7 signs your business website needs updating

Nov 9, 2026 · Taylor

Most small business websites get built once and then left alone. That's normal: you're busy running the business. But a website that was fine a few years ago can quietly start working against you.

Here are seven signs your website needs updating that you can check yourself in about five minutes. You don't need to be technical. For each one we'll say what it is, why customers notice, and how to check. One or two ticks isn't a disaster. It just tells you where to start.

Before you start: grab your phone, and have your website open on it. Most of these checks are easier on a phone than on a computer.

1. The footer shows an old copyright year

What it is: at the very bottom of most websites there's a line like "© 2019". It's meant to show the year the site was made or last looked after.

Why customers notice: an old year is a small thing on its own. But it can make a visitor wonder whether the business is still going, and whether the opening hours and prices above it are still right.

How to check: scroll to the bottom of your home page and read the year. If it's several years old, it's worth checking everything above it too.

2. It's hard to use on a phone

What it is: the site was built for a computer screen, so on a phone you have to pinch and zoom, the text is tiny, or buttons are hard to tap.

Why customers notice: business.gov.au says mobile devices are responsible for over half of the world's internet traffic and tells owners to design their website to work on mobiles as well as desktop computers. Google says it uses the mobile version of a site's content for indexing and ranking, and recommends a design that works well on phones.

How to check: open your website on your phone. Can you read the text without zooming? Can you tap the menu and the buttons easily? Does anything run off the side of the screen? If you're squinting, so are your customers.

3. There's no padlock in the browser

What it is: the padlock (or a similar secure symbol) next to a web address means the connection to the site is private. Without it, the browser may say "Not secure".

Why customers notice: Chrome's help page says the "Not secure" symbol means the site doesn't use a private connection, so someone may be able to view and change the information you send through the site. It says the site owner must secure the site with HTTPS. A "Not secure" warning on a business website, especially one with a contact form, doesn't build trust.

How to check: look at the address bar when your site is open. Do you see a padlock or a warning like "Not secure"? Also try typing your web address starting with "https://". If you get a warning page, tell whoever looks after your site.

4. There's no tap-to-call button for your phone number

What it is: a phone number that's just plain text. On a phone, tapping it should open the dialler with your number ready to call. If it doesn't, the customer has to remember or copy the number.

Why customers notice: someone looking you up on their phone may want to ring you right away. Every extra step is a chance for them to give up and try someone else.

How to check: on your phone, find your number on your site and tap it. Does your phone offer to call? If it does nothing, you need a tap-to-call link. It's a simple fix for whoever looks after your site.

5. Opening hours or prices are out of date

What it is: the hours, prices, services or address on your site no longer match what you actually do.

Why customers notice: this one costs the most. Someone turns up on a day you're closed, or expects a price you no longer charge. They're annoyed before they've even met you.

How to check: read your own site as if you were a new customer. Check the hours, the prices, the address, the phone number and the list of services. Include public holiday hours. Business.gov.au suggests putting the most important information first, so make sure the up-to-date version is the one that's easy to find.

6. It's slow to load on a phone

What it is: the page takes a long time to show up, or jumps around while it loads.

Why customers notice: people on mobile data won't wait around. Google's web.dev guidance says the main content of a page should appear within 2.5 seconds of the page starting to load. Large photos can slow a page down.

How to check: turn off Wi-Fi so your phone uses mobile data, close the page, and open your site from scratch. Count. If you reach about five and you're still looking at a blank screen or a half-loaded page, it's slow. This is a rough check, not a measurement, and it will vary with your phone signal.

7. You can't change anything without calling someone

What it is: to update a price, swap a photo or fix a typo, you have to email your web person, wait, and sometimes pay.

Why customers notice: they don't see this one directly. They see the result: stale hours, old prices and the same photo from years ago, because changing it is a chore.

How to check: ask yourself how long it would take to change your Saturday opening hours right now. If the answer is "I'd have to chase someone", that's your sign. A site you can change yourself, or by simply asking, stays accurate.

So how many did you tick?

• One or two: a small fix may be all you need. Ask whoever looks after your site to sort the specific item.
• Three or more, or the site is several years old: it may be time for a fresh start rather than patching.

If you decide to rebuild it yourself, our list of the 10 best free website builders for Australian small businesses compares the main options honestly. If you'd rather have it done for you, that's our own service, Yes Boss Websites, and you can see a finished site before you pay anything.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my website needs updating?

Check the seven things above: the copyright year, how it works on a phone, the padlock, tap-to-call, opening hours and prices, how fast it loads, and whether you can change anything without calling someone. One or two ticks just tells you where to start.

Is an old copyright year really a problem?

On its own it's small. But it can make a visitor wonder whether the business is still going, and whether the hours and prices above it are still right.

What does "Not secure" on my website mean?

Chrome's help page says the "Not secure" symbol means the site doesn't use a private connection, so someone may be able to view and change the information you send through it. The site owner must secure the site with HTTPS.

Should I update my website or start again?

If you tick one or two signs, a small fix may be all you need. If you tick three or more, or the site is several years old, it may be time for a fresh start rather than patching.

Sources

Facts quoted from the pages below, checked 9 November 2026.

• Set up a business website, business.gov.au
• Mobile-first indexing best practices, Google Search Central
• Check if a site's connection is secure, Chrome Help
• Why HTTPS matters, web.dev
• Web Vitals, web.dev