How to Tell when your Website needs a Redesign
Chances are when you first launched your company website it was built to meet your needs and be an asset to your business.
Websites age, however, and you may be seeing that the website that once supported your business has now become quite the opposite and in fact negatively affects your companies’ image and goals.
In this day and age, websites are extremely important to business. They are your window to the public, your 24/7 sales person, a visual representation of your company image. It may even be your most important sales tool for goods and services.
More than likely it is the first thing that potential customers see when searching for a product or service and it plays a huge part in your customers decision on whether to become a customer or to move on to the next company.
Trends and techniques change rapidly in the web design industry and it can sometimes be difficult to tell when your website is due an overhaul. To help you decide, here are a few points that indicate that the time may be looming.
HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE YOUR LAST REDESIGN?
Businesses change and adapt over time, perhaps you’ve changed your product lines or added new core services to your portfolio.
Many businesses evolve but often they leave their website exactly as it is. In doing so, their website is no longer an up to date sales tool for their business and may even be promoting completely incorrect products and services. If your website no longer promotes your current products, services and goals then chances are you could do with a website redesign.
IS YOUR WEBSITE GENERATING NEW BUSINESS?
Look back over the last month. How many leads or new enquires did you attract through your website? If your website is outdated or fails to properly sell your products or services then chances are the answer is “Not enough”. If this is the case, then it could well be time to think about redesigning your website. It may be that you’re simply not using techniques considered to be best practices for generating business from a website.
DO YOU REGULARLY UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE’S CONTENT?
The internet moves quickly. The internet moves quickly and you need to move with the times to avoid giving the impression that you’re out of touch with new techniques and trends. Fresh, quality content is extremely important in SEO. The longer you leave static content the more likely you are to drop in search rankings.
If you haven’t updated you website in some time, it may be a good idea to consider a redesign. Analyse your content. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and view your website from their perspective. Enlist honest help from an outsider and get them to browse your website and give you feedback on how it could be improved.
It’s very easy to look at your own website and be completely happy with it. In reality, you are not your customers. You may love it, but potential clients may hate it meaning they will go elsewhere.
IS YOUR WEBSITE LOOKING A BIT TIRED OR LACKING IN MODERN FEATURES?
At Timeless, we believe that although the look of a website is important, it’s the functionality and standards of accessibility that are key to success. That being said however, design trends are constantly shifting and as time goes by designs begin to look dated.
For example, is your website responsive? Tablet and Mobile browsing is rapidly becoming more popular and you need to factor this in when considering the design of your website. A visitor on an iPad is much more likely to stick around and delve into your website if you have catered for the fact that they are using smaller screens. Our Brighton web design team are constantly researching new trends and implement these in every new website that we build.
IS YOUR SITE NAVIGATION FAST AND INTUITIVE?
Sites that were designed ages ago often were created with a navigation that does not reflect current best practices. Moreover, in many cases, these sites were created with unnecessarily large files that slowed down page load time.
Good navigation means A) information is clear and easy to get to, B) nothing is deeply rooted or hidden, and C) pages are accessible for the search engines. Good site navigation relies on multiple elements to point the way to your users: menus, sidebar links, mini-navs, footers, and nested hyperlinks, among others.
If you don’t have these must-have features in your site navigation, or if your site navigation frustrates your site visitors for other reasons, it’s time to create a new website for the organisation.
ARE YOU USING A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
Do you need to update your website regularly? In doing so do you need to call your web designer to make changes?
If so, then you definitely need a new website. Websites should be powered by a robust content management system which allows you to fully manage your website with little or no input from a web designer.
SO, DO YOU NEED A NEW WEBSITE?
Website redesign is a complex undertaking, but the benefits of a new website can transform a good business into a great business.
Your website is your first impression on the market. A professional, well-designed website will convey to prospective customers and other key constituents that you are a force to be reckoned with and are worthy of their getting to know you better. If the business is such that the site can actually convert a prospect into a customer, then it’s even more important that the website is solid. On the flip side, an old and dated website will actually have a negative impact on your website.
If you’ve assessed your need for a website redesign and determined that it’s time for a change, give us a call. Our Brighton web design company, TimelessInteractive+, is ready to assist you with creating an enhanced website that looks great, aligns your web strategy with your business strategy, and helps you get more out of your web presence.