Don Sesler, The Technology Whisperer: As the owner, I have the honor of leading a team of super-smart individuals who share my passion for helping entrepreneurs and business owners not fall victim to complex technology challenges that can kill productivity. We want to tame your technology so that it works for you and not the other way around. What technology problem is making your life more complicated than it should be? Reach out to me and tell me your story.

Do You Really Need a New Website? 

Many businesses with older websites assume a new build is the solution when things aren’t running well. But is it? Often, regular maintenance is a better solution, improving performance and providing a better user experience. 

That’s because, over time, websites can accumulate “technical debt,” leading to issues such as slow performance and security vulnerabilities. Regularly updating your website and its components will keep it functioning the way you need for longer – and help you put off the cost of building an entirely new site.

That being said, there are some situations where a new website might be called for.

Outdated Technology and Security Risks.

Hackers are always discovering ways to access the backend of websites. This is why it’s important to regularly update your website theme and plugins, and to maintain regular backups.

Unfortunately, over time, certain themes and plugins are no longer updated by their developers. This means that there is no way to quickly plug the holes that are discovered by hackers. In this situation, it most often makes sense to build a new website using updated technology.

Limited Control over Changes. 

If you’re finding it difficult to make changes because you’re constantly relying on (and paying) your developer, then it may be time to get a solution that gives you more control. 

Using a builder like WordPress’s Elementor allows for easier self-management and updates, while still providing you with robust functionality and flexibility. You should be able to make basic changes, like adding a blog post or changing a phone number, without calling your developer.

Insufficient Analytics and Features.

If your current setup isn’t providing the analytics you need, you just need to install Google Analytics and Google Search Console to get a clear picture. 

Unfortunately, some website builders don’t allow you to install those two tools. As your business grows, you’ll want to transition to WordPress.org, Shopify, or WooCommerce for increased capabilities.

Lack of Ownership. 

Do you have control over your website’s host and domain registration? If not, you don’t actually own your site. Check with your web designer to see if you can obtain these credentials. 

Then ask who owns the copyright for your text, images, and website layout. Some website companies retain copyright on some or all of these items, meaning your website isn’t truly an asset of your business. A few even own the domain name (www.yourwebsite.com). So if you ever decide to move away from them, you’ll have to build your website from scratch.

Think about this like renting versus owning a property – the money you invest could be lost if you don’t secure full ownership.

Want to learn how we can help you with regular site maintenance or the process of moving to a new website? Don’t hesitate to reach out.