Website Redesign ROI: How It Cuts Costs and Drives Revenue for Established Businesses

Two professionals analyze website performance: one examines an upward growth chart on a monitor with a magnifying glass, while the other reviews website documents during a redesign process.

In today’s digital-first world, a website is no longer just a brochure—it is a core business engine.

For established companies with outdated sites, poor design can quietly drain resources through lost leads, high bounce rates, and rising maintenance costs. A strategic redesign can reverse this trend, turning your website into a cost-efficient, revenue-supporting asset. Industry research supports this approach.

The Hidden Costs of an Outdated Website

Many long-established businesses find their websites reflect past trends—slow load times, clunky navigation, and non-mobile-friendly layouts. These issues aren’t just frustrating; they can be costly. High bounce rates mean money spent on traffic may not convert, while poor UX can increase customer support needs and lost sales.

Research from McKinsey’s 2018 report, The Business Value of Design, companies prioritizing design —including digital and web experiences—see 32% higher revenue growth and 56% better total returns to shareholders compared to industry peers.

Industry summaries of UX research often cite Forrester findings suggesting that every dollar invested in user experience can yield up to $100 in return—a figure widely referenced in UX literature and case studies, though the underlying report itself is proprietary and accessible through the Forrester research portal.

For established businesses, ignoring these insights means leaving significant money on the table.

Real-World Wins: How Redesigns Deliver ROI

Redesigns often lead to measurable improvements in usability, conversions, and operational efficiency. Case studies across industries demonstrate that:

  • Redesigns can reduce support costs by streamlining processes and eliminating friction points.
  • Optimised UX can increase conversions, improve form completion rates, and enhance customer satisfaction.
  • Performance-focused updates can boost traffic and engagement, while reducing dependence on paid marketing channels.

Signs Your Business Needs a Redesign Now

Here are the commonly agreed-upon signs (based on 2025–2026 web design reports, statistics, and expert consensus) that your current website likely needs a redesign. Many businesses should refresh their site every 2–4 years to stay competitive, as user expectations, mobile usage, and search engine standards evolve rapidly.

If your site is over 3-5 years old, check for these signs:

1. Outdated or Unprofessional Visual Design

If your site looks like it’s from the early 2010s (cluttered layouts, tiny fonts, heavy shadows, or mismatched colours), it hurts credibility. UX research indicates most users judge a brand’s trustworthiness by website design.

Modern websites favour clean layouts, white space, bold typography, and subtle animations.

2. Not Mobile-Friendly (Non-Responsive Design)

Most web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site doesn’t adapt smoothly to phones or tablets, you risk losing visitors and rankings.

3. Difficult Navigation or Poor User Experience

Confusing menus, too many clicks to find information, broken links, or outdated content frustrate visitors and can hurt SEO.

4. High Bounce Rate, Low Conversions, or Declining Traffic

Analytics showing high bounce rates (typically above 55%), low time-on-site, poor conversions, or declining organic traffic are strong indicators that your site isn’t engaging users. UX and web design professionals often cite these patterns as triggers for a redesign

Other Common Red Flags

  • Doesn’t match your current brand — New services, logo, or messaging not reflected.
  • Hard to update content — Requires developers for simple changes.
  • Security issues — Outdated tech and no HTTPS.
  • Competitors look far better — If their sites feel more modern and functional, you’re at a disadvantage.

If your site shows 3+ of these signs, a redesign (or at least a major refresh) is usually worth it — can help improve traffic, leads, and revenue.

How to Get Started and Maximize ROI

  1. Set Clear Goals: Define measurable outcomes, such as traffic growth or cost reduction targets.
  2. Go Data-Driven: Analyze user behaviour before implementing changes.
  3. Partner Wisely: Work with designers who focus on ROI for established businesses.
  4. Track ROI Post-Launch: Monitor conversions, support requests, and revenue to quantify success.

For established businesses, a website redesign is not an option; it is essential for staying competitive and profitable. The evidence is clear: It saves money, boosts efficiency, and unlocks growth.

Reach Out Today
Scroll to Top