Has it been 2-4 years since you updated your website? If so, this year is definitely the time for a makeover! Because of how quickly technology, competition and consumer demands evolve, regular website maintenance is needed to keep up. And in recent years there have been so many changes, just about every website could benefit from an update.
If you’re still questioning whether your website needs a facelift, check out the reasons our experts are recommending it this year.
The Most Recent Google Algorithm Updates
Google is always updating its algorithm to reflect user behavior and preferences with the goal of delivering up the best search results possible. Already in January 2025 there was a core algorithm update that focused on user experience, mobile performance and AI.
If there’s just one thing you want to emphasize in the website redesign process, make it user experience. You can’t go wrong with that strategy from an SEO and conversion perspective. What we know about the latest algorithm update is that many ranking factors are directly linked to user experience.
One clear sign of Google’s focus is the importance it is placing on engagement signals. How users interact with a website carries more weight than ever. The more a user interacts, the better your search ranking will be.
Key Takeaway: Look for ways to make your website more engaging and useful for visitors. Keeping them on your website and interacting is the goal.
Beautiful, Functional Designs Are More Accessible and Affordable Thanks to AI
What a website looks like is extremely important. Many would argue it’s more important than how the website functions and the content, because the design has such a huge impact on the user’s first impression. If the website looks outdated it’s going to send the message that your business is behind the times as well.
With today’s AI tools, it’s so easy to elevate your website design there’s no reason not to. Various platforms have AI design tools integrated in to make DIY designing easier. And professionals that are wielding more advanced AI design tools can do even more with the same budget or less.
Key Takeaway: Check out your competitor’s websites, then aim to be even more modern and aesthetically pleasing.
Security Upgrades
Security should always be a top priority, even if you are only collecting user emails for a newsletter. Cyber security threats are ever present and increasing all the time. Web security is really a moving target that requires regular updating to stay on top of the most current risks.
The truth is, outdated security measures aren’t going to do much to protect your digital assets and information. And if your information is compromised, people’s trust in your business will be compromised too.
Key Takeaway: At minimum, it’s best to review your website’s security measures once a year. Research the latest threats and solutions for safeguarding against them, then make the necessary updates.
Opportunity to Overhaul Your Content
If you thought high-quality content was important before, get ready for 2025. Now with generic AI-generated content flooding the virtual space, Google and other search engines are giving even more preference to websites with high quality content.
But what is deemed high quality is changing. It’s not enough for content to be grammatically correct and read well. It has to be authoritative, clearly well-researched and written by someone who understands the topic. It also has to be based on trustworthy sources and contain relevant, accurate information.
Two other things to keep in mind when you’re overhauling your website content are:
- Google is putting more emphasis on user engagement. The more engaging your content is, the better your ranking will be.
- Google is on the lookout for AI-generated content. Content that isn’t original and doesn’t read well is an even bigger problem than before.
E-commerce websites in particular will want to consider a makeover in 2025. This industry is expected to be hit the hardest by content quality standards that are increasing.
Key Takeaway: Do a content audit and look for pages that can use a good rounding of editing. Also, pay attention to your content structuring to make the flow and navigation more intuitive.
Being More Mobile-Friendly Never Hurts, Especially For Local Businesses
This day and age, your website can never be too mobile-friendly. The majority of people are searching and accessing websites on the go using small screens with lots of distractions all around them.
That’s the one constant. Just about everything else in mobile technology is constantly changing and evolving. There are new products with different screens, new types of applications and new platforms that can change the way people are using mobile devices and how they access information.
Even innovations like Starlink satellite service could have a significant impact, essentially increasing the rate of mobile use even higher. With a satellite providing service from virtually anywhere there will be no limit for using the Internet wherever you are, no matter how rural the location may be.
Being mobile-friendly is extremely important for local businesses. Consumers are searching on the go for local goods and services. The fact that the terms “nearby” and “near me” are so prominent in search today tells you that people are looking for providers and businesses in real time where they currently are.
This year is the perfect time to audit your website for mobile. Take a look at how the design, content, page loading and functionality can be updated to improve the experience on mobile devices. Every improvement can have a positive impact overall.
Key Takeaway: Users are more connected to mobile devices from more places. Use every possible opportunity to make your website more mobile-friendly to increase rankings and conversions.
Are you ready to give your website a refreshing facelift? Bruce & Eddy can help you audit your existing website to create a plan for improving how it looks and functions. Contact our team to learn more about the redesign process.
