It is a tale as old as time. After the launch of the new business site, the entrepreneur waits for the anticipated business growth. But the site fails to convert the visitors and does not generate any revenue.
The story seems improbable. However, occasionally a site may fail to deliver the perfect result. And when that happens, it needs to be redesigned for better performance.
The goal of this article is to discuss the concept of the website redesign and to talk about how such a process should be conducted as well. So without any delay, let’s dive right in!
Web Revamping: A Necessary Process
The design of the web is not just for aesthetic purposes. There are so many layers to the designs that it is baffling. And all these layers affect how the business is perceived by the audience online.
The website revamp process is essentially an operation to refresh the site. From the visuals to the content, everything is reconfigured. It is usually done to align the website better with the dynamic goals of the business, and industry demands.
After that clarification, it is time to probe deeper into the main theme of this entire discussion which is, how to conduct a redesign? However, before that, how to know if the site requires this special treatment?
The Reasons For Redesign
Many reasons can prompt the entrepreneurs to revamp website design. And knowing the right reason will assist in crafting the perfect strategy. As for precise reasons, there are many out there. But here is a list of more obvious causes-
A. The Bounce Rate Of The Site Is Too High
Even if the site is well designed and has large traffic, it will be of no use if the visitors are not interacting with it. And when that happens, it indicates a serious problem within the site and necessitates a design revamping process.
B. The Conversion Rates Are At An All-Time Low
For a lead creating site, it is crucial to have a high conversion number. However, if the site fails to convert the visitors, there must be some kind of design flaw on the site. And this flaw necessitates a robust website redesign plan.
C. The Design And Business Goals Do Not Align Anymore
The design reflects the brand and company goals and broadcasts that clearly to the visitors. And it is quite natural for the business goals to evolve. When that happens, the design needs to be updated fully to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.
Once the reason that makes it necessary to update the site is determined, it is time to start with the website revamp process. However, for this stage one does need to follow the perfect revamping guide.
Website Redesign: How To Conduct The Ultimate Makeover?
Taking an existing site and changing it is not easy, especially if it is a large multi-page site. And to make it count, there is an organized process to follow. So let’s study at the method in detail and discover how it operates to remodel the site-
1. Choose The Right Redesign Partners
This is where it all begins.
Big enterprises with in-house teams can skip this step. But more often than not, businesses don’t have an internal team to cater to this kind of site needs. And in such cases, it is necessary to find the right website redesign services.
The team should not only include designers. For added value, there are a few different kinds of specialists who need to be on this team. And these specialists are-
Digital Strategist: the member who creates the perfect strategy to transform the site.
Information Architecture: the one who determines the changed structure based on the strategy of the redesign
UX Designer: the one who will follow the website redesign strategy and the changed guidelines to create the perfect experience on the site.
Once the right team is recruited, it is the perfect time to start with the next part, which is performance analysis.
2. Analyze The Current Performance Metrics
This stage is where the site performance is measured. Documenting and matching the current result with the expected ones is a perfect way to comprehend precisely where the redesign efforts need to focus.
Various online analytics tools can help to understand the achievement metrics before and after the website redesign. Assessing the indicators will also clarify the problem areas of the current site.
3. Outline The Redesign Plan
This process is not just a matter of whims, but about establishing clear and logical aims. And to recreate a design that works, the goals need to be outlined well.
Source: gettingsmart.com
The main aim of the website revamp process can vary based on business objectives, the issues on the site, and the requirements of the patrons. On the other hand, the purposes are often interlocked. So what are some of the popular redesign aims?
A. Generating More Traffic On The Site
Getting more traffic can be one of the central purposes of any kind of site redesign operation. So, to make the site more effective and reach out to more people, many website redesign agency optimize the site to invite and handle more traffic.
B. Improving The Lead Generation Rates
The sole purpose of a website is to convince and convert visitors into clients. And if the lead formation rates are at an all-time low, then it is time to implement a better strategy on the site.
C. Making it more customer friendly
Proper implementation of custom web design keeps the site flexible enough to follow the ever-altering requirements of consumers. So convey thorough market research and consider the site efficiency to better outline the goals.
Understanding all these design requirements is not an easy task. So for better clarity, consult with a web design company preferably based in a major city like New York.
4. Redefine The Branding And Content
And now we arrive at the branding and content step.
The visitors would make up an idea about the site within a few seconds. And that’s why the site needs a clear aesthetic that’s beautiful to look at and conveys the message on what the site does within those first few valuable seconds.
During the website revamp process; ensure that the branding of the site matches the enterprise objectives and modern aesthetics. A great way to start on this will be through competitor analysis. But we’ll get to that a little later.
Along with the branding, it is also the step where the content of the site is rehauled. The site content is everything when it comes to increasing the interaction rates, and there are a few considerations to keep in mind when it comes to updating the content.
- Keep the content easy. Don’t use unnecessary jargon.
- Keep it succinct. Users would never go through hundred pages of content.
- Create a client-centric content strategy to drive up engagement rates.
For business web design, branding and content are significant components. So optimize these to meet the current needs of the business as well as the clients.
5. Create The Perfect Buyer Persona
The website redesign plan is incomplete without redefining the buyer persona.
With business growth, the demographic it serves also evolves. And based on this evolution, the persona needs to be redefined from time to time. This step requires all the new information on the evolved demographic, the pain points, requirements, to improve the service quality.
The proper website redesign strategy needs to incorporate the current information on the new demographic, the inconveniences, requirements, and goals. And if the strategy does not include those details then it is time to recreate it.
6. Check Out The Competition
Checking out the competition is going to save a lot of trouble down the line, and make for an affordable web design revamping process.
With contender analysis, business owners can create a list of elements the contenders are doing well and things that can be improved on. Then that list is again examined when crafting the final plan.
7. Last But Not The Least: Avoid These Mistakes
There are a few well-known blunders to avoid during the process of website revamp. Failing to circumvent such blunders will make the entire operation pointless. Here is a list of these errors-
A. Not Putting The Site Through Necessary Tests
Just because it is a redesign, that does not exempt the site from the necessary testing phase. Skipping this point may reduce the cost for website redesign, but it will hamper the enhancements made on the site. So put the site through all the essential inspections to ensure its condition before launch.
B. Don’t Fall Into The Trap Of Unnecessary Integrations
The operation often ends up being the process of unnecessary integrations. So don’t make the error of falling into the trap of redundant implementations, only address the site issues with a strict website redesign strategy.
C. Failing To Add A Sitemap
If the goal is to improve the site ranking and navigation, then it is necessary to include the sitemap. And needless to say, if the web design services fail to do so, the site will be adversely afflicted.
Wrapping Up The Discussion
The process of website revamp seems to be all fun and games until one realizes the kind of time and effort it requires. But the good news is that with the right approach, like the one above, it is easy to transform the site from nothing to the best one in the industry without any kind of hassle.
