the splash zone | the whale tail digital blog

The 15-minute website reset: what to check before you decide to redesign

It’s that funny in-between time after Christmas, isn’t it? Everything feels a bit liminal – not quite holiday mode, not quite work mode. You’re probably thinking about the year ahead, maybe jotting down some goals for 2026, and if you’re anything like my clients, “sort out the website” is somewhere on that list.

But before you commit to a full redesign (or spend months second-guessing whether you even need one 😵‍💫), there’s a much simpler place to start.

A quick reset check.

Because sometimes, your website doesn’t need a complete overhaul. It just needs clarity, a few strategic tweaks, and a shift in perspective.

And that shift? It’s this: your website is not for you. It’s for your clients.

I know, I know. You’ve probably heard this before. Bear with me, because this is the single most important thing to remember when you’re evaluating your website (or planning a refresh).

Yes, you might love the story of how you started your business. Yes, that photo from your first event is sentimental. Yes, your brand colours make you happy.

But here’s the question that matters: does your website help your clients understand how you can help THEM?

If the answer is “I’m not sure,” then you’re in the right place. Here’s a calm, no-drama “website reset” you can do in about 15 minutes (total, not per item).

No tech degree required. No Canva spiral. Just a quick check that tells you whether you need a tweak, a tune-up, or a bigger plan.

Save this for when you’re back at your desk. Future you will be grateful.

Your website redesign checklist

1. Start with your goal (not your homepage)

This is the one everyone skips – and it’s the most important.

Before you poke at fonts or colours, ask yourself: What do I actually want this website to do in 2026?

Not “look pretty” or “feel more modern.” I mean the real, tangible goal.

Is it to:

Book more discovery calls?
Increase donations or applications?
Educate your audience so they arrive ready to work with you?
Showcase your work and build credibility?

Because here’s what I see all the time (even in my own work): we get so focused on OUR story, OUR journey, OUR brand aesthetic… that we forget the website isn’t actually for us.

It’s for your clients.

Your website is a tool to help them solve a problem, reach a goal, or feel confident choosing you. That’s it.

So before you do anything else, get clear on what success looks like from their perspective.

Your 15-minute action:

Write down one sentence: “The main thing I want someone to do after visiting my website is ___________.”

Keep that front and centre for everything that follows.

2. Can someone understand what you do in 5 seconds?

Quick clarity test. If someone lands on your homepage and has no idea what you do (or who you help) within five seconds, you’ve lost them.

And no, “we empower [vague thing] to achieve [abstract goal]” doesn’t count. 😬

Your visitors have one question running through their mind the second they land on your site: “What’s in it for me?”

Not “who are you” or “what’s your story” – but “can you help me, and how?”

So tell them. Clearly. Quickly. Without making them dig for it.

A homepage that leads with your origin story, a poetic but vague headline, or buttons that say ‘Learn more’ twelve times…? Chances are, people are bouncing before they even scroll.

Clarity beats cleverness. Every time.

Your headline and opening section should make it immediately obvious:

What you do
Who you help
What problem you solve (or goal you help them reach)

Your 15-minute action:

Open your website on your phone. Read only the first screen (before you scroll, or what we call ‘above the fold’). Can someone who’s never heard of you understand what you offer and whether it’s for them?

If not, that’s your starting point.

3. Your top 2 user journeys

Most websites try to do everything at once, and end up doing nothing particularly well.

So let’s simplify.

Think about the two most common reasons someone would visit your site.

(Not ten things. Two. Because if everything is a priority, nothing is.)

For example:

“I want to book a call” + “I want to see examples of your work”
“I need to apply for a grant” + “I want to learn more about your programs”
“I want to donate” + “I want to understand your impact”

Now ask yourself: Is it immediately obvious how to do those two things?

Are the buttons clear? Are the pathways obvious and easy? Or do people have to dig through your menu, guess where to click, or read three paragraphs before they know what to do next?

Your website should guide people, not make them have to think. Not because they’re dumb. Because they’re busy.

Your 15-minute action:

Pretend you’re a first-time visitor. Try to complete those two most important actions. If it takes more than 2 clicks or feels unclear, you’ve found something worth fixing.

✅ Quick fix: Update your buttons to be specific.

“Book a call” beats “Get started”
“See services” beats “Learn more”

4. Mobile check (because most people are there)

Over 60% of website traffic now comes from mobile devices.

Quick question: when was the last time you actually used your website on your phone?

Not just glanced at it. Actually clicked around. Tried to fill out a form. Tapped a button.

Here’s the reality: most of your visitors are on mobile. And if your site is clunky, slow, or hard to navigate on a small screen, you’re losing people before they even get to your brilliant services.

Your 15-minute action:

Open your website on your phone (or tablet) and scroll through your homepage + one key page (like your services or contact page).

Check for:

Buttons that are too small or hard to tap
Text that’s too tiny to read comfortably
Images that don’t resize properly
Pages that feel slow or sluggish to load

✅ Quick fix: Increase font sizes, add breathing room (blank space), and make buttons bigger. Your users’ thumbs will thank you.

5. Accessibility basics (quick wins that help everyone)

Accessibility isn’t just about screen readers (though that’s important too). It’s about making sure your website is usable for real people with real lives.

That includes people with low vision, colour blindness, ADHD, aging eyes, or anyone navigating your site with one hand while holding a baby or a coffee.

When your site is more accessible, it’s also clearer, easier to navigate, and better for SEO. Win, win, win.

You don’t need to overhaul everything today, but here are a few quick checks that make a big difference:

Colour contrast: Can you easily read your text against the background? (Use a tool like the WebAIM Contrast Checker to test.)
Headings: Are you using proper heading levels (H1, H2, H3) in order? Or are you just making text "look big" without structure?
Alt text: Do your images have descriptive alt text? If an image doesn't load (or someone can't see it), can they still understand what it's showing?
Link clarity: Are your links clearly labelled? "Click here" tells people nothing. "Download the guide" or "Book a call" is much better.

Your 15-minute action:

Pick one page and run through these four checks. Fix what’s easy to fix now, and note the rest for later.

Good accessibility is good UX. It benefits everyone. And it’s one of the easiest ways to improve your site without a full redesign.

6. Performance gut-check: does it feel fast?

Truthbomb time: if your website feels slow, people will leave.

You don’t need to be a developer to know if it feels slow – you just need to click around and pay attention.

If you’re clicking around and waiting… and waiting… and waiting for pages to load, that’s a problem.

And it’s not just annoying for you. It’s costing you conversions.

People are impatient (honestly, fair). If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, they’ll bounce. Google knows this too, which is why site speed affects your SEO rankings.

Your site’s speed is worth investigating. Often, it’s something simple like oversized images, too many plugins, or lack of caching.

Your 15-minute action:

Open your site on a couple of different devices (phone, tablet, laptop). Just notice: does it feel fast? If not, that’s a clue.

(Bonus: run your homepage through Google’s PageSpeed Insights for a deeper dive.)

✅ Quick fix: Compress images and remove anything you’re not using. Speed loves simplicity.

7. Sustainability lens (the bonus win)

Here’s something most people don’t think about: a lighter, clearer, faster website is also better for the planet.

Every time someone visits your site, data is transferred between their device and your server. The bigger and heavier your pages, the more energy that transfer uses. And that energy? It translates into carbon emissions.

When your site is well-optimised – smaller images, cleaner code, streamlined navigation – it uses less data. Less data means less energy required. Less energy required means lower carbon emissions.

So all those things we’ve been talking about (clarity, speed, accessibility, mobile-friendliness)? They don’t just improve user experience and conversions – they also reduce your website’s carbon footprint.

It’s a win-win: better for your visitors, better for your business, and better for the environment. 🌿

Your 15-minute action:

Run your homepage through a tool like Website Carbon or EcoGrader to see how your site ranks. You might be surprised by the result – and it’s a great baseline to work from.

Next steps

You’ve done the reset. You’ve spotted a few things that could be better.

Now you’ve got two choices:

DIY it. Take your notes and start making small improvements. (Sometimes that’s all you need!)
Get a clear plan. Book a Footprint Session (strategy + planning) and let’s turn your notes into a prioritised, actionable website roadmap you can actually follow.

No rush – just getting the ball rolling for when you’re back at your desk.

Want more info first? Head here: Website strategy with Whale Tail Digital

Ready to book now? Use this direct link: Book your Footprint session!

Save this post. Share it with a mate who’s been putting off their website. When you’re ready, let’s map out your 2026 website plan together.

Here’s to a calm, clear start to the year. 🌊