Your website is often where your potential customer meets your brand for the first time, and possibly your only chance to make a great impression. A well-executed redesign can transform a clunky, outdated, or confusing experience into a user-friendly website, boosting leads, sales, and credibility.
But here’s the thing: a website redesign isn’t about chasing trends or doing a visual refresh just to make it look pretty. Yes, staying current with trends is essential, but a smart, modern, well-built website is a core business asset.
When is it time to redesign your website? And once you decide to move forward, what should the website redesign process look like?
Check out this website redesign checklist that the team at EraserFarm put together. Let’s walk you through when to overhaul your site, what to consider before diving in, and how to dive into a strategic, brand-aligned redesign project that earns customer loyalty (and makes ’em happy).
Red Flags You Need a Website Redesign
Let’s start with the obvious. If your site checks any of these boxes, it’s likely time for a change:
It Looks Outdated
If your homepage screams 2015, visitors will assume your brand isn’t keeping up. (Remember all-beige backgrounds and fixed sidebars? We don’t, either.) Thank goodness for hamburger menus that keep everything neat and pretty and don’t take up much space. General rule: if the trend comes hard and fast, it’s likely going to exit hard and fast, too.
Zzzzzz…It’s Slow!
Users bounce if a page takes longer than three seconds to load. That bounce rate? It’s costing you $$$.
It’s Not Mobile-Friendly
Over half of all web traffic is generated from mobile devices. If your site isn’t responsive when Gen Z is out scrolling around riding their e-bikes, it’s invisible to a huge chunk of your audience. Even our ‘Boomer parents text and Google from their phones. (We checked.)
It Doesn’t Reflect Your Current Brand Identity
A rebrand without a site update is like completely modernizing the interior of your house but leaving the old siding in place. That’s not retro, that’s confused branding.
You’re Not Getting Leads or Conversions, But Lots of Bounces
This is an easy one: measurable results. If traffic isn’t turning into action, your site probably isn’t doing its job.
Your Competitors Are Ahead
This is a case where we do care what car the Johnsons pull into their driveway next door. If their sites look sharper, work faster, and rank higher, guess who’s winning more customers?
Ask the Right Questions Before You Start
Every effective website redesign begins with a solid plan to create a site that functions flawlessly, accurately represents your brand, and delivers real results. The decorations are important, but a redesign needs a clear blueprint with redesign goals first.
Ask yourself:
- What business goals does the site need to support?
- Who is your audience, and what do they need from your site?
- What currently works on your site (and what doesn’t)?
- How does your site fit into your broader brand strategy?
- What content stays, what goes, and what needs to be created?
- When was the last time I redesigned (or launched) my site?
These questions don’t just inform design choices. They shape the whole user experience.
Not to worry—if you’re not sure of the answers, we can help you map out your needs to architect a strategy. Read on for our best tips and know that we’re here to support you every step of the way!
The Ultimate Website Redesign Checklist
This checklist covers the core elements you can’t afford to skip in a website redesign plan.
☑ What Does Success Look Like For Your Business?
Define what success looks like for your business. More leads? Stronger brand perception? Higher SEO rankings? Make it measurable.
☑ Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater: Audit Existing Content
Not everything needs to be scrapped. You spent time on it, can it be repurposed? Tweaked? Trimmed? Identify what content still works, what needs updating, and what’s missing entirely.
☑ Analytics Are Your Friends
Use heatmaps, Google Analytics, or session recordings to see where users click, scroll, or drop off. Redesign based on data for your website’s performance, not guesses.
☑ Nail Your Brand Messaging
Your website should reflect your voice, your vibe, and your value. This is a specialty of ours at EraserFarm—we offer brand strategy services to help your omnichannel marketing shine.
☑ Make Customer Conversion Easy
CTA buttons. Clear navigation. Trust signals. Strong visuals. Every element on your website should serve a purpose and guide users toward a clear and compelling call to action.
☑ Ensure Your Website Is Discoverable With SEO
There’s no point in a gorgeous site if no one finds it. Redesign with a search engine optimization strategy (SEO) baked in, from keyword-rich copy to clean code.
☑ We’re Saying It Again: Think Mobile-First
Design for the smallest screen first, then scale up. Mobile isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must.
☑ Speed Matters
Compress images. Optimize code. Eliminate excess. A fast site with a responsive web design is a high-performing site.
☑ Test Before Launch
QC everything—across devices, browsers, and screen sizes. Broken buttons and dead links kill credibility. And while you’re at it, a branded 404 (Not Found) page is nice, just in case someone lands on something you didn’t know was broken, so they have an aligned redirect.
☑ Launching Your Newly Redesigned Site Doesn’t End There
The launch of your full redesign marks the beginning of ongoing updates, optimization, and analysis of your current site. Try to think of it as a long-term friendship.
Trend Watch: Raising the Bar on Website Redesigns
Let’s be a little proactive here so you don’t end up facilitating a complete redesign only to be antiquated a month later. Your redesign needs to consider where the web is headed, not just where it’s been. User expectations have always wanted smart, seamless, and immediate gratification when it comes to using a website. But now? They also want intuitive:
- AI-Powered UX: From chatbots to personalized content, artificial intelligence is helping websites adapt in real-time to user behavior. If your site still offers the same static experience to every visitor, you’re missing opportunities to engage with them.
- Accessibility by Design: Inclusive design means you hit all target demographics. Sites need to be navigable by screen readers, usable via keyboard, and compliant with ADA guidelines. It’s both ethical and strategic.
- Video is the New Hero: Static headers are fading. Motion content, especially brand videos and explainers, is the norm. Done well, it sets the tone and hooks visitors fast.
- Voice Search Optimization: As voice assistants continue to shape search habits, content must evolve. Think natural language, question-based headings, and fast-loading answers.
- AI Search & Overviews: With AI-driven tools like Google’s AI Overviews transforming how people get answers, your content needs to be optimized not just for ranking, but for relevance. A clear structure, fast-loading pages, and content that directly addresses user intent will help ensure your site appears in AI-powered search results.
Integrating these trends into your website redesign strategy keeps your business ahead of the curve and helps you connect more meaningfully with your website visitors.
How Long Does It Take to Redesign a Website?
It depends on what needs to be done. A full website redesign can take anywhere from 6 to 16 weeks, depending on:
- Scope and complexity
- Number of pages
- Content creation needs
- Branding alignment
- Technical requirements (e.g., e-commerce, integrations)
Your Website Is a Powerful Business Tool. Treat It Like One.
Let’s Build Something Better Together
If your site is holding your business back, it’s time to fix that. Whether you need a total website overhaul or just help fine-tuning your site’s strategy and content, we’re ready to jump in. We’re strategic, collaborative, and yes—fun to work with.
A website redesign is an opportunity to:
- Refine your brand strategy
- Invest in high-impact visuals and video content
- Optimize SEO for visibility and growth
At EraserFarm, we craft brand experiences that drive organic traffic and support the user journey, bringing in qualified leads who have been actively searching for you. From brand positioning to SEO-rich copy to scroll-stopping video, we help you craft a digital presence and a successful website design that does more than just look good.
Reach out today and let’s talk about how EraserFarm can help redesign your existing website to better engage your target audience, strengthen your brand, and support real business growth.