How Often Do Websites Need To Be Updated?

Hey there! If we haven’t met yet, I’m Jordin—the creative brain behind Unica Formo. I build websites that not only look amazing but also work seamlessly to attract your dream clients. Whether you’re rocking a Showit template or going fully custom, I make sure your online home is doing its job so you can focus on what you do best. Now, let’s talk about a question I hear all the time: How often do websites need to be updated? The short answer? More often than you think. The long answer? Let’s break it down.

The Bare Minimum: Yearly Functionality Updates

At the very least, your website needs a yearly check-up—like a doctor’s visit, but for your business. Even if you’re not changing your branding or offerings, things under the hood still need some attention.

Set a Yearly Website Maintenance Meeting

One of the best things you can do is schedule a recurring “Website Check-Up” on your calendar—yes, literally block out an hour once a year (or even once a quarter) to go through these updates:

✅ Check for Broken Links
Broken links frustrate visitors and hurt your SEO. Here are some free tools to scan your site:

• Dead Link Checker – Scans your entire site for broken links.
• Broken Link Check – Free tool for identifying broken internal and external links.
• Ahrefs Broken Link Checker – More advanced but useful for bigger sites.

If you find broken links, either update them or redirect them using a tool like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) or your website’s built-in redirect settings.

I highly recommend Broken Link Checker, and have it scan my website on a monthly basis to ensure everything on my website is working properly. BUT, I am a web designer, and I blog every week, so I am constantly updating and tweaking things so I do it more than most people would need to.

🔄 Update Plugins & Software
If your website runs on a platform like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace, keeping your plugins and software up to date is crucial. Outdated plugins can break functionality, cause security vulnerabilities, and slow down your site.

• WordPress Users: Log into your dashboard and update plugins manually under the “Plugins” tab.
• Shopify Users: Shopify updates automatically, but check for new app versions in the Shopify App Store.
• Squarespace & Showit Users: These platforms handle updates for you, but always check if you need to refresh any integrations (like email forms or analytics).

One thing I love about Showit (and dislike about WordPress) is that Showit doesn’t require plugins for basic functionality. With WordPress, you often need multiple plugins just to make things work, which can lead to compatibility issues and security risks. Learn more about why I recommend Showit in this post.

📧 Test Contact Forms & Checkout Processes
Nothing worse than realizing your “Book Now” or “Buy Now” button hasn’t been working for months. Test:

• Forms – Submit a test form and make sure you receive it.
• E-commerce Checkout – Go through your checkout process as a customer.
• Booking Links – If you use Calendly, Acuity, or another scheduling tool, ensure links are still correct.

📆 Update Copyright Year & Business Information
Your footer should always have the current year. If it still says 2022, that’s an instant red flag.

Other things to check:

• Address and contact info
• Social media links
• Team bios (especially if someone has left or joined!)

SEO Updates: How Often Should You Update Website Content?

If you want Google to keep sending people your way, updating your website isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation. Search engines prioritize fresh, relevant content, which means you should be making updates regularly.

📝 How Often to Update Different Types of Content

Content Type	Update Frequency
Blog Posts	At least once a month (or update old posts!)
Service Pages	Quarterly—refresh testimonials, results, or pricing changes
Metadata & Keywords	Every 6 months—make sure your keywords are still ranking
Homepage	As needed—testimonials, offers, and brand messaging should be fresh

🚀 Free SEO Tools to Keep Your Website Updated

• Google Search Console – Find pages that need updates based on traffic.
• Ubersuggest – Discover keyword trends and content gaps.
• AnswerThePublic – See what people are searching for in your industry.

If your website feels stale and traffic is dipping, it might be time to refresh your strategy.

Redesigning vs. Updating: Knowing the Difference

Updating your website is like changing the oil in your car—necessary for keeping it running. But redesigning? That’s trading in your old sedan for a sleek new Tesla.

🔄 When Do You Need a Website Redesign?

• Your branding has evolved – If your website no longer matches your vibe or business direction, a redesign is in order.
• It’s been 3+ years – Design trends change. If your site looks outdated, it might be hurting your credibility.
• Your user experience is suffering – If visitors aren’t converting, it could be a sign that your layout or messaging needs a total refresh.

For more signs it’s time to redesign, check out this post.

⏳ How Often Should You Redesign? Most businesses redesign their website every 3-5 years. If your website is bringing in leads and functioning well, you can stretch that timeline. But if you’re embarrassed to send people your link? It’s time.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Website Working For You

Your website isn’t a static business card—it’s a living, breathing tool that should be working for you 24/7. The more you invest in keeping it updated, the better results you’ll see.

To make this easy, set a quarterly website check-up on your calendar and use the free tools I shared above. If you’re overdue for a website refresh and don’t have the time (or patience) to handle it yourself, let’s chat. I’d love to help you get your site back in top shape!

📩 Need help? Book a website refresh with me today!

 

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