When you first started your design business, your website probably did exactly what it needed to. Maybe you built it yourself over a weekend, or a friend helped you get something up. That's how so many businesses start, and there's nothing wrong with it.
But businesses grow. Your work gets better, your clients change, and somewhere along the way your website stops keeping up. I work with interior designers, decorators, kitchen and bath designers and home builders across Oakville, Burlington and the GTA, and these are the five signs I see most often.
1. You feel a little embarrassed sending people to it
This is the big one. If someone asks for your website and you hear yourself say "it's a bit out of date" or "just look at my Instagram instead," your site has stopped working for you.
Your website is often the first place a referral goes to check you out. It should be something you're proud to share, not something you apologize for.
2. Your portfolio doesn't show your current work
Your best projects are probably your most recent ones. If your site still features rooms you finished years ago, people aren't seeing what you can really do today.
Why this happens
Usually it's not that you don't want to update it. It's that updating is a pain. Maybe you have to email someone every time, the platform is clunky, or you can't remember your login.
The fix
That's a big reason I build on Squarespace. It's so user friendly. Once your site is built, you can add new projects and photos yourself, anytime. At launch, I walk you through exactly how to do it, so you're never stuck.
3. It doesn't look right on a phone
Pull up your website on your phone right now. Are the photos crisp? Can you read the text without zooming in? Is the menu easy to tap?
Plenty of potential clients will see your site on their phone first. If it's hard to use, they may move on before they ever see your beautiful work.
4. Your brand has changed, but your website hasn't
Maybe you've shifted from decorating to full renovations. Maybe you're working with a different kind of client now, or focusing on kitchens and baths. Maybe you updated your logo, but your site still shows the old one.
When your website tells a different story than your business, it can confuse people. The right clients might not realize you're the right fit.
If it's your brand itself that feels out of step, my post on brand refresh vs. rebrand can help you figure out what you need.
5. It isn't bringing you inquiries
A website should do more than sit there looking nice. It should help people take the next step. If you rarely hear from anyone through your site, a few things may be getting in the way:
There's no clear "Book a consultation" button
Your services aren't explained, so people aren't sure what you offer
Your contact page is hard to find
Your site doesn't say where you work, like Oakville, Burlington or the GTA
These are often simple fixes, and they can make a real difference in how many people reach out.
So, what's next?
If you nodded along to two or more of these, it's probably time for a new website. The good news is that it doesn't have to drag on forever.
My process takes about 6 weeks from our first call to launch. If your brand needs some attention too, we tackle that in weeks 1 to 3, then design and build your Squarespace site in weeks 3 to 6.
You won't be doing it alone
I share a simple checklist for your photos, project details and bio, and I can help write and polish your copy, so you're never staring at a blank page. Before anything goes live, you walk through the whole site and send me your feedback.
At the end, you'll have a site that matches the quality of your work, and one you can easily keep up to date yourself.
Let's chat
If your website is feeling a little small for your business, I'd love to hear about it. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll talk about where you are now and where you'd like to go. No pressure at all.