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Is It Time for a Website Refresh? Signs Your Wellness Brand Needs a Design Overhaul
- Shayah Reed, Founder
- Mar 21
- 5 min read
Your website is like your front door. It's the perfect place to make a good first impression - and you only get one chance at a first impression!
The importance of wellness website design often gets overlooked. It shouldn't just look pretty; it's a hub for connection, education, and building trust with your community.
A well-designed, functional website can help your health and wellness business shine, while an outdated or tricky-to-navigate site may turn away potential clients.
But how can you tell whether a website refresh is needed or when you need a total overhaul?
Let’s break it down...
***At the end we will also share a free resource to help you assess the effectiveness of your website!
Outdated Design and Functionality
First impressions matter. An outdated wellness website can immediately send the wrong message.
Several factors can contribute to this. For example, the layout could be outdated, the images could be poor quality or pixelated, or the design doesn’t work on mobile devices. These elements can chip away at positioning your trust and credibility.
Outdated websites are often slow. Everything takes just a little too long to load, and people don't usually have patience for that. Studies show that website visitors will leave within 7 seconds if they aren't convinced they're in the right place! This means slow load times are not your friend.
These technical issues can be really frustrating for users, making them more likely to leave your site without taking the time to scroll around and explore your story or what you have to offer. How unfortunate!
An outdated wellness website design might also have cluttered layouts or broken elements, such as Flash components that no longer work.
For example, imagine a wellness spa that relies on a website built 10 or 15 years ago. While their offerings might be super current and relevant, the website colors could clash with today’s aesthetic trends, they would not appear to be "high end" in a competitive market, and the site may lack mobile compatibility. In a super mobile-friendly world, that will alienate clients searching on their phones.
Your Wellness Website Design No Longer Reflects Your Brand
You've probably changed over time, and we bet your business has, too!
Maybe you’ve expanded or changed your offerings, shifted your mission or values, or started working with a fresh visual identity. If your website doesn’t reflect these changes, it might send unaligned messages to your audience.
Signs of misalignment in your website design can include:
outdated color schemes
irrelevant photos
dated design and layout styles
old messaging that no longer resonates
For example, if your business has shifted from general fitness classes to a focus on specific holistic healing therapies, a website with photos of weightlifting equipment could be confusing.
An updated wellness website design means allowing your values and services to shine through. Consistent messaging, aligned imagery, and a clear purpose help build trust and attract the customers you're looking for.
It’s worth the effort to make sure your website authentically represents where your brand is today.
Poor User Experience (UX)
We want your wellness website design to be as easy as possible for your audience to navigate. It should be welcoming and intuitive for all users.
Poor UX, such as hard-to-find contact information, confusing menus, or a lack of accessibility features, can discourage potential clients from engaging further.
Broken links, missing pages, and unresponsive forms are red flags. They tell users that your website has been neglected. Mobile-unfriendly designs also fall into this category because they alienate users who expect an easy browsing experience on their devices.
Let's say you run a wellness clinic that advertises on social media but directs clients to a website where appointment booking is nearly impossible to find. Even if the services are amazing, the frustration of navigating the website might drive potential clients to your competitors.
Improving UX by adding straightforward navigation, intuitive forms, easy to find appointment booking, and accessibility tools (like screen reader compatibility) creates a better experience for everyone and ensures your clients can focus on your services instead of struggling to use your website.
Low Engagement and Conversions
You have a website for a reason, right? You may want inquiries, bookings, or newsletter sign-ups. If those aren't happening, it’s a strong indicator that it’s time for a refresh.
A poorly performing website will often have high bounce rates, low traffic, or few conversions, signaling that something isn’t landing with your visitors.
It's super important to ensure you are using mindful and ethical copywriting techniques that resonate with your website visitors.
Take a look at these blog posts below where we go into detail on this topic!
Using current SEO practices, engaging calls to action, and clear paths for users to take the next steps are all so important for turning casual website visits into meaningful interactions with your business.
For example, a yoga studio website with outdated SEO might struggle to appear in local search results, missing out on potential clients searching for classes nearby.
Adding user-friendly features like online booking, FAQs, or downloadable resources can also encourage engagement. By adding fresh, SEO-optimized content that reflects your expertise, you can attract visitors and keep them coming back.
Keeping Up with Competitors
This is a big one and one of the most common reasons why we work with our clients on a wellness website redesign - they want to be competitive!
There's a lot of competition in the health and wellness industry. Your website is an essential ingredient for standing out. If your competitors’ sites look and function better than yours, it could be time for a little makeover.
Perhaps another local wellness clinic has added an educational blog, interactive quizzes, or launched an online store for health products, while your site still relies on mostly static text. Some clients may view the more dynamic and modern site as a sign of professionalism or innovation, even if your services are just as (or more!) valuable.
Doing a competitor analysis can help you identify areas where your website might not be hitting the mark.
Consider incorporating features like virtual consultations, online booking, or engaging content to ensure you stay relevant and appealing in such a crowded market.
Is it Time for a Wellness Website Design Refresh?
Your website reflects so much about your health and wellness company - your mission, values, and expertise. An effective website builds trust, supports client engagement, and helps your business stand out.
→ If you’re starting to feel that your current website doesn’t align with the direction of your brand or expertise and isn’t serving your clients as well as it could, it might be time for a refresh.
TAKE OUR FREE DIAGNOSTIC WEBSITE QUIZ
Wondering if your website is truly supporting your practice's growth, or if it's holding you back? Uncover the hidden strengths and weaknesses of your website with our free diagnostic quiz! You’ll receive customized results and insights based on your answers and opportunities for growth that you can implement right away to increase leads and transform your practice.
Is your website keeping your practice from thriving?
A thoughtfully designed website can be an amazing way to connect with the clients who need your services most, and should be an asset to your practice!
The Virtuwell Balance team specializes in creating wellness websites that feel authentic, professional, and impactful. If you’re ready to align your online presence with your vision, let’s connect!
Shayah Reed
Virtuwell Balance Founder
P.S. We have a WEEKLY RESOURCE for Clinicians and Practitioners who are seeking genuine yet effective ways to market their business.
If you're ready to transform your marketing approach to align with your values, stay ahead of trends, and join thousands of like-minded practitioners who are learning to market their practice in a way that FEELS GOOD, click here to join us!