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Do I need a new website or just a refresh?
How to tell whether your small business website needs updating or replacing, what each option costs in the UK, and the quick fixes that make the biggest difference.
Lots of local businesses have a website that was built years ago and hasn’t been touched since. It still works, sort of. So do you need a whole new one, or will a refresh do? Here’s how to decide.
The quick test
Open your website on your phone and ask yourself five questions:
- Is everything still true? Opening hours, prices, menus, phone numbers, staff.
- Can someone book, order or contact you in one tap?
- Is it easy to read on a phone without pinching and zooming?
- Do the photos show your business as it is today?
- Would you be proud to send a new customer there?
If you answered “no” to one or two, a refresh will probably fix it. If it’s three or more, or the site is very slow, broken or impossible to update, it’s usually time for a new website.
What a refresh covers
A refresh keeps your existing website and platform, but brings it up to date:
- new, clearer words that say what you do and who it’s for
- fresh photos of your business, your team and your products
- a tidy layout that works properly on phones
- a clear “Book”, “Call” or “Get in touch” button on every page
- out-of-date notices, prices and opening hours removed or corrected
My Website Refresh is £400 to £700, depending on the number of pages.
When you need a new website
A new website makes more sense when:
- your current site can’t be made to work properly on phones
- nobody can log in to update it any more
- you’re paying a lot each month for a site that doesn’t do much
- the design is so dated that changing the words won’t be enough
For context, a five-page brochure website from a UK freelancer typically costs £1,500 to £3,000, and £3,000 to £5,000 from an agency (Whito). My New Website package is £900 to £1,500 for up to five pages, because I build lean, fast sites that don’t need expensive plugins or hosting.
What to look out for, whatever you choose
- Make sure everything is in your name: your domain, your hosting and your logins. If your web person disappears, you shouldn’t lose your website.
- Ask about ongoing costs. Many UK care plans start at around £50 a month (Whito). Mine is £40 to £60 a month, for hosting checks and up to an hour of small updates.
- Don’t forget Google. Your website and your Google Business Profile should show the same name, hours and contact details.
Why it matters for your social media
There’s no point getting people excited on Instagram if the website they click through to lets you down. Your website is where interest turns into bookings, so it’s worth getting right before you spend money promoting yourself anywhere else.
Not sure which you need?
Book a free 20-minute call and I’ll have a look at your website with you. I’ll tell you honestly whether a refresh will do the job.