Are you planning of re-designing your website in 2015? Do you want to change the look and feel of your existing website?<\/p>\n
Any business owner who has ever redesigned his or her company website will tell you: It\u2019s not for the faint of heart. Whether you struggle to get key stakeholders on the same page, question where and how to best invest your money, or wonder why nobody quite gets your vision, redesigning your website can be one of the biggest challenges you face when it comes to marketing your business.<\/p>\n
But it doesn\u2019t have to be.<\/p>\n
When you ask the right questions from the get-go, you can\u00a0save time, frustration and dollars in the long run. As we head into 2015, here are the five\u00a0most important ones to consider before you get started.<\/p>\n
Before you embark on the redesign process, it\u2019s important to think strategically about your content so you’re\u00a0clear about what you want the new site to achieve. Do you want people to buy products? Fill out an application? Subscribe to an enewsletter?<\/p>\n
The clearer you get about exactly what actions you want users to take, the easier it will be to design your information architecture (essentially the map or framework of your site), and the more satisfied you and your users will be with the results.<\/p>\n
Prior to getting started, take stock of your existing website and assess what you want to keep and what can be tossed. Do you hear any common complaints from customers or other frequent visitors? Can you glean any insights from Google Analytics?<\/p>\n
For example, if site visitors tend to drop off at certain pages, consider what elements or content might be created to pique their interest. If you notice that users hover and click in a certain spot that doesn\u2019t currently lead anywhere, perhaps it makes sense to add a link to “learn more.”<\/p>\n
Be sure to dig into the data here, rather than rely on gut instinct.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking decisions from data, rather than emotion, is paramount during the redesign process,” says\u00a0Curt Schwab, founder and CEO of digital agency\u00a0Blue Water.\u00a0“It\u2019s always harder to see your own brand objectively, but the data doesn\u2019t lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
When you redesign your website, it\u2019s easy to get distracted by bells and whistles that you don\u2019t actually need (and blow your budget out of proportion). This is hard for business owners who want everything right now, but just as the web is ever evolving, so too is a good website.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnow that your site will never be \u2018done,’\u201d Schwab says.\u00a0\u201cInstead, take an iterative approach. Focus on your must haves right now and plan to make ongoing changes and optimizations based on user feedback and interaction down the line.\u201d For instance, take a look at this website for top Voice Artists in Ghana<\/a>. This site must definitely have a an audio player but not necessarily a video player.<\/p>\n Building your website using a content-management system (CMS) has become de rigor in recent years. Popular CMSs, such as\u00a0WordPress<\/a>,\u00a0Drupal<\/a>\u00a0and Joomla<\/a>, allow you to easily update your website content without knowing how to code (so you don’t have to rely completely on a developer).<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not currently using a CMS,\u00a0then you should absolutely include one in the new site. If you already have a CMS, take time to consider whether it\u2019s working for you and meeting all of your needs. If not, it might be worth exploring other content-management systems on the market to find a better fit.<\/p>\n Technology is constantly evolving and it makes sense to take full advantage of what\u2019s available.<\/p>\n When considering whether to do the redesign in-house vs. hire a pro or\u00a0agency, it\u2019s important to understand the magnitude of the undertaking at hand, and honestly assess whether it\u2019s the best use of your resources. It can be tempting to want to save money by doing the redesign in house, but don\u2019t underrate the value of having someone objective and skilled to guide you through the process.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you do decide to stay in house, take a good look at your internal resources,”\u00a0Schwab says. “For a successful redesign, you need a 360-degree team, which includes someone with online-marketing expertise, a copywriter, a designer, a developer\u00a0and a project manager to stay on top of all the moving pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n Are there any questions you wish you\u2019d asked before redesigning your website? Any key lessons learned? We\u2019d love to hear about them in the comments section below!<\/p>\n4.\u00a0Am I currently using a content management system, and if so, how is it working for me?<\/h2>\n
5) Should I do this in house or outsource?<\/h2>\n