Website refresh checklist: is it time to rebuild?

If your website is more than 5 years old, there's a good chance it's hurting your business.

Here's how to tell if it's time for a refresh—and what to focus on when you do.

Signs you need a website refresh

Check how many of these apply to your website:

• It doesn't work well (or at all) on mobile phones
• It loads slowly (more than 3 seconds)
• It looks outdated (think 2010-2015 design trends)
• It's hard to update or make changes
• Your contact info or services are out of date
• It doesn't rank on Google
• You're embarrassed to share the link

If you checked 3 or more, it's time for a refresh.

Why old websites hurt your business

An outdated website sends the wrong message:

• Visitors assume you're no longer in business
• Mobile users bounce immediately because it's unusable
• Google ranks you lower because of speed and mobile issues
• You lose credibility compared to competitors with modern sites

Your website is often the first impression customers have of your business. If it's bad, they'll go elsewhere.

What to prioritize in a website refresh

When rebuilding, focus on these key areas:

1. Mobile-first design

Your new website needs to work perfectly on phones. This isn't optional—over 60% of web traffic is mobile.

Make sure:

• Text is readable without zooming
• Buttons are easy to tap
• Forms work smoothly on phones
• Navigation is simple

2. Speed

Your website should load in under 2 seconds. If it doesn't, you're losing visitors and rankings.

Key factors:

• Optimize images
• Minimize scripts and plugins
• Use modern hosting

3. Clear messaging

Most old websites bury the important information. Your new site should answer these questions immediately:

• What do you do?
• Who do you serve?
• Why should I choose you?
• How do I contact you?

Put this above the fold (the part visitors see without scrolling).

4. Modern design

You don't need to be trendy, but you do need to look current.

Focus on:

• Clean, simple layouts
• Generous whitespace
• Professional fonts
• High-quality photos (not stock images)

5. SEO foundation

Your refresh is a great time to improve your SEO:

• Proper page titles and meta descriptions
• Header tags (H1, H2, H3) structured correctly
• Fast load times
• Mobile-friendly design
• Schema markup for local businesses

6. Easy updates

Your new website should be easy to update without hiring a developer every time.

Make sure you can:

• Update contact info and hours
• Add new photos and content
• Make small changes quickly

7. Strong calls-to-action

Every page should tell visitors what to do next:

• "Call for a free quote"
• "Book an appointment"
• "Request a proposal"

Make CTAs obvious and easy to find.

What to keep from your old site

Don't throw everything away. Keep:

• Good content that's still relevant
• High-performing pages (check Google Analytics)
• SEO value from your domain and existing rankings

We can migrate the good stuff and rebuild the rest.

What NOT to do in a refresh

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Redesigning without a clear goal
• Focusing only on looks and ignoring speed and mobile
• Forgetting SEO and losing your rankings
• Over-complicating the design
• Copying competitors instead of focusing on your customers

How much does a website refresh cost?

It depends on the size and complexity of your site, but most small business refreshes cost $2,000-$5,000.

Compare that to the cost of losing customers to competitors with better websites.

How long does a refresh take?

For most small business sites, 1-2 weeks from start to finish.

We build the draft in 48-72 hours, make revisions, then launch.

Ready to refresh?

If your website is outdated, slow, or not mobile-friendly, it's costing you customers.

A refresh fixes that—and positions you to compete in 2025 and beyond.

Let's talk about what your business needs. We'll walk you through the process and give you a clear quote. ```