6 Signs Your Economic Development Website Is Outdated – And What To Do About It

Your website is often your first impression—and for economic development organizations, it’s more than just a digital business card. It’s your pitch deck, data hub and storefront all rolled into one. You’re not just losing style points if it’s clunky, confusing or outdated. You could be losing leads.

Here are six red flags that indicate it may be time for a website redesign—and what to do if you spot them.

1. Your site isn’t mobile-friendly (and your analytics prove it)

Why it matters:

Most site visits now come from mobile devices. If your site isn’t responsive or mobile visitors have to pinch and zoom to read your content, they bounce. Quickly.

What to check:

• Do your mobile bounce rates skew high?
• Does your layout break or look awkward on a phone?
• Are clickable elements too small or close together?

What to do:

Audit your mobile experience with tools like Hubspot’s Website Grader. A redesign can ensure that your layout adapts gracefully across devices without sacrificing functionality.

2. It takes forever to load

Why it matters:

A slow site isn’t just annoying; it’s a lead killer. Google research shows that bounce rates increase by 32% when page load time jumps from one second to three seconds.

What to check:

• Use tools like PageSpeed Insights.
• Watch for oversized images, bloated code or outdated plug-ins.

What to do:

If performance issues are baked into your site’s infrastructure, it’s often faster (and cheaper long-term) to rebuild than to band-aid.

3. Your messaging hasn’t kept up with your strategy

Why it matters:

If you’ve evolved your goals but your site still talks like it’s 2014—you’re sending mixed signals to site selectors, partners and local businesses.

What to check:

• Does your homepage reflect your current priorities (e.g., talent attraction, innovation, equity)?
• Are key audiences finding what they need fast?

What to do:

Use a redesign as a chance to rethink content hierarchy and messaging. At DCI, we start every project with the strategy to ensure your site aligns with your brand and audience goals.

4. Visitors can’t find anything (and they’re not sticking around)

Why it matters:

If your bounce rate is high and your pages per session are low, your navigation may be working against you. Confusing menus and buried content frustrate users and send them packing.

What to check:

• Are key resources buried under vague menu labels?
• Do internal teams struggle to point partners to specific pages?

What to do:

Simplify your site map and navigation structure. DCI often conducts stakeholder interviews and heatmap testing to identify what people are looking for and how to streamline the visitor journey to find it.

5. Your backend is a nightmare

Why it matters:

Even the prettiest site isn’t effective if your team can’t update it. If it takes a developer to add a PDF or fix a typo, your CMS is holding you hostage.

What to check:

• Is your CMS intuitive for non-tech staff?
• Can you easily add, update, and reorder content?
• Are there broken links or outdated plugins?

What to do:

Modern websites should be easy to manage. Our redesigns include training, documentation and drag-and-drop modules that let your team stay nimble.

6. You’re embarrassed to share it

Why it matters:

If you avoid your own URL or apologize before someone clicks it, your gut is telling you it’s time.

What to check:

• Do you hesitate to send your site to a site selector, business owner or talent partner?
• Does your site reflect the pride you have in your community?

What to do:

A redesign should elevate (not just modernize) your digital presence. Your website is a window into your region’s future, and it should make you proud.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s not just you. Website standards—and audience expectations—are evolving fast. And economic development websites don’t just need to look good. They need to work.

Ready for a website that reflects who you are and where you’re going? Reach out to Website Director Shanleigh McStay at Shanleigh.McStay@aboutdci.com to chat.