by Fay Roe
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20 February 2025
Looks don’t matter, right? Don’t judge a book by its cover, there’s more than meets the eye, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – there are many commonly used phrases that bestow the virtue of looking beyond the aesthetics. And in many other scenarios we agree, but when it comes to a business website design, none of the above apply. Is it shallow? Possibly. Does it negatively impact your business? Hugely. The world is image and technology obsessed, so how your website looks and functions is a big deal. A dated, clunky, or poorly designed website runs the risk of presenting your business as outdated and behind the times, at worse untrustworthy. If your competitors have sleek, modern, and user-friendly websites while yours feels stuck in the early 2000s, who do you think your audience will choose? The hidden costs of an outdated website An outdated website isn’t just a cosmetic issue. If you are missing the mark on the aesthetics, there are likely functional issues too. This negatively impacts your business in ways you may not even realise. Here’s what a poorly designed website tells your customers: You’re not keeping up with industry trends . If your website looks like it hasn’t been touched in years, visitors may assume your business isn’t evolving either or likely to offer the most up-to-date products or services. You don’t prioritise user experience . A slow, difficult-to-navigate website frustrates users and compels them to click away – life is too short to wait! You lack credibility . A poorly maintained website makes your business appear unreliable, reducing trust in your products or services. You’re missing out on sales . A confusing, slow, or non-mobile-friendly site prevents potential customers from taking action, leading to lost revenue and reputation. Signs and symptoms you need a new website design If you have a website, especially if you designed it yourself, you may be blind to areas where it can be improved – the attachment to an underperforming DIY website design is both relatable (we’ve all done it) and damaging to your business. However diverse website designs are, they share common signs and symptoms when overdue a website upgrade: