Every month
Update WordPress, plugins and themes
Check that backups are running
Send a test enquiry through every form
There's no fixed rule. Many businesses plan a full refresh every few years, and two to three years is common guidance, but the better trigger is when the site stops doing its job. Keep it maintained in between, and a redesign becomes a choice rather than an emergency.
It looks older than your business
It isn't bringing in enquiries
Simple changes have become hard work
It's slow, especially on mobile
Your services or brand have changed
Plugins or the theme are no longer supported
Maintain, refresh or redesign?
Maintenance is the ongoing work: updates, backups and security checks. A refresh updates the design and content on the same foundations. A redesign rethinks the structure, the design and often the build.
Older sites collect outdated plugins, themes and code. Keeping WordPress, plugins and themes updated reduces the risk, and a refresh is a chance to replace anything that's no longer supported.
Search standards and visitor expectations move on. A site built several years ago may be slower and less well structured than its competitors. A refresh can resize and compress images, tidy the code and improve hosting.
Design conventions change, and a site that looked sharp a few years ago can now look dated. New tools, such as Elementor 4's global classes and variables, can also make the site easier to manage.
Rules on data protection, cookies and accessibility change over time. A refresh is a good moment to check cookie consent, privacy information and accessibility.
New services, a new market or a rebrand are often the best reasons of all. If the website no longer describes what you do, it's time.
Between redesigns
Regular care keeps a site useful for longer, and makes the next redesign easier to plan.
Update WordPress, plugins and themes
Check that backups are running
Send a test enquiry through every form
Review Search Console for errors and drops
Check speed on your key pages
Add new reviews and case studies
Review your content and services
Check accessibility and cookie consent
Decide whether a refresh is due
Is it time?
Book a free 30-minute call and we'll tell you whether your site needs a refresh, a redesign or just better upkeep.