If you are in the market to redesign your website or have been tasked with this responsibility, then you know this is an arduous process that can be very time-consuming. There are a surprising number of steps involved in the process and each one requires diligence on your part to ensure that things run smoothly.
How to Redesign a Website
Redesigning a website might seem like a daunting task, but with the right information and preparation, it doesn’t have to be. Web design services are crucial for any company or organization wanting to stay relevant in today’s digital online marketplace. As consumers continue to make more of their purchases online, companies are having to compete not only with other local businesses but global companies as well.
Web design is about more than just making a visually appealing site. The information architecture of a website along with how the user interacts with the site plays an essential role in building brand awareness and ultimately, revenue.
As web design continues to adapt and change as new technology becomes available, businesses need to stay up-to-date to ensure that their site is optimized for today’s browsers and platforms. There are many ways to do this, but one of the best options includes hiring a web design company that has both the industry expertise as well as the creative prowess needed to craft a site that connects with your target audience while effectively representing your brand.
Web design companies centralize on three main objectives: usability, creativity, and functionality. All three of these elements are important for creating a website that ultimately meets the needs of the client as well as their user base.
Usability means designing a site that is consistent with other sites on the web whether it’s in regards to visual or navigational language. An example of this would be designing a site that follows the accepted standards for web design, such as HTML5. It also means understanding how to navigate through different browsers and devices without creating compatibility issues that would make it difficult for visitors to interact with the site.
5 Critical Steps in Redesigning a Website
1. Set your objectives and goals for the redesign.
2. Identify your site's current strengths and weaknesses.
3. Conduct competitive research against other sites that are similar to yours.
4. Prepare wireframes for each page of your website based on the goals you have set.
5. Create a design mockup based on the wireframes you have created and share it with your audience for feedback.
Reasons You Should Redesign Your Website
1) A new design will help draw visitors to your site
If you have an outdated site it will not be as popular as a newer one. A new design will make it easier for people to find your website online.
2) An improved interface will lead to better usability
If you have an outdated site the user interface is probably not as good as it could be.
3) Updating the look of your site will increase interaction
If you have a great web design, people will want to interact with your site. The pages should be easy to read and quickly allow the user to take advantage of all the features offered.
4) You can make use of new trends in design
The web has a multitude of new trends, and your website doesn’t have to be stuck in the past. Most websites are built with Javascript and HTML 5, so update your site with these new options.
5) A redesign will keep your site active
If you are not constantly updating your website, it will become less popular. Google favors websites that are constantly being updated.
6) Your new design should be up-to-date on SEO
Search engine optimization is very important when it comes to your site’s success. If you are not updating the content regularly, your website may not show up in certain searches of keywords so your site will remain more of a secret than anything else.
Why Do SEO With a Website Redesign?
1. It is expensive not to do SEO when designing a new website or redeveloping an existing one
We all know that a new website costs money, but in the long run, spending money on your redesign could save you from having to spend more money in the future.
2. SEO is a long term investment
Designing a website that gets good SEO needs to be done professionally, and for this reason, it’s best to hire a professional web designer or SEO specialist.
3. One size does not fit all
Designing a website that gets good SEO needs to be done professionally, and for this reason, it’s best to hire a professional web designer or SEO specialist.
4. Not all tools work the same way
To have a successful SEO strategy, you need to use multiple tools and strategies that are proven to get results.
5. It's important to know what you're doing in the first place
New web designers who are working on their first designs or web designers without extensive experience have a lot to learn when it comes to SEO.
6. There are no shortcuts
SEO is a full-time job that requires dedication and patience to see results over time, so it’s best not to expect quick fixes if you want to see your rankings rise.
Tips for a website redesign
Create Useless Pages: It’s easy to get caught up in creating pages that users might want or need such as an “about us,” “contact” or even a “home” page.
Use Some White Space: The beauty of the internet is having so much information within a few clicks.
Create Useful Content: Any content you create should be informative and helpful to users, but many forget that creating content that isn’t helpful can drive visitors away.
Use Pop-Ups Sparingly: If you want to use a pop-up on your new site make sure it’s relevant and timely.
Keep it Simple: Avoid the need for video and Flash elements on your pages or throughout your website.
Aim for a Unique Look: If you’re not an original thinker in terms of design, hire someone who is or outsource the work to a website that does this type of thing well.
Utilize Social Media: If you’re not into social media, don’t make a point of integrating social media elements throughout your site.
Create an Editing Plan: Make sure you have an editing or revision plan in place before the site launches.
A website can be redesigned for many different reasons, but the goal is always the same, to improve how it currently works to better suit your organization.
Final thoughts
Web designing is crucial since it reflects how your audience perceives your brand. Companies cannot visit every place to explain or market their products. Creating a website, therefore, comes in handy for such companies targeting a vast audience.
Effective web design is appealing to the eye and thus attracts users. If you implement the proper techniques and website design tools,
it is likely, your ranking on the search engine results will improve therefore increasing sales. You have to create a positive impression for the audience to stay on the page by creating an appealing website.
