Did you know that globally, at least 2.2bn people have some form of visual impairment? (WHO, 2022) Considering the accessibility of your website is more important than you realise, and you could be alienating a huge portion of your audience who need a bit of extra help when looking at your website. Technology like screen readers are very common and 'read out' information on a screen, but to do that you need to give some idea of what's in an image or link. Luckily, it's not hard to make sure your website is a sight for sore eyes, and it's especially easy when you're doing it from scratch in a redesign. Basic checks like alt text for images, colour contrast checks, and wording hyperlinks better can make a huge difference, and have the added benefit of improving SEO performance.
One critical error I've seen time and time again is a business getting caught up in the visual aspect of a redesign project and not taking the time to carefully plan site architecture. The problem here is that without taking the time to properly research what you should target for the business and build out the customer journey you tend to leave quite a lot on the table. The worst case of this I've seen almost saw the site lose around 65% of its organic traffic due to this step being skipped.
Redesigning a website is a big investment of time and money. It isn't something you do often and it is typically live for a number of years. So, it is important you get it right! Your customers should be involved throughout the redesign process - the earlier the better. As the design process moves forward from concepts to prototypes and coded design, the number of design alternatives available to you reduces. At the same time, the cost of making any changes increases. Whether you choose to or not you will be testing your design with customers. The only question is when. If you wait until the new website is live, you will be testing with your customers in full view of the world. If it doesn't work, the design alternatives available to you will be minimal and the cost of change enormous. If you involve customers at the prototype stage or earlier, your choices are vast and the cost of change low. If you want a high performing website that attracts and retains customers, involve them.
It's super important to make a note/copy of the existing sitemap and all of the URLs in the site. Even images and other assets. The reason is that many companies dive in and scrap their existing websites for something that looks better, (in their opinion). They may be unaware that their existing site might have gathered links and mentions from other websites, thus earning the kudos that Google notices and uses to rank web pages in the Search results. Before discarding your old site, analyse the URLs and naming conventions. Keep anything that is good, it's fine to replace poor URLs, but ensure you that create 301 redirects to prevent your visitors from getting a 404 error when they visit via a link from an external site. It could be the difference between your new website raising you to new heights or going off a cliff. That way you can avoid making the classic statement: "We used to rank for everything but now, we're nowhere". Dont kill your website by neglecting the sitemap.
It's so important for both the client and the website designer to have clarity on how communication will take place throughout the project. Every service provider will have a different preference when it comes to the communication method. You can use email, phone calls, Zoom meetings, project management systems, etc. It's up to the website designer to set expectations and guide the client on how to navigate the project. In addition to the communication medium, the definition of the meeting frequency will help both parties to get on the same page. You'll want to include these terms in your project agreement.
One key aspect to consider is the use of nudges, which are small design elements that encourage specific user behaviors. For example, incorporating social proof, such as showing the number of people who have taken a certain action, or loss aversion, by emphasizing the potential loss of an opportunity, can significantly increase the likelihood of users taking a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. When redesigning a website, it's important to use nudges ethically and transparently and to conduct user testing to validate their effectiveness. By considering the principles of behavioral economics, a website can not only look great but also effectively drive desired behaviors and outcomes.
When creating a website redesign project plan, it is important to include a clearly defined timeline for the project. It should include the various stages of the project and the expected duration of each stage. For example, the timeline could include the initial planning and research phase, the design and development phase, the launch phase, and any post-launch maintenance or updates. Additionally, it is important to include a detailed budget for the project in the website redesign project plan. This budget should include a breakdown of all costs associated with the project, such as design and development fees, hosting fees, and any other fees associated with the project. Finally, the project plan should also include a detailed list of goals and objectives for the project. This should include a description of the desired user experience, the functionality, and any other objectives that the project should strive to achieve.
One of the most important aspects to include in a website redesign project plan is to take SEO into consideration. This means ensuring that the new website design will be optimized to meet the current search engine algorithms, and that it will be designed to maximize visibility and user experience. This can be accomplished by analyzing the existing website, researching the current SEO landscape, and incorporating the latest SEO trends into the website redesign. Additionally, it is important to consider how the website redesign will impact the existing website’s SEO performance, and to consider how the new website design can help to improve this.
A website redesign project plan should include a thorough review of existing content. It's important to understand what works and what doesn't, and to identify areas where improvements can be made. This will help ensure that the redesign project is successful and that the new website is better able to serve the needs of the target audience.
The most important component of a website redesign project plan is the discovery phase. This is where the team asks questions to determine the client's goals for the new website and sets the foundation for the whole project. Based on the information gathered in the discovery phase, the project lead is able to create a task list and timeline of deliverables, including dependencies/considerations, due dates, and assignees. This gives the entire team (along with the client) a clearly defined roadmap of how to proceed with the project.
It's important to determine how the homepage will change. Will it have one layout, or would it change based on the programs that are launching at the time? This is the first page the consumer will come across, so it's essential in any redesign project plan and should be a main focus as the site develops over time.
One important thing to include in a website redesign project plan is setting clear timelines. Establishing deadlines and timeline goals enables the team to stay focused on their tasks and ensures that the project is completed in an efficient manner. It’s also important to outline specific deliverables for each team member, so everyone knows what they should accomplish within the timeline. #best
User experience (UX) is a crucial aspect of a website redesign project plan because it directly impacts its success. A well-designed user experience can increase engagement, customer retention, and conversions. On the other hand, a poor one can lead to high bounce rates, low concentration, and decreased conversions. Including user experience in the redesign project plan ensures that: 1. The focus remains on the needs of the website's target audience 2. The design and functionality of the website are optimized to meet their expectations. This includes considerations such as ease of navigation, overall aesthetic, and the ability to complete tasks or find information quickly and efficiently. By considering UX early on in the redesign process, teams can ensure that the website is designed to deliver a positive user experience, which is crucial for achieving the project's goals and objectives.
We have redesigned our website a few times and will most likely redesign it again. One thing that is important in the redesign process is to make sure that we maintain our SEO and ranking positions. While improving the user experience is a priority, maintaining previous work is also a priority, so it is important to make sure that there aren't any broken links or duplicate pages etc. #jeff
I think if you are redesigning a website, you must have a copywriting strategy in place. Essentially because it’s part of the web design process, you must outline the positioning of your text, headlines, and call to action beforehand and then you can start designing the site around that content so you can create cohesive and effective web pages with no room for confusion. I have seen many websites that are beautifully designed, but the copywriting is horrible. It doesn’t make sense or it’s not aligned with their business goals. Your website's pages need to be engaging, persuasive, and easy to understand—all while delivering your message in a way that's relevant and helpful to users. In short: if you don't have good copywriting on your website, you're missing a critical part of a website redesign project and user experience.
There's a reason why the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" has been so true for so long. When it comes to website redesign plans, this is especially true otherwise you run the risk of alienating your existing customers. The first and foremost thing that you need to include in a redesign plan is the reason WHY you are redesigning it - not just because you feel like it is time to shake things up. Is there a group of customers you're not targeting and the redesign will appeal to them better? Did you design your first version in the Clippy era and your customers are fleeing to something with a more modern feel? Is there a tool that your competitors are leveraging that isn't included in your site? Know why you're doing it before planning to change anything.
One important thing to include in a website redesign project plan is a clear definition of the project goals and objectives. This should include the target audience, the key features and functionality the website should provide, and any specific business or marketing objectives that the redesign should support. This information will serve as a foundation for the rest of the project plan and will help ensure that the redesign stays focused and on track. Additionally, having a clear understanding of the goals and objectives will help the team prioritize and make decisions about the design and development process.
When redesigning a website, it is important to create a project plan that outlines the strategy, objectives, timeline, resources, and budget for the project. This plan should include: An analysis of the current website to determine what is working and what needs to be improved A list of goals and objectives for the project A timeline that includes deadlines for each task A budget for the project A list of resources needed for the redesign An outline of the steps for testing and launching the new website A plan for ongoing website maintenance
A content audit is one of the best things to include in your website redesign project plan. It will help you analyze the current content on your website and determine what needs to be changed and improved. It will also help you determine what content needs to be added and how the overall flow of the website should be changed. A content audit can be a very time-consuming task, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals. A content writer or content strategist can help you organize and simplify your existing content so that it’s easier to understand and navigate. They can also help you create new content that will better resonate with your target audience.
A website redesign project plan should include a comprehensive SEO strategy. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, refers to techniques used to ensure improved visibility of a website in search engine rankings. Having an SEO-friendly website is critical for driving organic traffic, which in turn will improve brand recognition and lead to more conversions. A strategic SEO plan should consider content optimization, keyword usage, meta tags and data structuring to ensure the best possible ranking and user experience. Additionally, competitor analysis should also be included as part of the SEO strategy as it provides in-depth insights into industry trends and best practices. Taking all these points into account will help your website redesign project reach its full potential.