5 Signs Your Website Needs a Redesign

I look at a lot of local business websites. Cafes in Nunhead, tradespeople in Sydenham, therapists in Forest Hill. And the same problems come up again and again.

Most business owners built a site a few years ago, went live, and haven't thought about it since. Which is understandable. You're busy running a business.

But some of these issues are genuinely costing you customers right now. Here's what to look for.

1. There's Still a COVID Notice on It

This is more common than you'd think. A banner saying "we're following COVID-safe guidelines" or "reduced capacity due to the pandemic." Announcements from 2021 still sitting on the homepage.

It's not just embarrassing. It tells visitors immediately that nobody's looking after this site. And if the site owner isn't paying attention, why would the service be any different?

Go check your homepage now. If there's anything date-specific that's out of date, it needs to go.

2. It's Not Secure

Type your web address into a browser. Look at the bar at the top. Does it say "Not Secure" next to your URL? Or does it show a padlock?

No padlock means no SSL certificate, which means Google marks your site as untrustworthy, browsers warn visitors away from it, and your search ranking takes a hit. This is a basic fix but it has a real impact.

Some sites have an SSL certificate but it's expired, which is equally bad. If you built your site a few years ago and haven't touched it since, it's worth checking.

3. The Mobile Version Is Broken

Pull up your website on your phone. Actually try to use it.

Can you read the text without zooming in? Can you tap the menu? Does the contact form actually submit? Are there images hanging off the edge of the screen?

If any of that is a problem, you're losing customers daily. Most searches for local businesses happen on mobile. Peckham, Dulwich, Bermondsey, wherever you are, people are finding you (or not finding you) on their phones.

A site that doesn't work on mobile isn't just inconvenient. It's invisible, because Google ranks mobile-first.

4. There's Placeholder Text or Broken Images

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" somewhere on the page. A broken image icon where a photo should be. A team member who left two years ago still listed on the About page.

These might seem minor but they matter. Placeholder text means the site was never finished. Broken images mean it's been neglected. Outdated staff listings mean the business information can't be trusted.

I've seen this on real businesses in South East London. A lovely independent shop in Herne Hill with "Your tagline goes here" still sitting in the footer. They probably have no idea it's there.

5. The Contact Form Doesn't Work

This one is a killer. People fill in your form, hit send, and nothing happens. No confirmation message, no email to you. Their message just disappears.

Forms break when hosting changes, when email settings lapse, or just with age. And because the visitor assumes their message was received, they don't follow up. You never know you missed them.

Test your own contact form right now. Send yourself a test message. Check it arrives. If it doesn't, you've probably been missing enquiries for a while.

So What Do You Do?

If you're ticking off two or more of these, it's time to take your site seriously.

A redesign doesn't have to be a massive project. Sometimes it's a targeted fix: sorting the SSL, making it mobile-friendly, updating the copy. Other times the site is so far gone it's faster to start clean.

Either way, the first step is an honest look at what you've actually got. If you want someone to take a look and give you a straight answer, that's exactly what I do. I build and fix websites for local businesses across SE London, from East Dulwich to Greenwich, and I'll always tell you what you actually need rather than what costs the most.

Get in touch and we'll go from there.