How do I know my website is out of date?

Old and out of date are different things

A site can be five years old and still do its job. It is clear, quick and correct. Another can be six months old and already in the way. Judge by what a customer experiences, not by the date on the invoice.

Ten signs

Count how many of these are true. Be honest.

• The hours, prices or services shown are wrong or missing.
• It is hard to use on a phone. You pinch, zoom or hunt for your own phone number.
• The address bar says Not secure.
• Customers still phone to ask things the site should answer, such as where to park or what you charge.
• There is no way to book, ask for a quote or pay online, and your customers expect one.
• The photos are old, or show a shopfront, van or staff that no longer exist.
• It looks nothing like your sign, your van or your printed menu.
• You cannot change the words yourself, so you leave them alone.
• It takes a long time to load, or something on it is broken, such as a form that sends nothing.
• You would not feel comfortable handing the address to a new customer.

What your count means

One or two: a smaller fix will likely do. Update the facts, replace the photos and tidy what annoys you. You do not need a new website for that.

Three to five: a rebuild of the main pages is worth pricing, because the problems usually share one cause, an old foundation.

Six or more: the site is costing you customers. Plan a website redesign.

This is a rough guide, not a science. A single serious problem, such as a form that has stopped working, can matter more than a pile of small ones.

Check the things you cannot see

Some of what ages is out of sight. Google advises site owners to check on published content and update or delete it when it is no longer relevant. An old page about a service you stopped offering, or a sale from three years ago, can still show up in search and send people to the wrong place.

Search your own business name and a few things you do, like plumber, plus your town. Click every result that belongs to you, including old listings. Make a list of each page that is wrong.

What to do next

Start with the list. Fix the facts first, because wrong facts cost you the most. Then decide whether the rest is a tune-up or a rebuild.

If you want a second pair of eyes, our website check-up gives you a plain list in order of importance. If you decide to rebuild, read will a redesign hurt my Google ranking before you start. Or get in touch.