The website redesign process sometimes seems like it should be a lot less work than the initial design process – you’ve already got so much copy written, images selected and page architecture created. But that doesn’t mean that once you’ve hired a designer to make your website look more contemporary, all of your work is completed. This is actually the perfect time for you to evaluate some of the cornerstones of what will make your website redesign more successful.
Below, I’ve outlined five things that you should ask yourself when you are starting to consider a website redesign.
Is Your Current Content Management System Still Providing all the Tools you Need?
There are many different content management systems (CMS) and they all provide different levels of features and customization. When you’re redesigning, take a look at whether you need (or would like!) anything that your current CMS doesn’t provide.
For example, Wix can be a great tool for a business that is launching their website for the first time, but at some point you may want to do some customization that their general styling tools don’t provide – after a couple of years, that same business may want a bit more control over the website’s appearance. The redesign process is the ideal time for you to look at different systems and decide which would give you more of the customization that you’re looking for.
Each CMS has pros and cons. This is a great time to take a look at what you need now and what you will need to help your business grow, in order to decide whether your current system is still providing the best package for you.
What is the Final Action you Want Users to do on Your Website?
One of the first things I do when working with a company on a website redesign is discover the most important things for potential and current customers to do on that website. For example, if you are a car mechanic, you may want people to book an appointment with you. Or, if you create sewing patterns, you may want someone to purchase one of your patterns. Going into the redesign process knowing what the final action for users helps determine the journey we create for them through your website, and will help you know what calls to action to include on each page of your website.
Is Your Contact Information Current?
Oftentimes, businesses include contact information for specific people in the company. While this may be great for users who are looking to contact someone in a certain role or department, it can be a hassle to keep up to date if someone ever leaves your company. This can be a forgotten step, and can lead to contact information still being included for people who no longer work with you. The redesign process is the perfect time to evaluate who you have listed on your website (and even to consider removing all listed personal contacts if you don’t want to be continuously updating your contact page).
Are your social media profiles tied into your website?
One of the great things about social media is that, once you’ve made meaningful connections with it, it can help drive traffic to your website. With this in mind, you want to ensure that your social media profiles all link to your website.
An additional way to tie social media into your website is to ensure the designer or developer working on your website redesign includes specific code for when someone shares a page from your website on a social network. This code tells social media networks who you are, what text to display for the shared page, and what imagery should be used.
Is Your Content Still Reflective Of Your Marketing Message?
Redesigning your website gives you the perfect opportunity to review all website copy to make sure that it is in line with what you want your current and potential customers to hear from you.
This is actually one of the more overlooked parts, and content can get outdated quickly in some industries. Putting aside time specifically during the redesign process for content review will help you ensure you content is as up to date as your redesigned website!
