Does your website feel more like a burden than an asset? Are you questioning whether it’s helping or hindering your business growth? Your website is your online storefront, and if it’s not making a great impression, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities.
Deciding if you need a new website can be tough, but certain red flags signal it’s time for a change. If your website is slow, outdated, or not generating the leads you expect, it’s likely holding you back. Don’t worry, though – recognizing these signs is the first step toward creating a website that truly works for your business.
At KWSM, we specialize in designing and developing websites that captivate visitors and drive results. We understand the impact a well-crafted website can have on your bottom line. Let’s explore the telltale signs that indicate your business needs a new website.
10 Signs You Need a New Website
1. Slow Site Speed
If your website takes too long to load, visitors will bounce away before even seeing your content. Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check the speed of individual pages. While this tool doesn’t scan your entire site at once, you’ll likely see consistent patterns across multiple pages. If your scores are consistently below 90, it’s a sign you need speed optimization.
2. Isn’t ADA Compatible
Is your website accessible to people with disabilities? Non-compliance with ADA standards is a legal risk and hurts your user experience. Use tools like WAVE or Google Lighthouse to check for accessibility issues. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, ADA issues include poor color contrast, using color as the sole means to convey information, missing alt text on images, videos without captions, inaccessible forms, and websites requiring a mouse for navigation. These issues exclude people with visual or hearing impairments, as well as those with motor disabilities.
Related Article: What Does It Mean to Have an ADA-Compliant Website?
3. Using Too Many Plugins
Every plugin you add to your WordPress site slows it down a bit. Ideally, you should have around 5-10 plugins or less. Your site’s performance will likely be impacted if you have many more than that. Excessive plugins can slow down page load times, frustrating visitors and hurting your search engine ranking. They can also create security vulnerabilities if they’re not updated regularly. Consider carefully whether you truly need a new plugin before adding it to your site.
When choosing a WordPress plugin or an App for Shopify, you want to choose one with the most installs, reviews, and relevant recent updates. This helps you see if the plugin is reputable. Additionally, never add a plugin you don’t need. Often, if you spend some extra time, you can build the functionality yourself without the plugin, especially if you have a good theme/website builder like Elementor.
4. Cybersecurity Vulnerability
Website security should be a top priority for any business with an online presence. If your current website has been compromised in the past, or if you’re unsure of its security status, this could be a significant indicator that it’s time for a website redesign. Look for signs of unauthorized access, malware infections, or unusual activity in your site’s logs. Additionally, consider using a security plugin like Wordfence to scan for vulnerabilities and monitor for potential threats. A compromised website can damage your reputation, cost you customers, and even result in legal issues.
As part of our web maintenance program, we remove these vulnerabilities for you and clean up any hacking attempts. The main reason sites get hacked is outdated or unreputable plugins. In fact, unreputable plugins cause 52% of WordPress vulnerabilities.
5. Not Mobile Optimized
Does your website look good and function well on mobile devices? If not, you’re missing out on a huge demographic of potential customers. Go to your site on your phone and test every page. Pay attention to how quickly the pages load and how easily you can navigate them. Put yourself in the shoes of a new visitor – does the site make a good impression and help them achieve their goals? Their goal is also your goal—for them to do business with you—you don’t want to add any added friction to get in the way of that.
6. Outdated Theme
Your WordPress theme is the foundation of your website’s design and functionality. If that foundation is outdated or poorly coded, it can lead to a slow, clunky website that frustrates visitors and hinders your online success. Check your WordPress dashboard to confirm the version of your active theme. If it hasn’t been updated recently or if it has low install numbers, that could be a red flag. There are many great themes out there, but we recommend using Elementor to our clients.
7. Not Generating Leads
Your website should drive leads as its main role. If you’re not seeing a steady flow of inquiries or signups, it’s a clear sign that your website isn’t doing its job. Evaluate your calls to action, forms, and overall user experience to identify areas for improvement. If you’re struggling to identify the root cause of your lead generation problems, a free website audit from KWSM can help. It will provide a comprehensive assessment of your site’s performance and highlight areas for improvement, including specific recommendations for optimizing your lead generation process.
“At KWSM we use the 3 Cs of CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) which we invented to help us set up websites to succeed. This means every page should confirm you offer what they are looking for, provide credibility that you have experience, and give clear instructions for how they can take action. If your pages don’t pass these 3 Cs this is a big part of why your site isn’t converting”
– Matt Enser, Web & SEO Specialist, KWSM: a digital marketing agency
8. Low SEO/Organic Traffic
SEO Traffic is the best traffic; it is free and generally of high quality. Creating a high-quality content creation strategy for web pages and blog posts for keywords relevant to your business goals is one of the best ways to get in front of the right audience. If your site isn’t attracting visitors from search engines like Google or Bing, it’s time to evaluate your SEO strategy. Tools like Moz Domain Analysis, Ahrefs Traffic Checker, and Google Search Console can help you analyze your website’s performance compared to competitors and identify areas for improvement. Low domain authority, poor keyword rankings, and low organic traffic are all signs that your SEO strategy needs attention.
Related Article: How to Rank First on Google by Satisfying Search Intent
9. High Bounce Rate or Low Time on Site
A high bounce rate or low time on site can be a major red flag for your website’s effectiveness. These metrics, easily tracked in Google Analytics 4, reveal how well your site engages visitors. If people are leaving quickly or not exploring multiple pages, it’s a sign that something isn’t working. This could be due to confusing navigation, irrelevant content, slow loading times, or even technical glitches. Identifying the root causes and addressing them through targeted improvements can transform your website from a revolving door into a welcoming space where customers linger and convert.
10. Time Since Last Redesign
If it’s been more than three to five years since your last website redesign, chances are your website is starting to show its age. It likely lacks modern features like mobile responsiveness and intuitive navigation that today’s users expect. Additionally, stale design and uninspiring copy can leave a negative impression on potential customers. Falling behind on design trends can signal that your business is out of touch, potentially driving customers away. A website refresh is a powerful opportunity to enhance your brand’s image, improve user experience, and, ultimately, boost your bottom line. We suggest getting a free website audit and consultation from a reputable web design agency like KWSM. 😉
Related Article: What Does a Web Design Agency Do?
The KWSM Solution: A Website That Works For You
A modern, well-designed website is a powerful tool for any business. At KWSM, we specialize in creating websites that look great and deliver results. We’ll work with you to:
- Design a visually stunning website that aligns with your brand.
- Optimize your site for speed, functionality, and user experience.
- Develop a comprehensive SEO strategy to drive organic traffic.
- Ensure your site is ADA-compliant and accessible to all users.
- Provide ongoing maintenance and support to keep your website performing at its best.
Don’t let your website hold you back.
Your website should be an asset, not a liability. If you need a new website and you’re ready to invest in a website that works, contact KWSM today for a free consultation. Let’s discuss your goals and help you create your ideal new website.
