by Does your website need a redesign? The short answer is probably not. But, if you ask enough website design agencies, you might be convinced to go down this path prematurely. When business owners ask me if their website needs a redesign they are often surprised to hear me say,
“You might not need a redesign yet.”
And, “There are some other things you should do first.”
Let’s take a look at some worthwhile alternatives to website redesign. We’ll also look at some of the reasons you might need to invest your resources in a redesign project.
Alternatives to a website redesign
Website Theme Conversion
If you’re looking for an alternative to redesigning your website, consider converting it into a WordPress theme that can easily be edited and customized. This will allow you to make changes without having to redo everything from scratch.
Contact us to learn about your options for a theme conversion.
Office: (844) 972-6224 Contact Us→
Conversion to WordPress
Not using WordPress yet? Another option to a redesign is to convert your existing site into a WordPress website. If your website is developed on an outdated platform the your website performance is probably lacking. Over the past 15 years, WordPress has transformed from a basic blogging tool into a powerful platform for designing and developing business websites. According to WordPress.com, and Netcraft, the WordPress software powers more than 35% of the web.
At Emily Journey & Associates, we are experts at theme conversions and WordPress conversions. Reach out to our office and we’ll talk with you about your options.
Search Engine Optimization
The lack of traffic to your website may have nothing to do with your website design. In fact, it’s not uncommon for website traffic to drop after a poorly executed website redesign. A drop in traffic occurs as a result of the developer’s failure to implement SEO best practices during the development process.
If improving sales is your primary business goal, then a website redesign may not be the place to start. Instead, consider addressing your website’s search engine ranking or SEO. SEO can take months to see results. Diving into a lengthy website redesign can delay your website traffic growth even further.
Want to learn more about how we can help you attract the right traffic to your website? Contact us to learn about our done-for-you SEO services.
Office: (844) 972-6224 Contact Us→
Design Updates
The website is beautiful
“I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how grateful I am for having had the opportunity of working with you these past months on the redesign of my website, www.celistialart.com. I know my website had a lot of new things that we needed to iron out, but in the end the website is beautiful and I cannot be more pleased. Thank you so much, you truly understand the spirit of CELIStial Art!”
A website redesign is not necessary every time there is a change in your company's marketing strategy, services, or product offerings. Often, just making updates to your current website design can improve its effectiveness. Examples of updates include:
- Adding new products
- Improving the wording and messaging for service descriptions
- Rearranging sections to improve navigation
- Removing elements to improve user experience
- Changing the font combinations and colors
For example, if you sell a line of raincoats for dogs, you could update your website by adding new photos to your online catalog. You could also improve the product descriptions of each raincoat. Finally, you could remove old information from the website.
When considering these types of updates, remember that they won't require a full website redesign. They simply involve updating your website's design elements.
Website Redesign vs Website Maintenance
There's a difference between a website redesign and website maintenance. The former involves completely rebuilding your website from scratch while the latter involves ongoing support for website improvements, security, and troubleshooting. Website maintenance often involves smaller design improvements and projects.
When deciding whether to perform a website redesign or to get help maintaining your current website, consider the following questions:
- How much work will this project require?
- Will I be able to complete all of the work within one month?
- Is this project worth the cost?
- Do I want to invest the time required for a website redesign?
- Can I put off a website redesign for another 8 months while I focus on getting help with SEO instead?
Get reliable support and security for your website. Learn about our website maintenance services here »
How to know if my website needs a redesign
If you're thinking about investing in a redesign then it's important that you know what constitutes a good reason for doing so. Some of these reasons include:
Your target audience has changed
One of the most common reasons why people think their websites need a redesign is because their website has become less popular with their current customers and more popular with the wrong ones. If you've been losing traffic over time, or gaining traffic from the wrong sources, then it may be time to rethink your approach.
What worked last year doesn't work today.
Changes in website traffic could mean that your site isn't working well on mobile devices, or that it's not converting as well as it used to. Or, it could simply mean that your content is no longer relevant to your audience. In any case, it's worth investigating whether there's something wrong with your website before going through the process of redesigning it.
Office: (844) 972-6224 Contact Us→
Your customers are complaining about the website
It can be tempting to assume your customers are just having bad luck, but if they keep complaining about your website then it's probably you and not them. When a customer complains about your website, consider it a gift and accept it graciously. Most of the time, when a potential customer experiences a problem with your website, they won't tell you. Instead, they'll move on to your competitor.
Feeling envious of a competitor's new website redesign?
Your competition has invested in a new design, and you wonder if you're lagging behind with an outdated design.
The fact that your competitors have redesigned their sites doesn't necessarily mean that yours needs to be redone too. You can still be number one without making drastic changes to your own website. However, if you feel like your conversion rate is falling behind, it's definitely worth considering a redesign.
Your website looks untrustworthy or outdated
A poorly designed website can make you seem untrustworthy or out-of-date. It can even make you appear unprofessional. This is especially true if your website is old and dated. As a leader in your industry, you don't want to give the impression that you're no longer up to date.
When was the last time you updated your website? A redesign will help you stay ahead of the image game.
Your design isn't responsive
Responsive web design is an essential part of modern web design. Responsive web design allows users to access your website regardless of which device they're using. That way, you can cater to all types of visitors.
If your website is built in WordPress, then you're basically already covered because modern WordPress websites are mobile responsive by default. Redesigning a website with responsive design doesn't take much extra effort when your developer uses a modern WordPress theme.
It's a mistake to assume that everyone uses the internet in the same way that you do. You should always aim to create a website that works across all devices: phone, iPad, and desktop. Otherwise, you risk alienating potential customers who use different devices.
How often should websites be redesigned?
There's no set rule for how often websites should be redesigned. Some companies only change their websites every few years, while others may update their websites more frequently. If you've been running your business for some time, then you might think that you don't need to redesign your website. Fortunately, you don't have to make that decision alone. Contact us to get clarity on the redesign process and to discuss your options.
