To Update My Current Website or To Redesign From Scratch?

Have you ever wondered if your website is outdated? Maybe you’ve noticed slow load times or issues with client engagement. 

Even a simple issue of branding can be a good enough reason to reevaluate what you have going on with your website. 

When considering updating your website, It can be a little overwhelming to know where to even begin! Once you decide that it’s time for a redesign, you may ask yourself, “Do I want to fix my current website or completely start from scratch?”

Should I Update My Outdated Website or Redesign it From Scratch?

That is the question! We’ll detail several points to consider in this decision making process below!

First, consider your budget.

The first thing you will need to consider when deciding if you want to redesign your website from scratch or if you want to simply have certain aspects updated is your budget. 

If you  were to take a guess which option costs more between 1) fixing your website or 2) starting from scratch, you may guess that starting from scratch will cost more. Doesn’t it require more work since you’re starting from zero? 

Not necessarily.  

Once we begin digging into old coding, there are countless issues we could run into. Holes in your old website could cause major setbacks in a redesign, which could cost you time and hike up your bill in the end. However, if your original website was built with quality software and code, it could be more cost effective to do regular updating.

When you find a reputable website design and development company to work with, ask them their professional opinion on which would be the better route to take considering your budget.

Don’t be shy to ask for a quote on both options! 

Second, consider what exactly you actually want to update. 

As you may be able to infer, starting from scratch can be a pain if you have a lot of old content that you’d like to keep and just revamp or add to. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re better off trying to work with what you’ve got. Are you just looking to update the content or is your site in desperate need of facelift. 

Depending on how the site was made and what themes are involved, you may actually need a complete redesign to achieve the overall user experience you are looking for. 

Every website is unique and will have its own issues and setbacks. We can try our best to evaluate and estimate the amount of time and effort a redesign or overhaul might take but in the end, it will come down to what you want the finished product to look like and how we can best achieve that design within your budget. 

Third, ask yourself how your website was originally created.

Did you “DIY” design it using an online service or software? Did you hire a professional web design company? 

This goes back to the idea of how strong of a foundation your website has. It can make all the difference when you go to fix any issues you may have. For example, if your website was created with an online website builder, it can be near impossible to fix any major issues or update the design because you have far less control. In this case, it’s probably in your best interest to start from scratch. 

At the same token, if you’ve worked with a designer in the past that used a bunch of custom code, it can be difficult to bring a new company in to work with custom code that they may be unfamiliar with.

To avoid these web design headaches, we recommend working with a professional. If not on your original website design, at least your redesign. 

It can be a great help to keep your relationship with your web partner strong. You may not need a website update everyday, but it can be so helpful to know that you can reach out and do minor tweaks to your site without needing a complete overhaul. 

With that in mind, choose your web partners wisely! Most importantly, find a competent agency or designer/developer to help you. Choosing a cheap developer in a foreign country might sound great until you 1) can’t seem to communicate efficiently, 2) you see unsatisfactory work or 3) they guide you in the wrong direction. Find a professional partner that specializes in what you are looking for and values the same qualities you do in a working relationship. 

If you have specific questions about your website, please reach out! 

We’d love to hear about your website project.