Your website is often the first place people go to check out your business. Whether someone heard about you through a friend or saw one of your ads online, they’re likely landing on your homepage before they ever talk to a salesperson or visit your office or storefront.
So, what kind of impression is your site making?
Even great websites age out. Design trends change, user expectations shift, and what once felt fresh can start to feel outdated. In fact, studies show that nearly 75% of people judge a business’s credibility based on its website design, and most companies do a full redesign about every three years just to stay competitive.
At Excite, we’ve helped dozens of businesses breathe new life into their websites. So if you’re wondering whether your site’s due for an upgrade, here are five clear signs to look for—and what to do if you spot them.
1. Your Website Looks Old (and Not in a Cool, Retro Way)
If your website still has tiny fonts, flashy animations, or looks like it hasn’t changed since the early 2010s, it might be time for a refresh. Design isn’t just about looking nice—it’s about looking credible.
You might notice:
- The layout feels cramped or cluttered.
- Visitors say your site looks “dated” or “unprofessional.”
- Competitors’ websites make yours look like it’s lagging behind.
It’s worth noting that 38% of people will leave a site if the design doesn’t appeal to them—even if the content is good.
Here’s what you can do:
- Check out current design trends—think bold headlines, clean layouts, and mobile-friendly interfaces.
- Look at what your top competitors are doing. It’s not about copying—it’s about understanding what users in your space expect.
- If your whole brand feels a little off, a website redesign is the perfect time to rethink your visual identity.
- Don’t DIY it. Partner with pros who know how to balance good looks with a great user experience.
2. People Can’t Find What They’re Looking For
Even if your website looks sharp, it’s not doing its job if visitors can’t navigate it easily. A confusing structure or poor layout frustrates users—and they’ll leave faster than you can say “click.”
Some common clues:
- People visit one page, then bounce without clicking further. (This stat is your “bounce rate” – more on that below)
- Navigation menus feel scattered or hard to follow.
- You’re constantly answering emails about info that should be on your site.
How to fix it:
- Keep your top navigation menu simple—ideally 5 to 7 clear categories.
- Use tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to see where people are getting lost.
- Take a deeper look at your bounce rate. If you’re not familiar with this term, bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing just one page—without clicking or taking any action. You can find your site’s bounce rate in Google Analytics under Reports > Engagement > Pages and Screens (in GA4). (This assumes you have Google Analytics installed on your website. Need help with this? Reach out to us.)
- Map out the main paths users take (like booking a service or making a purchase) and remove any unnecessary steps. The general rule of thumb is that a user should be able to get where they need to on your website in just 3 clicks – regardless of your industry.
- Ask your customers for feedback—what do they wish was easier to find?
3. It’s Not Mobile-Friendly
If your site doesn’t work well on a phone, you’re losing business—plain and simple. More than half of all website traffic now comes from mobile devices, and those users expect things to load fast, look clean, and be easy to tap. Plus, with Google’s mobile-first indexing, your mobile site is now the primary version used to determine your rankings in search results—so if it’s not up to par, your visibility can take a serious hit.
Look out for these issues:
- Text is too small, buttons are too close together.
- Users have to pinch and zoom just to read.
- Google is flagging mobile issues in Search Console. (This assumes you have Google Search Console active on your site. If you don’t, reach out to us.)
What to do:
- Use responsive design so your site adapts to any screen size.
- Build mobile-first, then enhance for desktop—don’t treat phones as an afterthought.
- Test your site on actual devices (not just simulators).
- Keep your mobile load time under one second if you can—speed really matters here.
4. Your Site Is Too Slow
We all hate slow websites. So does Google. Every second your page takes to load increases the chance a visitor gives up and leaves. In fact, 53% of mobile users will abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load, and it only takes about 0.05 seconds for users to form a first impression of your website.
Some signs your site is dragging:
- Pages take longer than 2–3 seconds to load (especially on mobile).
- Large image files or videos are slowing things down.
- Performance tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights show poor scores.
Quick wins for faster load times:
- Compress and resize your images before uploading them.
- Minify your code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to reduce file size.
- Use browser caching so visitors don’t have to reload everything each time.
- Upgrade your hosting if your current provider isn’t cutting it.
5. Visitors Aren’t Taking Action
A website’s job isn’t just to look good—it’s there to help your business grow. If people are visiting your site but not calling, buying, or filling out your forms, something’s not connecting.
Pay attention if:
- You get traffic but few conversions.
- Your conversion rates are far below industry benchmarks.
- Users drop off before completing a purchase or inquiry.
How to turn things around:
- Set clear goals—what do you want people to do on your site?
- Add strong calls-to-action in visible places throughout your pages.
- Make sure your redesign supports your SEO efforts so you’re not starting from scratch.
- Track everything: use analytics to understand where people drop off and make data-backed updates.
So… Should You Redesign?
If you’re seeing one or more of the signs above, there’s a good chance your site isn’t doing your brand justice. But don’t panic. A redesign doesn’t have to be overwhelming—especially if you approach it with the right plan.
At Excite, we recommend:
- Starting with a full performance audit.
- Prioritizing the most urgent issues first (like mobile or speed).
- Working in phases if needed—no need to fix everything all at once.
- Staying focused on your users. Design for them, not just your team or stakeholders.
Ready to Get Started?
A well-planned redesign can help you connect with more people, improve your reputation, and drive more business. And we’re here to help.
We build websites that don’t just look great—they perform. Whether you need a full overhaul or just a strategic refresh, we’ll help you build something that works hard for your business.
