Are you considering a website redesign? Before you jump in and start making changes, there are some essential steps that need to be taken.
Redesigning your website can be an overwhelming process, but with the right strategy and preparation, it doesn’t have to be.
In this article, we will discuss essential steps to take before redoing your website so that you can ensure a successful launch of your new design.
With proper planning and forethought, your redesigned site will look great while also driving more traffic and boosting conversions.
Signs You Should Redo Your Website
Before you proceed with any website redesign, it’s crucial that you evaluate whether or not your current design is actually doing its job. Signs that indicate it may be time for a new look include:
- ●low engagement: If your website isn’t getting enough traffic or if visitors are not staying very long, it could be a sign that you need to adjust the design.
- ● low conversions: If visitors aren’t taking action on your site (i.e. making purchases, signing up for emails, filling out forms, etc.), then this could indicate that your website design isn’t converting visitors into customers.
- ● outdated design: A website with an outdated look can give the impression of being untrustworthy or unprofessional, so it may be time for a redesign.
- ● poor user experience: If your website is difficult to navigate or if users are having difficulty understanding the content, this could be a sign that it’s time for a redesign.
- ● lack of mobile friendliness: Nowadays, it’s essential that your website is optimized for mobile users. If your site isn’t, then you should consider a redesign.
If any of these points resonate, it’s time to start considering a website revamp.
Steps for Redoing Your Website
Redoing your website is a big task, so it’s important to factor in plenty of time to assess your current website and develop a plan for the redesign.
Here are some essential steps to take before redoing your website:
1.Analyze Your Current Website
A great first step is to evaluate how well the current version of your website is performing before beginning a redesign.
This can involve analyzing traffic, measuring user engagement, and assessing how well the website is optimized for SEO.
Basically, any factor that can or does affect the functionality and success of the site should be assessed early on.
2.Identify Your Goals
Once you’ve evaluated the performance of your current website, it’s time to set clear goals for what you want to achieve with the redesign.
Are you looking to improve the user experience, increase conversions, or focus on something else?
3.Research Your Competition
Look at how other websites in your industry are designed and structured.
Pay attention to any ideas that could be helpful for your own website redesign process.
4.Prioritize Needs & Wants
Once you’ve done some research, it’s time to start prioritizing features for your new website.
What should be included in the redesign? Identify needs (essential features) and wants (optional features).
5.Create a Content Plan
Content is an essential part of any website.
Before you start designing the structure of the website, develop a plan for what content you need to create- and how it should be organized on your website.
6.Utilize User Testing
Once you’ve finalized the design of your new website, conduct user testing to measure user engagement and evaluate usability.
UT can involve running focus groups or surveys with real users to get their feedback.
7.Optimize For Search Engines
Don’t forget to make sure your website is optimized for search engines, so people can find it easily.
The process involves making sure the content is keyword-rich and relevant, as well as ensuring meta tags are updated.
8.Develop a Maintenance Plan
After launching your new website, be sure to set up a maintenance plan so that the site remains up-to-date and users keep coming back.
A proper maintenance plan can involve regularly adding new content, monitoring user feedback, and troubleshooting any issues.
Frequent error testing is a good idea and can be made easier with the right tool.
9.Measure Success
Take the time to measure your website’s success after the redesign.
If you set specific goals prior to launching your new site, make sure to track progress and evaluate whether those goals have been met.
Conclusion
Redoing your website is an exciting undertaking, but it requires thoughtful preparation.
By following these essential steps to take before redoing your website, you can ensure that the process goes smoothly and that your new website will be a success.
With proper research, goal-setting, optimization, and maintenance planning you’ll have a beautifully designed site that drives traffic and boosts conversions.
