You’ve probably asked yourself this question before if you have a website. Whether your site is eight years old or two, when is it time for an overhaul? Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear cut, one-size-fits-all answer because it depends on the age of your website, what industry you’re in, and what your patients or clients need or expect from you. 

However, there are some specific things about your site that you can examine to help you decide when it’s time for a website redesign. In some cases, it won’t matter if your site is old if it’s still meeting the needs of your patients. In other cases, even a new site could be missing opportunities to convert visitors into clients.

So, let’s look at some things to think about so you can decide if a website redesign is a good marketing investment for 2022.

Design Considerations

An excellent place to start when deciding if it’s time for a website redesign is from a practical design standpoint. In many ways, your site is your brand's ambassador online; it’s the first impression many will see, so it needs to look modern and updated.

More importantly, it needs to reflect your business or practice accurately. So ask yourself some critical questions:

• Does it portray the quality and level of service you provide?
• Maybe you’ve updated or added some services to your practice or business. Does your website show everything you currently have to offer?
• Does it accurately reflect your brand on each page of the site?

Your site must look good, but it also needs to be functional and easy to navigate, making it simple for users to find exactly what they’re looking for in as few clicks as possible. Even if your site is newer, it’s worth looking at functionality again. If navigation isn’t easy on your website, potential clients or patients may not take the time to get to know you, and they’ll move on.

So, think about first impressions regarding how your site looks, but also consider how a user will navigate to any given part of your site. If it isn’t apparent, you could be missing out on conversions.

Mobile Optimisation and User Experience

Something else that you must consider when it comes to the design of your site is mobile compatibility. Mobile devices likely account for much of your traffic. Web design companies make their sites responsive, so they can seamlessly switch between desktop and mobile, making your website compatible and user-friendly for both.

However, just having a mobile site isn’t always enough. It also needs to be functional and have the same features as your desktop site. If it doesn’t, you might be missing out on conversions.

When it comes to functionality, consider clear and straightforward navigation to pages providing more specific information. Call to action (CTA) buttons also make it easy for potential clients to take the next steps in getting in touch with you.

Increase Your Traffic

When you attract more traffic to your website, you increase your chances of creating conversions and meeting new patients or clients.

Your website needs to be optimised for search engines to rank it to get the most traffic. Adding new content, such as a blog each month or answering questions with FAQs, is a great way to optimise your website for search engine ranking. For example, you can enrich your monthly blogs and FAQs with keywords to help your patients find you and improve your ranking.

Use links in your blogs to related information on your website to help search engines have more relevant information about your website and help potential clients or patients find the information they need.  

Consistent Branding

Something that might seem self-explanatory but is essential nonetheless is branding.

There are probably dozens of websites and listings in our digital age that display your business information. Something to consider for each one is brand consistency. You want users to know they are on a page about your business without any effort.

You also want consistent branding throughout your entire website. So, if you’ve added things over time, your website may no longer have continuity from page to page. It could be time for a redesign to update your branding and make your website look and feel cohesive.

Other Considerations:

• Ease of updating: Look for a CMS (content management system) or web development company that allows you to make edits quickly or on your own. It shouldn’t take a long time to make simple changes to your site, and it’s even better if you can do them yourself. This will help you keep SEO and information on your website fresh and relevant.
• Driving demand with CTAs: At the end of the day, the purpose of your site is to get new patients or clients. You need to have calls to action on your site to do that. You need to drive users to a contact page to guide them towards a buying decision or encourage them to arrange an appointment.

Think About the Future

Though website designs are constantly changing and improving, it doesn’t mean you need to redesign your site every year.

However, keep the future in mind when it’s time for a site redesign. If you focus on new trends that are shaping web design, it can help to build a site that gives you longevity, even with constant changes to best practices.

If you have questions about redesigning your website or other marketing strategies, PractiPro is here to help!