When should you renew your website? Seven signs
Slow, awkward on mobile or hard to find: seven signs your site needs renewing, and when a refresh is enough.
A website ages unnoticed. It still works, so it does not feel urgent. Meanwhile visitors drop off on their phones, or choose a competitor that looks more polished. These seven signs help you decide whether your site needs renewing.
Seven signs your site needs renewing
- It works poorly on a phone. You have to zoom in to read, or buttons fall off the screen. Google mainly looks at the mobile version of your site (Google's explanation).
- It loads slowly, especially over 4G. Oversized photos and heavy components are the most common cause.
- There is no padlock in the address bar. Browsers then show "not secure", which scares visitors off.
- You are hard to find, even for your own services, although your offer is good.
- It no longer fits your business. Your services, prices or look have changed, the site has not.
- Updating is awkward. You put off a small change because you do not know how, or because it is expensive.
- The technology is behind. Updates are no longer possible, or the party that built the site can no longer be reached.
Want to know how your site is doing now? The free website check tests much of this automatically, and check your own website explains how to check the rest in five minutes.
Refresh or rebuild?
Not every outdated site needs to be rebuilt completely. Often the foundation can stay, and the site gets a new design, faster pages and the basics for Google in place.
| Refresh | Rebuild | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | A site whose content is right, but which looks dated or is slow | A site that needs to do very different things than now |
| What stays | Texts, addresses and part of the technology | Texts and addresses, where possible |
| Price estimate at MDJI | 750 to 3,000 euros | from 1,250 euros |
The prices are estimates excluding VAT: a small refresh usually costs between 750 and 1,500 euros, a larger one between 1,500 and 3,000 euros. You receive the fixed price after the intake call.
Will you stay findable after renewing?
That is the biggest risk in any renewal. If a page's address changes, the old address has to be redirected to the new one. Otherwise visitors and Google land on an error page, and you lose the findability you built up. Google explains how this works (Google's explanation). Ask in every quote whether this is included.
How we approach it
- A short technical check: what is there, and what is worth keeping. Also if another party built the site.
- In the intake call we discuss whether a refresh is enough, or whether rebuilding is wiser.
- You receive a proposal with a fixed price and a schedule.
- We redirect existing addresses to the new pages, so Google and your visitors keep finding you.
More about website redesign.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you renew your website?
There is no fixed period. Look at the signs: does it work well on a phone, does it load quickly, are you found and does it still fit your business?
What does it cost to renew a website?
At MDJI from 750 euros. A small refresh usually costs between 750 and 1,500 euros, a larger one between 1,500 and 3,000 euros, excluding VAT.
Will I lose my place on Google if I renew?
Not if old addresses are properly redirected to the new pages. Ask about it in every quote.
Can you renew a site built by someone else?
Yes. We then start with a short technical check, so you know where you stand.