I remember a few years ago, NASCAR.com went through a major redesign. I visited that site every day, and I was used to the old design, so it took me some time to get used to the new design. All of the information was there, and the site looked more up to date, but for a while I wished they hadn’t changed it.

Fast forward to today. All of us have a site or sites that we visit each day, and if a site goes too long without an update, it looks obsolete. But how long is “too long”? There isn’t a definite answer to this question, because every website is different. But here are some questions you should ask yourself about your site to make sure it hasn’t been too long.

What is the purpose of my website?

Like I said before, every website is different. Your website could have multiple purposes. You could be selling a product, providing information or services online, recruiting volunteers, etc. The purpose of your site will have an impact on the design, but it won’t be the only factor.

Is my site mobile friendly (responsive)?

According to this report, 60% of online traffic is from mobile devices, up 10% from last year. If your site isn’t responsive, it is hard to navigate on a smartphone, and users will eventually give up and look for another site.

Does my site design reflect current trends?

Deacon put together an excellent slideshow on the design trends of 2014 a few months ago. Some of these trends will change, but some will be popular in web design for quite some time, if for no other reason than they look cool. Take a look at Deacon’s post, and click on some of the links he added to his slideshow. You’ll see what I mean.

Am I posting content on my site?

When I am browsing the web, one thing I look for, as will your site visitors, is new content. If your last blog post on your site was 6 months ago, your site will look neglected, and visitors will move on.

As you look at this list, you might be thinking, “Sure Paul, these sound great, but I don’t have time to create content for my site, and I can’t afford a new website design. I need to figure out how to get people to my site first!” If this is you, or if you have any questions related to your website, we can help! We have solutions to help drive web traffic, create content, and make your site look awesome! You can contact us at the bottom right of the screen, or click “Contact Us” for more information.

I would love to hear from you too! Maybe this is just what you were looking for, or maybe I forgot something. If you want to reach me directly, leave a comment below, or find me on twitter! @P_Wunder