You know that one friend who still refuses to get rid of their ancient flip phone? The one who insists, “It still works!” as they struggle to send a text using T9 predictive text? Yeah. That’s your website—if you haven’t updated it in a while.
It might still function, sure. But does it work for your business? Is it helping you get customers, build credibility, and showcase what you do best? Or is it quietly repelling potential clients faster than a blinking “Under Construction” GIF from 1998?
If you’re not sure whether your website is in need of a digital makeover, I’ve got you covered. Here are six undeniable signs your website is outdated—and what you can do about it.
1. Your Website Looks Like It Was Built When Myspace Was Still Cool
Design trends evolve. What looked sleek and modern in 2012 now screams “Please don’t trust me with your credit card info.”
Obvious Red Flags:
• A layout that feels cluttered or hard to navigate
• Flash animations (RIP, Adobe Flash)
• Fonts that belong in a high school PowerPoint presentation (Papyrus, I’m looking at you)
• A color scheme that burns retinas (Neon green text on a black background, why?)
How To Fix it:
If your site looks like a relic from the early internet, it’s time for a redesign. Aim for clean layouts, readable fonts, and a modern, user-friendly experience. Think less “early Facebook,” more “sleek and functional.”
2. Your Website Takes Longer to Load Than a Dial-Up Connection
If visitors have time to make a cup of coffee while your homepage loads, congratulations—you’ve lost them. Website speed matters. A lot.
Signs your site is too slow:
• It takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Studies show that users bounce if they have to wait.
• You haven’t compressed images or optimized your code (That 5MB stock photo is not doing you any favors)
• You’re hosting on some questionable bargain-bin server (If your hosting costs less than a fancy coffee, it might be time for an upgrade)
How to Fix it:
Test your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights and make changes like compressing images, minifying CSS, and using a reliable hosting service.
3. Your Website Looks Horrible on Mobile (And You Didn’t Even Know It)
Guess what? Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re basically telling half your audience, “Nah, you don’t need to see this.”
How to check:
• Open your site on your phone. Do you have to pinch and zoom just to read the text?
• Are buttons too small to tap without fat-fingering them?
• Does everything look like it’s been squeezed into an accordion?
How to Fix it:
Your website needs a responsive design, meaning it automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. If it doesn’t, it’s time to get with the times.
4. You Still Have a ‘Last Updated’ Date From Five Years Ago
If your blog’s last post was titled “Exciting Business Trends for 2018!” … it’s time for an intervention.
Why this is a problem:
• An outdated blog or news section makes it look like your business no longer exists.
• Stale content tells Google “Nothing to see here” and hurts your SEO.
• Visitors might assume you’re not keeping up with industry changes.
How to Fix it:
Regularly update your blog (or at least remove obvious timestamps that make your site look abandoned). Adding fresh content, even just a few tweaks now and then, keeps things relevant.
5. Your Contact Page Feels Like a Black Hole
Does your website still list a fax number? Does the “Contact Us” page have an email address that looks suspiciously like businessname@aol.com? If so… yikes.
Modern expectations:
• A working contact form (that doesn’t feel like sending a message into the void)
• Clear and clickable email and phone links
• Active social media links (not the ones leading to your abandoned Twitter account from 2014)
How to Fix it:
Make it ridiculously easy for people to reach you. Bonus points if you add a FAQ section so you don’t have to answer the same three questions every day.
6. Your Website Doesn’t Show Up on Google (Or It Does… But You’re on Page 10)
If your website is hiding in the depths of Google like a lost sock in the dryer, you’ve got an SEO problem.
How to check:
• Google your business name. Does your site appear at the top?
• Search for your services in your area (e.g., “custom web design in [your city]”). Do you show up at all?
• Check your site’s metadata. Do your title tags and meta descriptions make sense, or are they a jumbled mess?
How to Fix it:
Start with basic SEO improvements like adding keywords naturally, updating metadata, and making sure your site is indexed properly. If you’re not sure where to start, Google Search Console is your friend.
So… Is It Time for a Website Makeover?
If you nodded along to more than one of these, your website might need a refresh.
The good news? Updating your site doesn’t have to be a painful process (and no, you don’t need to DIY it with one of those “drag and drop” builders unless you love frustration).
The key is making sure your site works for you—not against you. That means a modern design, fast load times, mobile-friendliness, and a site that doesn’t scream “I was built in the era of flip phones and Vine.”
At the end of the day, your website should be a tool, not a time capsule. And if yours isn’t helping your business grow, it’s time for a change.