A website is often the first impression a customer has of your business. If that impression feels outdated, slow, or confusing, visitors will leave and likely never return. Many local businesses continue to operate on websites that were designed years ago, with outdated visuals, clunky navigation, or slow-loading pages.
A website redesign is not just about a visual refresh. It is a strategic investment in performance, usability, credibility, and SEO. A well-executed redesign can drive conversions, improve search rankings, and strengthen customer trust.
To help you understand the value of a redesign, our team at Vertz Marketing put together the most common website issues, their impact, and how a redesign solves them:
| Outdated design | Low conversions, poor first impression | Modern layout, clean visuals, updated branding |
| Slow load times | High bounce rates, lower search rankings | Optimize images, use fast hosting, improve Core Web Vitals |
| Poor mobile experience | Lost mobile leads, frustrated users | Mobile-first responsive design |
| Low time on page | Lower rankings, reduced engagement | Engaging visuals, videos, interactive content |
| Inconsistent branding | Reduced trust, lower recognition | Updated logo, color scheme, and messaging |
| Accessibility issues | Missed customers, potential legal risk | ADA compliance, alt text, keyboard navigation |
| Cluttered navigation | Confused users, high exit rates | Simplified menus, clear CTAs, user flow optimization |
Vertzmarketing can help local businesses identify these issues and plan a website redesign that improves performance, trust, and conversions.
1. Your Outdated Design Is Killing Conversions
Your website’s design is the first thing visitors notice, and it heavily influences their decision to stay or leave. A site that looks old, cluttered, or unprofessional can immediately undermine credibility.
Why this matters: Conversion rates drop when users cannot easily find what they need. Modern website design focuses on intuitive layouts, clear navigation, and strategically placed calls-to-action.
Actionable tip: Evaluate your homepage, service pages, and contact forms. Are they easy to navigate? Can a new visitor quickly understand what you offer? A redesign allows you to prioritize user flow to guide visitors toward conversion.
Don’t lose another customer to a clunky website. Schedule a consultation with Vertzmarketing and see how modern design can improve your conversions.
2. A Poor Website Erodes Trust
Visitors form opinions about your business within seconds. Poor visuals, broken links, outdated content, or inconsistent branding make users question your professionalism.
Why this matters: Trust is critical for local businesses. Service-based industries like home services, healthcare, or legal services rely on credibility before someone contacts them.
Actionable tip: Include high-quality images of your team, showcase real customer testimonials, and maintain consistent branding across every page. A redesign is the perfect opportunity to strengthen trust.
3. Core Web Vitals Are a Direct Ranking Factor
Google now evaluates Core Web Vitals, which measure page speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Sites that perform poorly in these areas can lose rankings, even if the content is strong.
Why this matters: Local businesses that want to appear at the top of search results must provide a smooth, fast, and visually stable experience.
Actionable tip: Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and use modern frameworks to improve site performance. Redesigning your site allows you to build these optimizations into the foundation rather than patching them afterward.
Vertzmarketing helps local businesses optimize Core Web Vitals to improve rankings and user experience. Request a free website performance analysis today.
4. High Bounce Rates Send Negative SEO Signals
When visitors leave your website quickly, it tells Google your page did not meet their expectations. High bounce rates can indicate irrelevant content, poor UX, or slow performance.
Why this matters: Bounce rate directly affects your search visibility, especially for competitive local search terms.
Actionable tip: A redesign can improve layout, readability, and content clarity, giving users a reason to stay. Incorporate clear headings, bullet points, and engaging visuals to keep visitors on the page longer.
5. Time on Page Influences Your Rankings
Dwell time, or how long a user stays on your page, is an important engagement metric. Longer visits indicate that users find your content helpful and relevant.
Why this matters: Google interprets longer time on page as a sign of quality, which can positively affect rankings.
Actionable tip: Add multimedia content such as videos, infographics, or interactive features to encourage users to spend more time exploring your site.
6. Mobile Experience Can Make or Break You
Most local searches happen on mobile devices. Sites that are not mobile-optimized frustrate users with tiny text, broken layouts, and slow loading times.
Why this matters: Mobile-first design is no longer optional. Google indexes mobile versions of websites first, meaning your mobile experience directly impacts your search ranking.
Actionable tip: Ensure your redesign focuses on responsive layouts, touch-friendly buttons, and fast-loading content optimized for mobile.
7. Your Branding Needs a Refresh
Your business evolves, and your website should reflect that growth. Outdated logos, colors, or messaging can send the wrong message to potential customers.
Why this matters: Branding consistency builds recognition and trust. Customers are more likely to choose businesses that appear professional and cohesive online.
Actionable tip: Conduct a brand audit during your redesign. Update visuals, tone, and messaging to align with your current business identity.
8. Accessibility and Compliance Are No Longer Optional
Accessibility is critical for reaching all users, including those with disabilities. Compliance with ADA guidelines not only expands your audience but also reduces the risk of legal issues.
Why this matters: Accessible sites are easier to navigate, more inclusive, and favored by search engines.
Actionable tip: Incorporate alt text, clear navigation, keyboard-friendly layouts, and color contrast standards. A redesign is the best time to ensure your site meets modern accessibility requirements.
9. Your Competitors Are Investing in Better UX
If competing businesses have modern, fast, and easy-to-use websites, they are likely attracting customers who would have otherwise visited your site.
Why this matters: Falling behind in user experience puts you at a competitive disadvantage in both local search and referrals.
Actionable tip: Analyze competitor sites during your redesign. Identify elements you can improve upon, from homepage structure to page load speed.
10. A Redesign Future-Proofs Your Business
Technology and user behavior are constantly changing. A strategic redesign ensures your site is ready for future trends, such as AI-driven search, voice queries, and new SEO algorithms.
Why this matters: Investing in a modern website now saves time and money later while positioning your business as innovative and reliable.
Actionable tip: Choose a flexible CMS, implement scalable design systems, and maintain a regular content and update strategy.
Final Thoughts
Your website is the foundation of your online presence. If it looks outdated, is difficult to use, or fails to meet modern technical standards, your business is losing leads every day.
A professional redesign is more than just a visual update. It improves trust, engagement, search visibility, and conversions. By addressing design, usability, performance, and branding, your website can become a powerful tool for growth.
If your site has not been updated in years, now is the time to invest in a redesign that positions your business for long-term success. A modern, user-friendly website will not only impress visitors but also help convert them into loyal customers.