Is retroactive optimization cheaper than a relaunch?

In most cases yes. Targeted retroactive optimization is usually significantly cheaper than a complete relaunch, because layout, design and content are preserved and only the barriers identified in the audit are fixed. You also save the cost of redesign, migration and re-testing all functions.

There is, however, a tipping point: if the codebase is fundamentally problematic, with outdated markup, little semantic structure or a theme that cannot be extended, point repairs can become more expensive than accessible redevelopment. In that case a relaunch pays off in the long run.

Which path is more economical for you can only be judged seriously after looking at the code. That assessment is exactly what our audit delivers, before budget is committed.