Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. But when was the last time you really looked at it?
Many business owners in Mossel Bay and the Garden Route are losing customers every day without realising it—simply because their website is working against them instead of for them.
Here are five warning signs that it's time for a website redesign.
1. Your Website Isn't Mobile-Friendly
Pull out your phone right now and open your website. Does it look good? Is the text readable without zooming? Can you easily tap buttons and navigate menus?
If not, you have a serious problem.
Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Google also uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at your mobile site when deciding where to rank you.
The fix: A responsive website that automatically adjusts to any screen size. This isn't optional anymore—it's essential.
2. It Takes Forever to Load
People are impatient. If your website takes more than 3 seconds to load, over half your visitors will leave before seeing anything.
Common culprits include: - Oversized images that weren't optimised - Too many plugins or scripts - Cheap hosting with slow servers - Outdated code that's bloated and inefficient
The fix: Image optimisation, clean code, proper caching, and quality hosting. A well-built website should load in under 2 seconds.
3. You're Embarrassed to Share Your Website
This one's simple but telling. When someone asks for your website, do you confidently hand it over? Or do you find yourself making excuses?
"It's a bit outdated..." "We're planning to update it..." "It doesn't really show what we do..."
If you're not proud of your website, your customers won't be impressed either. Your website should be your best salesperson—working for you around the clock.
The fix: A modern, professional design that accurately represents your brand and the quality of your work.
4. You Can't Update It Yourself
Need to change your phone number? Update your prices? Add a new service?
If every small change requires calling a developer (and waiting days), your website is holding your business back.
Modern websites should be easy to update. You should be able to make basic changes yourself, whenever you need to.
The fix: A content management system that's actually user-friendly, with proper training so you're confident making updates.
5. It's Not Generating Leads or Sales
This is the big one. Your website should be a business tool, not just an online brochure.
Ask yourself: - How many enquiries do you get through your website each month? - Can customers easily find your contact details? - Is there a clear call-to-action on every page? - Do you know how many people visit your site?
If you don't know the answers—or the answers are disappointing—your website isn't doing its job.
The fix: Strategic design focused on conversions, clear calls-to-action, easy contact options, and analytics to track performance.
How Old Is Too Old?
As a general rule, websites should be refreshed every 3-5 years. Technology changes, design trends evolve, and your business grows.
But age alone isn't the issue. A 5-year-old website that's well-maintained, mobile-friendly, and still converts customers might be perfectly fine. A 2-year-old website that was poorly built might need replacing now.
What a Redesign Involves
A proper website redesign isn't just a fresh coat of paint. It should include:
- Strategy session to understand your business goals - Competitor analysis to see what's working in your industry - Mobile-first design that looks great on all devices - SEO foundation so Google can find you - Speed optimisation for fast loading times - Clear calls-to-action to convert visitors into customers - Analytics setup so you can measure results
The Cost of Waiting
Every day your outdated website is live, potential customers are: - Leaving because it loads too slowly - Getting frustrated on their phones - Choosing competitors with better websites - Forming negative impressions of your business
The question isn't whether you can afford a new website. It's whether you can afford not to have one.
Ready for a Fresh Start?
If you recognised your website in any of these warning signs, it might be time for a conversation.
We help Mossel Bay and Garden Route businesses create websites that actually work—bringing in leads, making sales, and representing your brand professionally.
#contact and find out exactly where your current site stands.