It’s a common dilemma for organizations of all sizes: your website isn’t quite cutting it anymore. But how do you decide whether to invest in a significant overhaul of your existing site or bite the bullet and build a brand new one from scratch? At Philstack, we help clients navigate this exact question, and the answer isn’t always straightforward.
Let’s break down when a website “rehab” might be the right path, and when it’s time for a fresh start.
When Your Website is Worth Saving (Rehab!)
There are many instances where your current website has good bones and just needs some strategic work to shine. Here’s when a rehabilitation project makes sense:
Good Design, Tech Troubles: Perhaps your website’s visual appeal and information architecture (how content is organized and navigated) are solid, but you’re plagued by technical glitches, slow loading times, or security vulnerabilities. These are often solvable problems. Think of it like a beautiful house with a leaky roof – you wouldn’t tear down the whole house, you’d fix the roof! (A quick side note: sometimes what appears to be a “tech problem” is actually a “training problem” – more on that in a future post!).
Solid Tech, Design Flaws: Conversely, your website might be technically robust, but its design feels dated, cluttered, or simply doesn’t reflect your current brand. This is a prime candidate for a design refresh. Updating visuals, improving user experience, and streamlining content can give your site a whole new lease on life without needing to rebuild the underlying structure.
When It’s Time to Start Over (New Build!)
Sometimes, the challenges with your current website are too deeply embedded to make rehabilitation cost-effective or even truly effective. In these cases, a fresh start is often the most efficient and beneficial approach:
Both Tech and Design Are Meh (or Worse): If your website is struggling on both technical and design fronts – think clunky code, broken links, an unappealing aesthetic, and a confusing user experience – the cost and effort of fixing everything individually can quickly outweigh the benefits. It’s like trying to patch up a crumbling old building; sometimes, it’s safer and smarter to demolish and rebuild.
Unmanageable Cost of Ownership: Is your website draining your budget with excessive fees? This could be due to:
High Software License Fees: You might be locked into expensive licensing agreements for your current web software that no longer make financial sense.
Excessive Consulting Fees: If you’re constantly relying on external consultants for basic website management because your team can’t handle it in-house, it’s a strong indicator that your current setup is inefficient. A new build can prioritize a more manageable and sustainable solution for your team.
Significant Organizational Changes: Has your organization undergone a major transformation? This could include a complete rebrand, a shift in core business focus, or a substantial expansion of services. In such cases, your existing website may no longer accurately or effectively represent your organization’s new identity and goals. A new website built from the ground up can perfectly encapsulate your new direction.
Philstack Can Help You Decide (and Execute!)
Whether you’re leaning towards a website rehab or a complete rebuild, Philstack is here to guide you through the process. We can help you assess your current website’s strengths and weaknesses, evaluate the potential costs and benefits of each approach, and ultimately help you make the best decision for your organization’s unique needs. And once that decision is made, we’re here to help you execute it flawlessly, ensuring your website truly serves as a powerful asset.