Signs it's time for a new website

Gimme just 5 mins of your time to talk about websites for small businesses.

If you've clicked on this because you've had a nagging feeling about your website for a while now, that's usually a pretty good sign you already know the answer. But let's talk it through anyway, because sometimes it helps to hear it from someone else.

I talk to small business owners about their websites all the time and the same handful of things come up over and over. So if any of these sound familiar, it might be time.

Your website was built by your cousin's mate in 2016

No offence to your cousin's mate, he probably did a great job at the time but the internet has moved on a lot since 2016, and so have your customers. And look, I can say that with love because I was building websites back in 2016 too, and if I look at some of those now I do this face 😬. We only knew what we knew back then, and we've all come a long way since. If your site still has that very bland, very forgettable feel, or you're not even sure who to call when something breaks, that's a sign.

It doesn't work properly on phones

Most people are finding you on their phone while they're on the couch, waiting in the car, or hiding in the loo for five minutes of peace. If your site requires that annoying pinch and zoom, you're losing people before they've even had a chance to fall in love with what you do. Again, another sign.

You can't update it yourself

Life moves fast for small business owners. If you need to change your opening hours, add a new product, or update your prices and it means emailing someone and waiting a week, that's a problem. You should be able to jump in and make small changes yourself, without needing a computer science degree. I use Squarespace for building websites and it’s one of the most user-friendly website builders out there. Sign #3.

You built it years ago and your business has changed since

Maybe you've added new services or completely shifted direction since you first built your site. Your website should grow with your business, not stay frozen in time from when you were a different operation. If people don’t know what you offer, how are they supposed to buy from you? You could’ve been the perfect fit for them, but instead you lost them to ole mate down the road, who does keep the website updated. This one’s a big sign if you ask me.

It's a bit... beige

You know the type, stock photo of people laughing at salad, generic template, could belong to literally any business. If someone looked at your website with zero context, would they have any idea what makes you, you? Your personality, your story, the way you actually talk to customers, none of that should get lost just because you're online instead of face to face. This is the sign that I love to help people with most.

There's nothing telling people what to do next

This one trips up so many small business sites. Someone lands on your page, they like what they see, and then... they get confused. No clear button telling them to book now, get a quote, call you. If your visitors have to go hunting for how to actually become a customer, you're making them do way too much work, and most people just won't bother. More signs people!

Google barely knows you exist

Here's a fun one, if your website was built years ago (or built in a rush), chances are it's not doing you any favours with Google. No proper headings, no meta data, slow loading times, missing the basics that search engines actually look for. That means when someone nearby searches for exactly what you offer, you're not showing up, and someone else is. BIG BIG sign, and VERY VERY important.

You're relying entirely on social media

A sometimes unpopular opinion is that social media is only rented land. The algorithm changes, platforms come and go, and you don't actually own any of it. Your website is the one corner of the internet that's truly yours, and it deserves some, if not more, love too. Your sign to diversify your digital marketing.

So, if you’ve read through this list and found yourself nodding along more than once, that's not me trying to scare you into anything. It's just a gentle nudge that your business (and the amazing work you do) deserves a website that actually reflects it.

A new website doesn't have to be this huge, scary, expensive mountain to climb. It can be a really simple, exciting process when you've got someone in your corner who gets small business and doesn't talk in confusing tech jargon.

If you've been sitting on that nagging feeling for a while now, let's have a chat. No pressure, just a good old fashioned yarn about your business and what you actually need.