In an era where first impressions can make or break your business, it’s important you have a killer website that can draw in your clients and keep them interested. With technology rapidly developing and changing the way websites are used, it has become essential to revamp your website to follow the latest trends.
How do you know that your website needs a tune up? Have you been wondering if it’s time for you to give your website a makeover? Though Preparing for a Website Redesign: a ChecklistNot that your old website is bad (or is it?), but it is time to redesign it. Here are tips to make this undertaking painless and efficient.website redesign may not be a simple job and someone thinks it doesn't make sense, these questions can probably change your mind:
- Are there functions and features that are no longer used? - As time moves forward, so do businesses. A company may open up new branches as it expands or a business may offer new products or services that it did not a few years ago.
- Does it let your customers communicate with you? - Your website should have a flexible form builder that lets you create anything from simple contact forms to advanced quote request forms and surveys.
- Is your website responsive? - Responsive website design plays an important role in attracting the potential visitor to the site and converting them into customers. If your website has an attractive and beautiful design, it will prove to be quite helpful to entice the visitors to visit your website and explore it further.
- Are your third-party tools outdated? - If your site is like most out there, you’ve embedded third-party tools that improve its functionality, such as shopping cart widgets. But, if some (or all) of these tools on your site aren't up to modern functionality standards, you're best off updating them.
- Did your competitor change their website? - You should analytically at competitors website and get ideas about the latest web design, technology, and communication concepts. If a competitor has revamped its website, it might be for a good reason that may apply to you as well.
There are some good reasons for redesigning a website above. All of them can help you make sure that you have a good reason for the change. Then let's see some principles and tips on how to revamp your website:
Principle 1: If you change URLs, make sure to have redirects in place
If you can keep URLs - keep them. But if your revamping include a change of some underlying tech, it is often not an option.
If some pages in your website have a good keywords ranking (and even if they don't), make sure you redirect them all to correspondent new URLs of your website. If you don't do that, you will lose all the SEO weight you had so far on those old pages; plus a sudden abundance of 404 is considered a signal of low quality website.
Principle 2: Ease of Use
Website browsers (customers) that arrive on your site expect to be able to easily navigate through your website between sections and find exactly what they are looking for without any hassle. There are many factors that contribute to a user-friendly website, such as site load time and organization of important elements. However one of the most important factors is a good navigation structure. A quality navigation structure that is smooth yet simple will result in an improved user experience keeping customers happy to browse your website.
Principle 3: Out with the old, in with the new.
Displaying old content on new technology is analogous to watching a standard definition movie on an HD TV. Good content is highly recommended for a newly revamped site since it is recognized as an integral and probably the most vital part of the entire internet business. It is always better to have a professional team to take care of your digital needs- be it specialized content, design or even technology. Make sure when you are revamping your website you’re not just changing the look.
Principle 4: Keep communicating
Create task lists, action items and timelines to follow throughout the process. Everyone is always so excited to start a new project, but sometimes that excitement can start to fade when you realize business doesn’t slow down for you to work on your website. After the initial meeting, participate in weekly calls and progress reports with your project manager.
Principle 5: Don’t lose the goal
Last but not least, ignoring your business goal is the biggest blunder most people do while creating or revamping their websites. Keeping it in mind would help you stay focused on where you want your business to be. If the goal of your business is to be the top 3 market leaders, just describing your products and services won’t get you there. Your website has to have all those attributes that will help you achieve your goals.
A considerably decent website is one that is composed of strong design and content. More than a pretty face on the Internet, your website should contain comprehensive product information to the target market. Remember, your website reflects much about your business.
Do you want to revamp your website now? TMO Group is a technology provider services including Web Development. Contact us and get start now!
