What is the best way to redesign a website?
You might not be aware that bad web design can affect conversions and sales. A site that looks unappealing deserves a website makeover.
No matter the size or industry of your company, though, it’s essential that you take a strategic approach to your website makeover. Identify what is not working, what does work currently, and what goals you want to achieve.
Otherwise, how will you leverage your existing web traffic? Worse, what if your web design is causing people to avoid visiting your site altogether?
Let’s explore some of my favorite techniques for creating and implementing a website makeover strategy for maximum ROI.
What is Website Redesign?
A website redesign is a complete process of remodeling your site, which involves revising content, revitalizing layouts, and enhancing navigation for improved conversions and site performance.
- Website goals: Formulate website goals to determine your strategies, aims, and indicators for the redesign, along with the metrics you aim to implement to attain your objective.
- Website efficiency assessment: Auditing your internal web capabilities is paramount as the initial step. For instance, using SWOT analysis, you can evaluate the overall efficiency of your website. Conduct an industry analysis to identify trends and best practices.
- Recognize the gaps: Develop a website revamp checklist that encompasses people, process flow, and technology to pinpoint any gaps. For example, to improve the user experience, you can pinpoint particular elements of the web page, such as a misplaced CTA button, an uncertain web form, or anything that diverts or perplexes visitors.
- Prepare a roadmap: Identify steps and technologies needed to close the gaps. For example, you can conduct A/B tests on elements causing issues and rectify them in the new wireframe design.
The redesign process holds the capability to improve website performance when you possess a clear understanding of the site objectives. The process involves technical aspects that entail finalizing a color scheme, fonts, logo, design elements, button colors, button placement, etc. Selecting the content management system, coding language, etc., becomes crucial from the coding perspective.
Is it time for a redesign? Let’s see!
You have two options – trust your subjective feeling or refer to analytics. It’s better if you would do both. Total transformation should not be needed if your site generates leads who regularly turn into customers. If you sense (and the data verifies) that circumstances are not as you anticipate, that’s a moment to contemplate granting your website a second opportunity.
Also, make sure to answer the following questions:
- Does the existing website version generate leads?
- Are there any technical problems with the website?
- Are you generally happy with the website’s performance?
- Is the site mobile-friendly?
- Is it accessible?
Your responses “yes” and “no” comprised a specific ratio. If you have a greater number of unfavorable than favorable answers – there is a chance that the website redesign is what you are looking for. Then, let’s talk about how to prepare for a website revamp and find suitable website redesign services.
How to Redesign Your Website
Recreating your website is easier said than done. Like any task, due diligence is needed to ensure the best possible outcome and design on your website.
The following steps can help you plan your website makeover strategy and achieve that goal.
Develop an efficient plan
Before you embark on the journey, comprehend the purpose behind your endeavors. You’ll need concrete, measurable aims and objectives to devise a triumphant website redesign strategy. Depending on the nature of your website, goals may vary from boosting lead conversion by a specific figure, enhancing traffic stats for improved SEO, generating more advertisements, and much more.
Each objective necessitates a customized approach that must not be compromised. There are predefined project management templates available to facilitate this setup.
Assess the existing website
To rectify the layout, you must initially pinpoint areas requiring enhancement. Take ample time to audit the website and prioritize the alterations you wish to implement. Your analysis should address queries like ‘what contributes to its unattractiveness?’ or ‘why is navigation challenging?’
Following the investigation, you will discern the elements that need exclusion from the website revamp. This approach will facilitate improved decision-making as you fine-tune your strategy for optimal outcomes with the aid of Kanban board software.
Define your buyer personas
Understanding your customers and their website preferences enables you to offer relevant and timely information. Equally significant is avoiding bombarding users with irrelevant offers, ensuring they feel valued and more inclined to return when ready to purchase.
The conventional method of grasping your target audience’s characteristics is crafting customer (or buyer) personas based on psychographic data and the tasks these ideal customers aim to accomplish.
According to Google’s research conducted some years back, internet users have four primary intentions: “I want to know,” “I want to go,” “I want to do,” and “I want to buy.”
If the arrangement and material on your landing page urge visitors to make a purchase when they simply desire details about product characteristics, the probability of them departing quickly rises. Customer personas offer perspectives on designing and prioritizing content to improve business results during a website redesign.
Keep a close watch on your rivals
The industry, niche, and audience can influence the design of a website. The industry, niche, and audience can influence the design of a website. Certainly, it is common to observe certain similarities among business websites of rival brands. Given that the target audience is typically identical, taking inspiration from your competition is a valuable approach.
Of course, that doesn’t imply you outright imitate them. Nonetheless, learning from their approach can enhance your performance. Design project management software like Kissflow Project can assist you in achieving that.
Compile a catalog of your needs
Once you comprehend your target audience, the constraints of your current website, and other pertinent factors, you’ll be in a better position to create a list of necessary elements. This encompasses niche-specific features or other enhancements that boost the website’s functionality and overall user experience.
Your requirements should outline the attributes of a ‘superb’ website. At this stage, the clearer your vision, the smoother it will be to incorporate everything in the development phase.
Execute the redesign
The website redesign strategy’s last phase is implementation, which requires precision. Whether you opt to enlist the services of a professional or undertake it personally, ensure that the plan is being adhered to. If a professional handles the task, communicate your requirements effectively to prevent delays and alterations.
Final Thoughts
A website redesign, when executed correctly, can elevate conversions and sales.
Commence with data. Consider the information on current trends in web traffic, conversion rates, bounce rates, time on page, and other metrics. Utilize this knowledge to inform the new design.
Don’t overlook research. Familiarizing yourself with your competitors’ strategies can aid in creating a more effective site that pleasantly surprises and satisfies your customers. Employ wireframes and mockups to envision the appearance of your new site, then gradually construct it.
While increasing revenue is the ultimate objective of any website redesign, enhancing the user experience and navigation through your site is indeed an added advantage!
