Everyone wants something shiny and new. But sometimes that doesn’t make practical or financial sense. It is important to know when it is time to take your existing website and refresh it, or scrap the whole thing and start from the beginning with a new website. And that is what I am hoping to answer in this post. At what point will a web developer recommend a refresh or a full new website?
Money Talks
Money in equals Money out. It can really be that simple. Sometimes it would cost less to build a whole new website than to fix an old one, depending on how old. But this question is very dependent. Is the Original website actually old or just poorly maintained and could easily be updated? Is it overloaded, and can dead weight, unused plugins, images, and pages be removed without loss of site usability?
Making a new website doesn’t necessarily mean a new look if you don’t have the budget for that either; it can mean a simple platform change or upgrading from an old site to a fresh, clean slate. Sometimes changing platforms is a big enough change that changing branding isn’t worth the headache, but worth the future thought. Starting fresh, or at least cleaning things up, can open the door for future opportunities that were not possible with the old or overloaded website you had before.
The Future is EVERYTHING!
At the top of every business plan is ‘what is your goal’, and that applies to your website too. What do you need your website to do in the future? Does it need to keep doing what it’s doing? Or do you have plans for growth? If it’s the first, okay, Redesign, keep it as it is, and make some internal changes to make it run better, and consider a maintenance plan to avoid future issues. But if it is the latter, you need to consider what your website needs to do in the future for you, maybe speak with a professional and make a plan.
A website is a glimpse into your business; it’s an easy way for a customer to understand who you are and what you do. It gives vital information (if designed properly) and can convince a future customer to visit your brick-and-mortar or to purchase your service, no matter where you are. I say this so that you understand why I think it is important to put your best foot forward when it comes to your virtual presents. And always include it when thinking about the future of your business.
As we look into the future, we see the rise of digital footprints. Meaning the better and cleaner footprint you have, the better you look to the outside world. This doesn’t mean I advocate for one over the other; it means I want you to consider the following: what will cost you more in the long run, how is my current website running, and what are my future plans.
What it all REALLY comes down to
Money and the plans for the future are very important, but it all really comes down to one key thing. Site health: How is your website running currently? That will be the determining factor that will tell any developer if the website is even worth saving (sounds harsh, I know, but remember it’s a computer, and they don’t actually have feelings, I promise). Or if you should cut your losses, save some money, and start a new website and a clean slate.
And a lot of the time, a good, honest website developer can’t tell you honestly until they actually see the backend of your website. It’s like taking a look under the hood of a car to check the engine. If a mechanic told you “it’s the carburetor”(I don’t know cars) and never actually took a look at your car, you wouldn’t let them fix it. But you can’t (and shouldn’t) just give access to your website backend to anyone (please don’t give your password to strangers!). But that is a whole other topic that I will touch on later.
If a developer can take a look at your website (under a simple contract, protecting both you and the developer). And give you an honest review of your site health before deciding which direction to go, you will save both money and time to plan for your future.
