a website (either because it holds their resume/profile or their business isn’t affected much by an online presence). Other people have a website because their business is in a competitive industry and one must keep up with the trends.
Since there is no set answer to how long a website should last you, there are a few guidelines that you can follow to help you make your decision.
- Is your website a crucial part of your business? If your business relies on your website and online presence to bring you more clients, then it’s extremely important that your website be up to date and on par with the websites from your competition.
- How do the websites look for your competitors? Have your competitors recently revamped their website? How does your website look compared to your competitors? If you feel like your website is more outdated than some or most of your competitors, it may be time to start looking for a website redesign.
- Does your website still represent you or your business? Every company and individual grows and evolves throughout time. Does your website reflect how you and your company are currently, or how you were a few years back? If there have been any major changes, then it may be time for a new website to reflect those changes.
- Is your website “old”? By “old”, we mean older than 3-5 years. Essentially, old enough to live through various changes or upgrades in technology and website design. For example, let’s take a website that is 8 years old. Since then, smartphones have risen to power and monitors have increased in both resolution and size. As a result, the need for responsive websites has grown, whereas it may not have been important 8 years ago.
- What does my target audience think? When you have a website, it essentially acts as your online advertisement campaign that is on for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you step into your audience’s shoes, what would they think about your website? You may have to ask some friends and family for their opinions, but a company’s image is reflected on your website. If you have an outdated or inefficient site, clients (both old and new) may doubt the success of your company and move on to another who has kept up with the program.
In the end, a website should last you as long as it is useful when done right. If a website is outdated or doesn’t compare with your competitors, that’s probably a sign that you need a new website. And when it comes time to choose a website designer or company to build your new site, remember that you’re not just paying for a quality website, but also investing in something that will last you for years to come.
If you’re looking for quality websites, contact CryoDragon for a free quote and consultation!
