How Often Should You Update Websites?

You've spent a ton of time and money on your website design, but a few months pass by and you realize that some of your descriptions are already out-of-date. Does this mean you have to redesign already? 

Let's be honest -- web design is not exactly cheap. But what do you do when you have things to add, remove, or move around on it? The truth is, you should be able to do these simple updates yourself, without professional help. 

But to learn more about how and when to update websites so that they stay relevant, just keep on reading. 

A Note on When to Update Websites 

There is no hard and fast rule on when you should update a website. This decision comes down to when it's actually necessary and your website needs a few tweaks. Or maybe, it needs a whole redesign. At the end of the day, the decision is yours to make based on how your website is serving your business. 

This means that the simplest answer to the question of when you should update your website is ''when it's necessary''. For example, you might have minor additions or updates you need to make each week. 

And when it comes to a major redesign or overhaul, this becomes necessary after the two-three year mark as technology advances quickly. As long as you're aware that you can't just design your website once and leave it be, you're off to a great start. 

What Are the Signs Your Website Needs an Update?

As mentioned, the online world moves fast and technology evolves on a constant basis. Sometimes, there are external factors that might necessitate a website update. Or, perhaps you've undergone a huge business restructure, your business goals change, or you've rebranded. 

Whatever the case, here are some obvious signs that your website needs updating: 

• You can't make simple updates -- your website should operate with a user-friendly content management system (CMS). It should allow for edits and additions whenever you need them 
• Your brand is no longer the same as it was a few months or years ago. This often happens when your company grows and expands over time
• Your website does not excite you or even make you feel proud. This is a clear sign that it's out-of-date, tired, and does not represent your brand accurately 
• Your website is non-responsive. This means that it's not optimized to suit all types of screen sizes and capabilities, i.e. mobile phones, tablets, and desktops 

Finally, it's clear as day that your website is letting you down if you're not getting as much website traffic as you'd like. If your traffic numbers remain low and have been for a while, this is your sign that your website needs an overhaul. 

A website update can do wonders for your SEO ranking, pulling in organic traffic to your site, and increasing your site performance as per Google's algorithm. So, don't put it off any longer than you need to! 

Ignite Creative Is Here to Help 

What you want to keep in mind is that there's no exact timeline on when to update websites. However, there are clear signs that it's a good idea -- and you don't want to ignore these signs! 

If you're a small business that's experienced a fair bit of growth recently, how up-to-date is your website today? If you feel like it needs an overhaul, Ignite Creative is your go-to for website and graphic design, as well as SEO optimization, social media marketing, and more. 

Review our work to get an idea of what we can offer your business!