Redesigning your website is a major project that’s not to be taken lightly. Aside from the expense involved, there’s also likely to be a significant time and effort investment on your part. A website redesign can make you feel more confident about your online presence, but there are some factors to take into consideration when deciding when and how you’re going to go about it.
What is the purpose of the redesign? There’s a common misconception that everyone needs to redesign their website every once in a while “just because,” but that’s not necessarily the case. Sit down and make a list of all the reasons why you need to redesign. If you’re having trouble coming up with anything and you’re happy with how your current website is performing, maybe it’s not yet the right time.
Is your SEO as good as it could be? If the recent changes with the Google algorithm have left your site not ranking as highly as it used to, it’s probably time to revamp your SEO. Your web designer should be able to advise you on the optimal way to use the redesign to your advantage and make significant improvements.
Have you received any feedback? Since your customers and potential customers are the ones who have to use your site, it pays to take notice of what they say about their experience. If you’re getting repeated complaints about one particular feature of your site, either remove that feature or modify it accordingly in the redesign. Likewise, if people seem to love a particular feature, don’t get rid of it just for the sake of change. Stick with what works; fix what doesn’t.
How can you improve your content? A redesign is the perfect time to assess the content of your site and make any necessary improvements. What kind of information are your customers looking for, versus what you provide on your site? Quality should always have priority over quantity – make sure the information you share adds value to the site, and make sure you don’t leave anything out that could be helpfull to your audience.
How can you improve your navigation? There’s nothing worse than a website where you can’t find what you need, or you can’t find your way back to where you were five minutes ago. Clear and obvious navigation will always win out over clever but over-complicated menus that bury content and confuse the visitor.
If you’re serious about having a website redesign that works for you on every level, our web development services may be of some help.
