In today’s digital-first world, your website is one of the most powerful tools your business has. It’s where potential customers go to learn about you, interact with your brand, and, often, make their first purchase. But while many businesses invest in creating a website, far fewer regularly update or improve it. If you’re still relying on a website that was built several years ago, you could be missing out on new opportunities — and losing money without even realising it. An outdated website can become a drain on your business in several subtle but significant ways.
Mobile Website Optimisation: The New Standard
It’s no longer a secret that mobile traffic dominates the internet. As of 2024, more than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, with users expecting fast load times and seamless experiences. If your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re likely driving away a substantial portion of visitors before they’ve even had a chance to engage with your content.
According to research from Google, 53% of mobile users will leave a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load. Mobile-first indexing by search engines means that if your website performs poorly on smartphones or tablets, your rankings will also take a hit. This isn’t just about keeping up appearances; it’s about ensuring you’re not inadvertently alienating over half of your potential audience.
Good Web Design Focuses on the User Experience
User experience (UX) is one of the most critical aspects of web design. Today’s internet users are spoiled for choice. They expect websites to be easy to navigate, fast to load, and simple to interact with. If your website is slow, cluttered, or difficult to use, visitors won’t think twice about leaving.
In fact, it takes users just 0.05 seconds to form an opinion about your website. This first impression determines whether they’ll stay and explore or leave and potentially never return. Old, outdated websites tend to suffer from poor UX, as design standards and best practices evolve rapidly.
What does good UX look like? Clear navigation, fast loading times, and mobile responsiveness are all essential. It’s about making it easy for your users to find what they need, whether they’re browsing your product catalogue or looking to contact your business.
Expert designers create websites with clean, intuitive navigation that helps users find what they need effortlessly. Whatever the platform, whether built on WordPress, Shopify, or Aero Commerce, websites by teclan are designed to improve user engagement and increase conversions.
The Impact of Ecommerce Web Design on Speed of Sales
If your business relies on ecommerce, the performance of your website is directly tied to your sales. A slow or outdated website doesn’t just frustrate visitors; it also results in lost revenue. Studies show that a 1-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% reduction in conversions. For an ecommerce business, this can translate into significant losses.
Solutions like Aero Commerce can help combat this issue. Aero is blazingly fast and designed to maintain its speed as your site grows and becomes more successful. Many platforms struggle with performance or even increase monthly costs as your product catalogue expands, but Aero works differently. Built on modern technology frameworks, it’s optimised for high-performance ecommerce, leaving older platforms like Sellerdeck far behind.
It’s not just about speed, though. Today’s ecommerce websites are expected to offer streamlined navigation, secure payment options, and a smooth, hassle-free checkout experience. If your website still feels clunky, or if your users must jump through too many hoops to complete a purchase, they’re likely to abandon their carts. In fact, cart abandonment rates hover around 69.57% globally, according to the Baymard Institute, and one of the biggest culprits is a poor user experience.
The lesson here? Your ecommerce site needs to be fast, functional, and intuitive to keep up with customer expectations and maximise sales.
SEO: Staying Visible in Organic Search Results
Search engine optimisation (SEO) has evolved dramatically over the years. What may have worked a decade ago — or even a few years ago — is likely no longer enough to help your website rank in search results. Google’s algorithms now favour websites that are not only fast and mobile-friendly but also secure, regularly updated, and structured correctly.
An outdated website can severely limit your organic visibility. There are several factors that search engines such as Google and Bing take into account when ranking websites for search terms. For example, slow load times or a lack of mobile optimisation can push your site down the rankings. Additionally, search engines look for websites that are kept fresh with new content and up-to-date technology. Websites that haven’t been updated in years can be seen as irrelevant or outdated by both users and search engines.
Businesses with regularly updated blogs and optimised pages tend to generate 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Keeping your website up to date with fresh content, whether that’s a blog or refreshed landing pages, is one of the simplest ways to improve your SEO and attract new visitors.
Protect Your Business & Customers With A Secure Website
One of the most overlooked risks of an outdated website is security. Older websites often run on outdated software, use unmaintained plugins, or feature vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. The cost of a security breach can be catastrophic — not only in terms of lost revenue but also the long-term damage to your reputation.
With the rise in cyberattacks, particularly on small to medium businesses, ensuring your website is secure is more critical than ever. Regular updates and security patches are vital to protect your site from threats. If your website runs on outdated technology, you’re leaving both your business and your customers’ data exposed to potential breaches.
A professional webmastering service, like the one offered by teclan, can help keep your website up to date, ensuring vital components such as plug-ins are regularly maintained. While no solution is 100% foolproof, our Gatekeeper packages offer robust protection to significantly reduce the risk of malicious attacks.
In today’s world, where GDPR compliance and data protection are essential, neglecting security could lead to hefty fines or legal issues, adding to the hidden costs of an old website.
A Fresh Website to Reflect Fresh Branding
Businesses evolve, and so should their websites. If your website was designed several years ago, it might no longer reflect your current brand identity, messaging, or values. While your products or services may have grown and changed, your online presence might still be stuck in the past.
A modern, well-designed website is one of the most effective ways to communicate your brand to customers. It’s not just about looking good — it’s about ensuring that your website tells the right story about who you are today. An outdated website can make your business appear stagnant, even if that’s far from the truth.
We recently worked with Highland Learning Academy during their rebranding from Virtual Learning Academy to HLA. Our team of WordPress design experts delivered a fresh, modern website that aligned with their new brand identity. The result was a slick, professional site offering an improved user experience tailored to HLA’s diverse audience, including corporate clients, educational institutions, and individual learners.
Time for an Update?
The hidden costs of an outdated website can stack up quickly, from lost customers due to poor mobile performance, to missed sales from a slow ecommerce platform, or diminished SEO rankings that prevent new visitors from finding you. Taking the time to assess your current website and investing in updates can have a significant impact on your business. Keeping up with web design best practices is crucial for staying competitive. By regularly updating your website, you’ll not only enhance user experience but also improve your chances of success in an increasingly competitive online environment.
At teclan, our web developers and designers specialise in creating responsive, next-level websites that perform seamlessly across all devices. By combining SEO best practices, user-focused design, and brand storytelling, we help businesses build websites that not only look great but also engage and convert. We work with some of the most trusted content management systems, empowering brands of all sizes with our technical expertise. Whether you need a simple landing page, a brochure site, or a fully integrated ecommerce solution, we craft intuitive user interfaces that reflect the heart of your brand. From the front-end design to the back-end functionality, we make navigating the digital landscape simple and effective.
If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.
