When to Redesign Your Website: 6 Signs that It’s Time for an Online Makeover

Think of your website as your online home, a digital storefront, a first impression, and often your best salesperson. But just like any home, it sometimes needs a refresh. How do you know when it’s time to hit the “redo” button?

In this blog, we are going to help you identify some of the telltale signs that your website is due for a redesign – plus tips on how to get started.

1. The Design Feels Outdated

Web design trends move fast, and if your site still looks like it’s partying like it’s 2012 (hello, clunky gradients, stiff layouts, and cheesy stock photos), it might be time for a glow-up.

A modern, polished design doesn’t just look pretty; it builds trust and shows the world that you’re current, credible, and on top of your game.

Some red flags to watch for:

Visual clutter or branding that feels all over the place
Layouts that throw a fit on mobile (we see you, tiny text and squished buttons)
Design choices that make you cringe just a little bit

Let’s be honest, if you’d hesitate to show your website to a potential client or customer, that’s your cue. A redesign isn’t just a facelift, but a confidence boost for your entire brand.

2. Poor Mobile Experience

More people are visiting your site from phones and tablets more than ever before, and these figures are increasing every year! If your site isn’t responsive, or if the mobile layout is awkward (links too small, images distorted, text overlapping), you’re losing visitors and potential clients.

Ask yourself:

Is the majority of your traffic coming from mobile (check your Google Analytics) to find out)? If so, build it for mobile first, desktop second
Does it look good and function well on mobile?
Is it loading fast on mobile devices (check your Lighthouse score)
Are buttons easy to tap?
Can the user get to where you want them to go e.g. the ‘contact’ page or clicking a CTA?
Does information appear in a logical, readable order?

If the mobile version feels like an afterthought, a redesign is overdue. For more on this, you can check out our blog on Mobile Optimisation.

3. High Bounce Rates or Low Engagement

Analytics don’t lie. If visitors leave quickly (high bounce rate) or don’t engage (few pageviews, short session times), your site may not be resonating. It could be that the content is buried, navigation is confusing, the loading time is too long, or the overall experience is off-putting.

User patience is incredibly low. It is thought that 53% of website visits are abandoned if the page takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Even just a 2 second delay in a transaction can result in abandonment rates of up to 87%!

Check metrics like:

Bounce rate per page
Average session duration
Pages per session

If these are consistently low, it’s a signal that your website needs a fresh structure and better user experience.

4. Your Brand Has Evolved, or You Want It To

Your business isn’t static (yay for growth), so why should your website be? Maybe your messaging has shifted, your services have expanded, or your dream clients look a little different these days. If your site doesn’t reflect who you are now or who you’re speaking to, it’s probably time for a refresh.

A redesign is your chance to:

Refresh your brand visuals (think updated colours, a new logo, or fonts that actually feel like you)
Clarify your messaging and guide visitors through your content with ease
Make sure your site speaks directly to the people you actually want to work with

Because let’s be real, it’s not just about looking good (though that definitely helps). It’s about creating a digital home that aligns with your vision, your voice, and your goals.

5. Technical Issues, Slow Speeds, Broken Links

As we’ve already discovered, nothing turns visitors off faster than a slow website. Except maybe… a slow website that’s also riddled with broken links and surprise error messages. Not exactly the vibe you’re going for, right?

These little glitches annoy people and chip away at your credibility.

Keep an eye out for:

Pages that take forever to load (time is precious!)
Dead links or dreaded 404 pages
Compatibility issues with modern browsers or plug-ins that just won’t play nice

The good news? A redesign can tidy up all that messy code, boost your site’s performance, and make sure everything runs like a dream from the first click to the last.

6. Conversion Goals Aren’t Being Met

Got calls to action (CTAs), lead magnets, or contact forms sitting on your site… but no one’s biting? It might not be your offer; it could be where (or how) you’re presenting it.

Sometimes it’s just a case of:

Poor placement (are your CTAs hiding way down at the bottom?)
Confusing or vague messaging
A design that doesn’t exactly scream “Click me!”

If your site isn’t turning curious browsers into excited leads or loyal customers, that’s a big sign it’s time for a refresh. A thoughtful redesign can help you reposition those key elements so they actually work, without feeling salesy or pushy.

Need help bringing your CTAs back to life? Our MD Freya is your girl!

How to Plan Your Website Redesign (Without the Stress)

So now that we’ve looked at the signs your website might be due for a glow-up… let’s talk about how to actually plan your redesign, without the overwhelm.

Redesigning your site doesn’t need to be a techy nightmare. In fact, with a little structure, it can be super empowering (and even a bit fun, I promise). Here’s a simple step-by-step roadmap:

Audit what you’ve got
Take a good look at your current site. What’s working? What’s… not so much? Use tools like Google Analytics, heatmaps, Microsoft Clarity or customer feedback to guide you.
Define your goals
What do you want your new site to do? Maybe it’s more leads, better engagement, or a clearer brand message, but whatever it is, get super clear on the “why.”
Sketch out the user journey
Think about how you want people to move through your site. What should they see first? What action should they take next?
Create your design direction
Pick a visual style that aligns with you. Clean, modern, bold, minimalist, whatever reflects your brand and attracts the people you want to work with.
Build in stages
Start simple: wireframes, then prototypes, then the full design and development. Taking it step-by-step keeps the process manageable.
Test and launch
Make sure everything works smoothly (especially on mobile) before you go live. And remember – no website is ever truly “done.” Be ready to monitor, tweak, and improve as you grow.

Ready for a Website You Can Actually Be Proud Of?

If any of the signs we talked about hit a little too close to home, if your site feels out of date, isn’t pulling its weight, or just doesn’t feel like you anymore – then it might be time for a fresh start.

And good news: you don’t have to figure it all out alone. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your to do list, Freya Helps Me Ltd are here to take the load off, freeing up your time and headspace and getting things DONE.

You don’t have to do everything at once if you don’t want to, little tweaks and changes here and there, testing the new stuff and letting things settle as you make the changes can work too. But if you’re ready for a big change, go full hog – just remember to sitemap your old/current content first and sign post it to the new website pages (trust me, SO many people forget this part and wonder where all the traffic went).

Get in touch to find out how we can help. We’ll work with you to find the best method for YOU, and how by outsourcing this work, you can free up your headspace and diary. Let us help you take the first step toward your online makeover.