Have you ever felt that restless, nagging feeling when you look at your website?
Like, maybe you’ve caught yourself wincing at your homepage,
Or perhaps you’ve noticed visitors slipping away faster than you’d like; Or, you have this weird gut feeling that something just doesn’t feel right anymore on your website; Or maybe it is because you feel that your website is like the last season’s window display while your competitors are showcasing sleek, modern masterpieces that seem to effortlessly attract attention.
Isn’t that a lot of ‘OR’s?
There’s nothing to worry about – that restless feeling in your gut is your business instinct telling you that your website needs a transformation and that it’s time to REDESIGN.
Website redesign isn’t just about getting a fresh coat of digital paint – it’s about reimagining your entire online presence.
But hold on!
Before you dive headfirst into picking pretty colors and fancy templates, let’s talk about what matters.
Redesigning a website is like renovating a house while it’s still occupied. One wrong move and you might accidentally tear down a load-bearing wall (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Let’s move forward and break this journey down into four manageable chapters:
Chapter 1: Finding Your “Why”
Here’s a surprising fact: About one-third of marketers end up unhappy with their website redesign.
That’s shocking, right?
That’s why you should answer one crucial question before touching one pixel: Why are you doing this?
- Maybe, your redesign might aim to keep visitors around longer by making your site faster and smoother.
- Or perhaps you want to help people find what they’re looking for more easily, or make your content more engaging and shareable.
- Some businesses focus on getting more love from Google with better SEO.
- Some others prioritize making their site work beautifully on phones and tablets.
- And of course, there’s always the goal of turning more visitors into customers.
While you’re searching for ‘your’ WHY, take a look at what your competitors are doing.
Learning from their wins and mistakes is a fair game!
Always, remember to document your current metrics; they’ll be your benchmark for success.
Chapter 2: Drawing the Blueprint
Now that you know your ‘why,’ it’s time to plan your ‘how.’
Let’s start by writing down your vision – make it crystal clear! This vision will guide every decision you make moving forward.
Next comes the nitty-gritty:
- creating a detailed plan of action.
- You’ll need to figure out your budget and timeline, being realistic about both. Remember, even experienced project managers sometimes struggle with estimates, so give yourself some wiggle room.
- Don’t forget to bring in your team’s perspectives. Your project manager, sales team, HR, and even regular website users might have valuable insights to share.
And perhaps the most crucial part: gather all your content.
Trust me, you’ll need more than you think.
Chapter 3: Rolling Up Your Sleeves
This is where the magic happens!
- First, you’ll need to choose between using a template or creating a custom design. Either way, set up a test site – think of it as your digital workshop where you can experiment without affecting your live site.
- As you build, focus on creating a natural flow through your site. Every page should connect logically to the next, guiding visitors toward their goals (and yours).
- Run regular quality checks as you go – it’s much easier to fix issues during construction than after everything’s life.
Chapter 4: The Big Reveal
Launch day is like opening night at a theater – exciting and a bit nerve-wracking!
Create a solid launch plan that covers how you’ll introduce your new site to the world. Think about sending personalized emails to current users, crafting engaging social media announcements, and writing blog posts that highlight your exciting new features.
But remember, launching isn’t the end of your journey.
Watch your analytics closely, test new ideas, and keep making improvements. If something goes wrong – like a sudden drop in traffic or slow loading times – don’t panic.
These things happen, and they can be fixed with careful attention and the right approach.
The Bottom Line
Think of your website redesign as giving your digital home a makeover.
Yes, it’s a big project. And yes, it takes time. But with careful planning and the right approach, you’ll end up with something that not only looks great but works even better.
Need a helping hand?
LUMOS is here to guide you through every step of this journey.”