How Often You Should Be Updating Your Website (And How Often You Should Change the Design)
Your website isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool in business. It’s living and working 24/7 365 days a year. It’s working tool that is meant to grow alongside your brand, your services, and your audience. One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is assuming that because their website looks fine, it does not need attention. THIS COULDN’T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Outdated websites quietly cost you leads, credibility, and conversions long before they ever look “bad.” Pretty design isn’t the basis behind conversion… strategy is.
So let’s break down how often you should actually be updating your website content, how often a full redesign makes sense, and what signs tell you it is time for more than a quick refresh.
Sooooo… How Often You Should Be Updating Your Website Content?
The short answer: constantly.
Long answer: your website should be updated in small ways, far more often than most small business owners realize.
Make a Goal: Monthly Updates (at a minimum!!)
At the very least, your website should receive some form of update every month. This doesn’t need to be anything crazy! Here’s some ideas to get you started
Updating copy (the words) to reflect your current services & pricing — transparency goes a long way
Swapping out photos that feel outdated…don’t forget to follow my sizing and naming guide
Adding a new testimonial or review
Publishing a new blog post— blogging IS in fact alive and well.
Improving SEO elements like headings or internal links for your local keywords.
These small updates signal to both users and search engines that your business is active and trustworthy.
For Those Serious About Their Website Health: Quarterly Updates
Every three months, you should take a step back and review performance. Ask yourself:
Are people actually clicking my calls to action?
Are inquiries coming through the website or dropping off?
Does my messaging still match what I offer today?
Have I set up & checked the Google Analytics/Google Search Console results to see how my website is truly performing?
This is a great time to refine your homepage copy, adjust page structure, improve clarity around your services, or decide if you need to invest in a professional copywriter.
Now…How Often You Should REDESIGN Your Website?
Let’s make one thing clear. Updating ≠ Redesigning
A redesign means rethinking layout, structure, branding, and user experience. You should not need a full redesign every year, but you also should not be running the same design forever. Trends die, technology gets more advanced, so redesigning is an important part of website health, but for the average small-medium sized business, one solid design every other year is great.
Here’s a typical redesign timeline
For most small/medium sized businesses:
Every 2 to 4 years is the sweet spot
Sooner if your business has evolved significantly
Sooner if your site was built quickly or DIYed early on
Design trends, user behavior, and mobile expectations change fast. A website that felt modern three years ago can quietly start feeling clunky today.
Signs It’s Time For A Redesign
If you are experiencing any of the following, it is likely time to redesign, not just tweak:
Your website no longer reflects your brand quality or pricing
You feel embarrassed sharing your link
Visitors are not converting despite good traffic
Your site is hard to update or manage
The design does not work well on mobile
As a Northern Nevada website and brand designer, I see this often with local businesses who built a site early on and never revisited it as they grew. Now they’re left with an outdated, clunky site that doesn’t communicate information thoroughly and leaves them missing out on business leads.
What Happens When You Choose Not To Update or Redesign Your Website
An outdated website does more harm than most business owners realize. I’ve seen businesses “set it and forget it” time and time again. Even if your services are excellent, your website is often the first impression someone gets. And if the visitors don’t even get past the website, they won’t get to see how awesome your business is.
When your site is neglected:
Visitors lose trust quickly
Your SEO rankings decline, if they were ever there in the first place
Competitors with newer, intuitive sites win the attention of your potential clients
You rely more heavily on word of mouth alone (which is a dangerous place to get stuck in)
In smaller communities like Elko and across Northern Nevada, word of mouth matters and is HIGHLY influential… But your website still plays a major role in validating that recommendation. Consider the number of travelers who come through towns like ours. Are they going to pick the Urgent Care with a gorgeous site that says exactly what insurance they take on the front, or are they going to pick the Urgent Care with a single page, unattractive site and minimal information?
So To Recap…
If you want an easy guideline, use this:
Update your content monthly
Review your strategy quarterly
Redesign every few years or when your business outgrows your site
This keeps your website on par with your goals without constant overhauls.
Working With a Northern Nevada Website Designer
If you are unsure whether your website needs a refresh or a full redesign, that is completely normal. Most business owners know something feels off but can’t always pinpoint why.
Working with a Northern Nevada website designer who understands local businesses, branding, and SEO can help you make smart updates without wasting time or money.
If you are based in Elko or anywhere in Northern Nevada and want a website that actually supports your growth, this is exactly the kind of thing I help with.
👉 Contact Bear Design Company to start a conversation about whether your website needs a refresh or a full redesign.
