# Outdated website? When to refresh it, and when to redesign Source: https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/outdated-website/ \+ Website problems Your website is often the first impression a customer has of your business. If it looks and works like it was built years ago, we help you decide between a refresh and a rebuild, then do the work while protecting the rankings you already have. [Get your free audit](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/outdated-website/#booking) [See the work](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/) ## How to tell you have this problem - The design looks noticeably older than your competitors' sites. - It is awkward on a phone: small text, pinching to zoom, buttons too close together. - Nobody on your team can update it without calling a developer. - It still lists old services, staff, prices or photos. - It runs on a theme, plugin or platform that no longer gets updates. - Customers or staff have told you it needs a refresh. ## What causes it It was built a long time ago. Design, devices and browsers have all moved on, and a site built for desktop screens shows its age on a phone. No budget for updates. A website is often treated as a one-off cost, so small fixes never happen and the gap keeps growing. An old platform. Unsupported themes, plugins or page builders that can't be updated safely. The developer moved on. Nobody has the logins, or nobody knows how the site was built. The business changed. New services, new areas, new branding, and a website that still describes the old business. ## What it costs you People judge a business by its website before they ever call. A dated site doesn't always lose the sale outright, but it makes the next step harder: prospects wonder whether you are still trading, still current, or as good as the competitor whose site looks like it was built this year. Old sites also tend to be slower, harder to use on a phone and harder to keep secure, and each of those carries its own cost in search visibility and lost enquiries. ## How we fix it 1. Step 1 ### Decide between a refresh and a rebuild If the platform is sound, a visual refresh and content update may be enough. If it is unsupported, slow or can't be made to work on mobile, a rebuild is usually better value. We tell you which, and why. 2. Step 2 ### Protect what already works Before anything changes, we record your rankings and traffic, map every old URL to its new home and set up redirects. That is the core of how we handle a [website redesign](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/services/web-design/website-redesign/). 3. Step 3 ### Design for how customers buy now Mobile-first layouts, clear calls to action, real photos and proof, designed by our [web design](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/services/web-design/) team and built on a platform you can update yourself. 4. Step 4 ### Launch, then check the numbers After launch we compare rankings, traffic and enquiries against the baseline, and fix anything that slipped. ## What you can check yourself 1. 1. Update the copyright year, team photos and any services you no longer offer. 2. 2. Replace generic stock photos with photos of your real work, people and premises. 3. 3. Go through every main page on your own phone and note anything hard to read or tap. 4. 4. Make sure your phone number and address match your Google Business Profile exactly. 5. 5. Write down what the site needs to do for customers today. That list becomes the brief for the refresh. \+ Case studies ## Real results Projects where we took on the same kind of problem. Each one links to the full case study. Automotive ### [Turbo & Diesel: a page for every specialist job](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/turbo-diesel-website/) Every specialist job now has its own page customers can find Web Design + Web Development Read case study → Manufacturing ### [Specialised Roading Equipment: visible to Australian buyers too](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/specialised-roading-equipment/) Now visible to buyers browsing the Australian market too Web Design + SEO Read case study → Trades & Services ### [Swish Property Services: a site that matches their reviews](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/swish-property-services/) A site that finally reflects their hundreds of five-star reviews Web Design + SEO Read case study → Real Estate · New Zealand ### [A T Realty Ray White: 155% more organic clicks](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/at-realty-ray-white/) Sellers can now find the right local office in one click +155% Organic Clicks Read case study → [See all case studies](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/case-studies/) ## What our clients say Real reviews from the businesses we have built, ranked and run campaigns for. 5.0 from 70+ reviews > “Our CPA dropped by 66% and lead quality increased 200-300%. Not only almost immediately, but consistent for the last few months.” Paul Zellman BDM, Austar Property Services Jaide Wooler Executive Assistant, Tom Rawson > We’ve been working with Jason from Lucid Media and couldn’t recommend him more. He’s been a fast communicator, proactive, and always willing to help. Jason goes above and beyond with providing recommendations and support. > > The websites he’s built and implemented for us have been excellent. He has captured our business perfectly and ensured that it is user friendly on both desktop/mobile. Fantastic service! Google review Terry Bradley Director, Precision Building Inspectors > Jason and his team have been fantastic to work with from the initial website design and with the ongoing maintenance. They built us a really professional and well-designed site that represents our business well and it has been great having their continued support. > > It is nice to know someone reliable can manage our website and make sure it stays ranking on Google. They are always responsive when we need updates or changes made, and their technical expertise gives us peace of mind. Google review > “I’ve had around 10 websites developed over the years, and Jason is by far the best web developer I’ve ever worked with.” Andrew Baker Owner, Electrical Plus Mitch Taylor Director, Horton Taylor > I have been working with Jason for a year now and he is absolutely brilliant, honest and reliable. His client first approach has meant his work is always on time and to a high standard. > > Most of all he actually gets the results he says he will. Google review Grace Zhang Sunshine Mortgages > Communication with him is always smooth and effortless. The website he created for me exceeded my expectations in every way. I’m genuinely impressed with both the design and the overall structure. > > I’m looking forward to seeing what else the website can bring to me. If you’re thinking about building a website, Jason is definitely the person to go to. Google review > “Absolutely great in delivering our e-commerce website. A great experience from start to finish, and even beyond.” Harry & Maria Owner, Pots of Joy Samir Khanna Director, Professional Financial > Working with Jason @ Lucid Media on our website was a great experience from start to finish. Jason brought our vision to life with creativity and professionalism; he understood what we were after, and this could be seen in the result. > > The design is clean and modern, and the functionality is exactly what we needed. Communication was smooth throughout the entire process, and deadlines were always met. Highly recommend to anyone looking for top-tier web design and development. Google review Alex Mayo Owner, Playceholdr > I had Lucid Media do some SEO work for us and I'm super impressed with the results. Jason also took the time to educate me deeply on the topic so I didn't feel like everything was smoke and mirrors like I have had with previous agencies. Google review Britta Friedrich Manager, MagicGerman > Working with Lucid Media was an excellent experience from start to finish. They took the time to thoroughly analyse our previous website, understand our product, and align with our company goals before creating a new, professional layout and copy. > > They truly went above and beyond, exceeding expectations at every step. I genuinely enjoyed the collaboration and look forward to working with them again in the future. Google review Melitta Adam Founder, Melitta Skin > I had a call with Jason and was so impressed by how in-depth it was. He really listened, understood where I’m at, and gave me a clear action plan that I can actually use. > > It was practical, straightforward, and made me feel confident moving forward with my ads. I couldn’t recommend working with him enough. Google review > “We wanted to bring our idea for an app to life. He turned our ideas into reality.” Alana Saunders Business Manager, A T Realty Andrew Harvey Director, AES Comp > Lucid Media provides great service, quickly establishing and refining our website. They are always available to us when we need changes made. > > Expert in SEO which is critical, our company now ranks at the top of Google searches, alongside our international suppliers but ahead of other agents around the world. We totally recommend Lucid as a highly competent and committed website developer and manager. Google review Ratu Tau Trekway Shuttle > We had previously used another digital company for our website and digital marketing… things went downhill quickly, and our business suffered badly. > > Within 30 minutes, we were on a Teams meeting discussing the problems we were facing. By 2am, Jason had sent us a detailed report… By 4pm, our Google Ads were back up and running. > > Everything was turned around in less than 24 hours… seeing results that quickly was honestly incredible. > > Jason and the team at Lucid Media have helped get our business back on solid ground… Young, full of energy, passionate, and genuinely driven to help businesses succeed. Google review Alex Fladgate Owner, JunkBoss > Jason created our JunkBoss company website from start to finish. He always responded immediately, shared great ideas, and the final site looks spectacular!! > > Highly recommend to anyone looking to get their website done. Google review > “They took the time to understand our vision and business needs, translating them into a stunning, user-friendly website.” Dev Dhingra CEO, Fundmaster Isaac Smith Managing Director, PSI > Communication was insanely good, the work Jason provided me with was on a new level and blew me away. If you’re looking for someone who will go above and beyond for you then he is your man. Google review Tyler Newman Tillen Finance > From the start, Jason has taken the time to understand my business properly rather than just pushing a generic marketing setup. We’ve built out a new website, landing pages, CRM integration, Google Ads and Meta campaigns, and the attention to detail across everything has been excellent. > > What stands out most is his responsiveness and willingness to adapt quickly. Any time we’ve needed changes or seen something in the data, he’s on it straight away and is always looking for ways to improve performance rather than just letting campaigns run. > > The key difference is that he genuinely feels invested in the success of the business, not just running ads in the background. Google review > “He was really acting in our best interests and went beyond what we were expecting him to achieve.” Brianna Hoy Managing Director, PplPeople Fiona Ashford Manager, Fee Funders > When the finance company I manage, Fee Funders, changed ownership, Lucid Media took over all aspects of our IT and technology, and the impact has been outstanding. Jason quickly learned our legacy systems, implemented critical changes during the transition, and then led the development of our new software platform and reporting systems. > > Jason is exceptional across all areas of technology, both front-end and back-end. He’s practical, solutions-focused, and genuinely understands business needs as well as the technical side. Google review Lynnae Sands Manager, Windsor Industries > Jason has been awesome to work with over the last few months. Whenever we've had any sort of issue with our website, he is extremely prompt in resolving it. Very professional and helpful, I highly recommend. Google review > “Jason is exceptional, excellent communications, a highly motivated individual. Such rare traits - very happy with his development work for us!” Eddie Director, PlastiCard Joel D'leema Director, TSB Living > Jason has been awesome in the work he has done for us. He is fast, very responsive and professional. Would highly recommend. Google review J-Tip It Google review > The team at Lucid Media have provided excellent service while recently coming in to help position J-Tip It to where they need to be! > > We are absolutely blown away with their quick responses, smooth customer service and their initiative to stay 10-steps ahead at all times. Results are immediate and the cost is undeniably justified. > > If you want to be in safe hands, choose Lucid! Google review > “The site looks clean, professional, and easy to use. He made the whole process super simple and stress-free.” Aidan Fraei Agent, Ray White ## Frequently asked questions Straight answers to what people ask us about this. If yours isn't here, ask it below. [Get your free audit](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/outdated-website/#booking) **How do I know if my website design is outdated?** If the text is small, the layout is cramped, it doesn't work properly on a phone, or it still shows old services and photos, it is outdated. Other signs are a theme or platform that no longer gets updates, auto-playing media and cluttered navigation. If customers or staff have commented on it looking dated, trust that feedback. **How much does a website redesign cost in New Zealand?** It depends on the number of pages, any custom features, and whether you sell online. We quote after a free audit, and the quote sets out exactly what is included before any work starts. **How long does a website redesign take?** It depends on the size of the site and how quickly content and feedback come together. A small business site is a much shorter project than a large one with e-commerce or custom features. We work in clear milestones, so you see progress and give feedback at each stage. **Will I lose my Google rankings if I redesign my website?** Not if the redesign is handled properly. We set up 301 redirects from every old URL to its new equivalent, keep the content that already ranks, and check Search Console after launch so anything that slips gets fixed quickly. **Should I update my existing site or start from scratch?** It depends on your current platform and how outdated the site is. If the underlying technology is solid, a visual refresh and content update may be enough. If it runs on an old platform, has security problems or can't be made responsive, a rebuild is usually better value than patching. **Can I update my new website myself after launch?** Yes. We build on platforms that let you edit text, swap images and publish posts without touching any code. \+ Related ## Problems that often come with this one - [Poor mobile experience](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/poor-mobile-experience/) Your site works on a desktop but is hard to read, tap and use on a phone. - [Slow website](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/slow-website/) Pages take too long to load, and visitors leave before they see what you offer. - [Losing to competitors online](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/losing-to-competitors/) Competitors show up first, look more credible, and win work that should be yours. [All website problems we fix](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/solutions/) ## Find out whether your site needs a refresh or a rebuild. Tell us about your site. We'll look at what is causing the problem and come back with a plain-English plan for fixing it. No obligation. Free consultation & quote Response within 24 hours No obligation to proceed [info@lucidmedia.co.nz](mailto:info@lucidmedia.co.nz) [+64 27 582 4369](tel:+64275824369)