How Often Should You Redesign Your Website? When to Refresh Your Look.

Staying current with design trends and keeping your website looking fresh is important for engaging visitors. But redesigning takes significant time and investment, so how do you know when it's time for a refresh? This article provides tips on signs indicating your site needs a facelift along with recommended timelines.

Watch for These Signs It’s Time for a Redesign

• Your brand has changed identity or launched new products/services not reflected on site

• Site traffic and conversions have plateaued or declined

• The interface feels dated compared to competitors' sites

• Key site functions like contact forms or checkout no longer work properly

• Pages load slowly and are not optimized for mobile

• Content does not effectively appeal to your target audience

Best Practice is Redesign Every 2-3 Years

While there are no hard rules on redesign frequency, most industry experts recommend refreshing website design every 2-3 years on average. This timeline balances allowing brand familiarity to develop while keeping your look fresh.

Of course, assessing the key signs above is more important than rigid time periods. If your brand or offerings change dramatically, an earlier redesign may be warranted. Or if things are going smoothly, you may be able to wait a bit longer.

The 2-3 year timeframe simply provides a good rule of thumb for when to start planning your next refresh. This helps ensure your website continually engages visitors and converts leads.

Take the Time to Redesign Right

Rushing through a redesign can be tempting, but will likely lead to disappointment. Set aside adequate time for proper planning, research, design iterations, content updates, development, testing, and launch.

Most website redesign projects take 4-6 months from start to finish when done right. Remember, this is an investment that will pay dividends for years to come in the form of higher traffic, leads, and sales.

As you approach the 2-3 year mark, take stock of your current site and start brainstorming ideas for an improved experience. With smart timing and careful execution, redesigning your website will re-energize your brand and online presence.