At some point, every business faces the same question: Do we need to redo the whole site, or just fix a few things?
It’s a fair concern. A full website redesign can be a big investment in time, budget, and energy. But sometimes, small fixes aren’t enough to move the needle. The trick is knowing when you’re patching a leak vs. rebuilding a boat that’s already sinking.
Here’s how we help clients figure that out.
Start With a Performance Audit (Not a Mood)
Before you start sketching new wireframes or rewriting your homepage copy, take a step back. What’s actually wrong?
Use real data to guide the decision:
- Is your bounce rate high on key pages?
- Are users struggling on mobile?
- Does your site take too long to load?
- Are visitors converting, or just browsing?
If the problems are isolated (a slow homepage, a broken form, a confusing menu), fixing what’s broken might be all you need.
But if issues are widespread, slow everywhere, inconsistent branding, outdated tech, it may be time to zoom out and rethink the foundation.
Fix It If: The Structure Still Serves You
Some websites just need a tune-up. If your design is still aligned with your goals, your messaging still resonates, and your core functionality works well, start with focused improvements.
Look for:
- Technical issues like speed, SEO tags, or image sizes
- UX problems like poor mobile layouts or unclear CTAs
- Outdated content or missed keyword opportunities
- Broken links, forms, or plugin conflicts
This approach is faster, cheaper, and keeps the momentum going, especially if you’re in the middle of active marketing efforts.
Redesign If: Your Site No Longer Reflects Your Business
Has your business evolved, but your site hasn’t? That’s usually the clearest signal it’s time to start over.
A redesign makes sense when:
- Your brand has changed, but your site hasn’t
- You’ve outgrown the structure or CMS
- Navigation feels cluttered, dated, or hard to scale
- Your competitors’ sites make yours look like it’s from 2014
- You’re planning major shifts in services, audiences, or positioning
In these cases, a redesign doesn’t just clean things up, it unlocks new growth by better aligning your online presence with your current direction.
Still Not Sure? Here’s What We Recommend
We start every website project, big or small, with an audit. That lets us see what’s working, what’s broken, and whether you’re better off fixing, refining, or starting fresh.
In some cases, we’ll recommend a hybrid: start with a few critical fixes to improve performance now, and work toward a full redesign over time.
The right answer depends on your goals, your timeline, and how well your current site is doing its job.
Let’s Find Out What Makes Sense for You
Not sure which path is right? We’ll take a look. Our free audit tool gives you instant insights on your site’s speed, SEO, and usability, so you can make informed decisions, not guesses.
