When is it worth updating an old website and when is it better to build a new one?

Your business is growing, changing, moving forward. But is your website doing the same? Maybe it was created five years ago, the design is no longer fashionable, and the texts do not reflect the current approach. The question is whether it is still worth update, or better creating a new?

When is a website update enough?

There are situations where an old website can be successfully „revived“:

• Structure good, but content and design needs to be updated
• The technical basis is sound (e.g. WordPress), but lacking mobility or speed
• Business has changed little, but wants to a fresh image

• Design (colours, fonts and illustrations)
• Rewrite texts
• Improve page speed, install SEO plugins
• Add missing functionality (e.g. newsletter integration)

When is it worth building a completely new website?

Sometimes it's just not worth it to upgrade. For example:

• Website built on an old platform, which is no longer supported
• She not adapted for mobile devices
• Pages loading slowly, the structure is chaotic
• Business has changed direction, audience or values

The new website allows:

• Create modern design from scratch
• Retrieved from navigation and structure
• Introduce new features (e.g. reservation system, e-shop)
• Creating content with an SEO strategy from the start

It's also a great opportunity to rethink the message you want to convey to your visitor.

Read more: How to clarify your website goals

Cost and return, what's worth calculating?

Upgrades are often cheaper, but in the long term a new website can be more valuable. What's worth evaluating:

• How much would it cost complete design and content updates
• Won't old solutions lead to technical problems in the future
• Is the updated website really meet modern needs
• How many visitors at the moment leaving a website because of its shortcomings

A new website often determines:

• Increased visitor engagement
• Better Google positioning
• Increased trust in the brand

Read more: How much does a website cost?

Common mistakes when choosing between an upgrade and a new website

• „Old memories“ hinder decision-making - „after all, we were 6 years ago...“
• Thinking that „if I update the banner, that's enough“
• Option to upgrade, when everything needs to be changed in principle
• A new website is being developed without assessing the strategic objectives, e.g. only the design is being changed, rather than addressing the underlying issues.

The decision must be strategic rather than emotional. It's best to consult a web developer or consultant who will not only review the design, but also assess the site's structure, speed, SEO and user experience.

Your website should reflect who you are today

If you want to find out which route makes the most sense for you, get in touch. And if you want to find out how much it might cost, take a look at website development price list.