‘When should I renovate or rebuild a website?’ ‘Is there a need to totally rebuild the website or can I simply modify the existing one?’ ‘It looks ok, why change it now?’

There are, however, key signs that show you may be in need of a new website.

Seven signs:

Mobile optimisation

The power of user experience can make or break your website. Since 21st April 2015, Google has considered ‘mobile friendliness’ as a key ranking factor. A mobile-friendly site will present content well and be easy to read and navigate on tablets and smartphones. Google has helpfully developed a tool that anyone can use to check the URL of a website to see if it’s optimised for mobile devices.

Your search engine ranking has fallen

Google changes the algorithms it uses to return search results over 500 times a year and these changes can have a major impact upon your site’s ranking. Using quality content marketing, extensive keyword research and other digital marketing solutions, you could overhaul your website and ensure that you maintain and increase visibility on Google.

Your website looks outdated

You might have changed your branding, style or given your store a fresh lick of paint, so why wouldn’t you invest in the look and feel of your website? In the future, your mobile-friendly website will become the most familiar face of your company or brand.

Untouched may mean insecure

If your website has not been touched for some time, then it is quite possible it is vulnerable to attack. You could risk your customer’s data and your own reputation. Certain types of attack/hack are detected by Google, your website will then be flagged as unsafe for visitors. A new website that functions well and looks good will be more secure; with a proper management plan it will remain so.

You want to measure the effectiveness of your marketing

This can be set up from the start, so that you can measure the results of your marketing and capitalize on new opportunities, quickly and efficiently, with minimum spend.

You’re not in control of your Content Management System

Or perhaps your CMS is outdated. WordPress is a useful tool and many companies with simple portfolio websites are satisfied with the usability of this most popular CMS. However, for websites that require particular functions, or will require future updates, such as real estate companies or ecommerce sites, a bespoke Content Management System offers a safer investment. You should aim to have a CMS that is suited to your way of working, compatible with your systems, quick to learn and easy for your in-house ‘webmaster’ to use.