What is Website Redesign?

4 min to read

Website redesign refers to a thorough process that involves altering its design, content, structure, and functionality in every area of an existing website. Its transformation involves making modifications to a website’s visual appearance, user experience, and supporting technology to meet the needs of its target audience as well as business goals more easily.

Redesign projects can range from aesthetic tweaks to rebuilding an entire website’s infrastructure and technology. The extent of any redesign depends on both project goals and budget considerations.

Key Takeaways:
  • Website redesign is not simply about aesthetics. It should aim to improve user experience and meet your business goals.
  • A comprehensive plan with clear goals and a coherent timeline is essential when structuring a website redesign strategy.
  • Since redesigns can affect search rankings, prioritize SEO throughout the redesign process.
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When should you consider a website redesign?

Many factors influence the decision-making for a website redesign, such as:

  • Old Design: A website design impacts brand perception and user experience.

  • Not user-friendly:  A website design should provide clear and structured ways for your users to locate the necessary information.

  • Underperformance: If the website is not attracting the expected traffic or conversions, it is a great sign for a redesign.

  • Lack of Mobile Optimization: Make sure your website is mobile-responsive as many people are browsing the web using mobile devices.

  • Misalignment with Brand Identity: A website should be a precise reflection of the company’s brand identity and messaging.

  • Failure to Meet Business Goals:  An efficient website is designed to serve your business goals.

  • Technical Obstacles:  Outdated technology or difficulties updating a website can have an impact on the desired web performance and upkeep.

What are common website redesign goals?

Common website redesign goals depend on every business’s specific needs and priorities, some general ones are:

  • Improving User Experience (UX): Optimizing website navigation, simplifying user flows across devices.

  • Increasing Website Traffic and Conversions: Optimising SEO strategies, creating engaging content, and improving calls-to-action.

  • Strengthening Brand Identity: Aligning the website design, content, and messaging with company values.

  • Modernizing Technology: Optimize performance, security, and manageability by upgrading the website’s technology stack.

  • Enhancing Accessibility: Develop an accessible website for users with disabilities by adhering to accessibility standards.

  • Staying Competitive: Keep the website up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.

What is a website redesign strategy?

A website redesign strategy is a developed in-depth plan highlighting goals, objectives, and steps involved with redesigning an existing site. Components of the website redesign strategy include:

  • Goal Setting: Establish what results the redesign should achieve.

  • Target Audience Analysis: Analyze the preferences, needs, and behaviors of the target audience.

  • Budget and Timeline Allocation: Set realistic financial and time restrictions for the project.

  • Content Audit and Strategy: Analyze existing content while planning new website pages accordingly.

  • Design and Development Planning: Outline the design process, select development technologies, and allocate responsibilities.

  • Testing and Quality Assurance: Establish testing procedures to guarantee the website functions and meets quality criteria. 

  • Launch and Post-Launch Planning: Craft an initial launch strategy and trace post-launch optimization plans.

  • SEO Strategy: Integrate SEO best practices into the redesign process to increase search engine visibility.

  • Maintenance and Updates: Develop an ongoing website maintenance and updating strategy.

How long does a website redesign project take?

The website redesign process can take several weeks to several months depending on its scope and the resources available; smaller refreshes may take less time while major overhauls will need more time.  

Pro Tip: 
Dedicate some time to creating a comprehensive project timeline with milestones to track progress and ensure timely completion.

Will a website redesign affect my SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

A website redesign impacts SEO negatively as much as positively. To minimize potential adverse consequences and achieve maximum positive outcomes, it’s vital that:

  • Preserve Existing Rankings: Utilize proper redirects (301 redirects) to maintain link equity and avoid search engine confusion.

  • Optimize On-Page SEO: Make sure your title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and image alt text contain relevant keywords for SEO optimization.

  • Maintain Website Structure: To avoid search engine penalties, avoid making sudden alterations to the URL structure of the website.

  • Monitor Search Engine Performance: Monitor website rankings and traffic to identify potential issues and take corrective actions if necessary.

How can I ensure a smooth website launch after a redesign?

Careful planning and execution are requirements for a successful website launch. Essential procedures include:

  • Thorough Testing: Execution of comprehensive tests that can identify and solve potential issues before launch.

  • Performance Optimization: Optimizing website loading time and functionality.

  • SEO Audit: Confirm that all SEO elements are implemented without faults.

  • Content Review: All information presented should be correct and up-to-date.

  • User Feedback Mechanism: Develop a mechanism to collect user comments and make the necessary modifications.
Pro Tip:
It’s advised to create a post-launch checklist to assess if the tasks went smoothly and reached the goal which would be to optimize the website.

Conclusion 

Website redesign is no luxury as it is more than just brushing a website’s visuals; it extensively covers other core aspects like inclusivity, SEO performance, revenue, and user satisfaction. By assessing and fixing technical obstacles, the potential outcomes will be worth the planning and application of the redesign.

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