When was the last time your website had a facelift? If your answer is before 2011, it's probably time for a website redesign. People view websites on multiple devices, design trends have changed, and copy should be written for search engine optimization (SEO). We've put together a list to review to help you determine if your website needs to be updated.
Website Redesign Checklist
Here are some topics to consider when asking yourself if it's time to redesign your website.
Mobile Friendly
This is a big one! Nearly 60 percent of internet searches are from mobile devices (source), so if your site is not mobile friendly, stop reading and contact a web developer ASAP! A poor mobile experience could result in a loss of sales, leads, and repeat visits to your website. Also, updating your site's code will improve the speed of site and your rankings with search engines.
Social Media Links
Does your website link to your social media pages? This is one of the easiest ways to connect to your site's visitors – for free! If they like your products and services, there's a good chance they'll follow you on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. And if you don't have social media accounts – why not?
Improve Usability
If your visitors can't find what they're looking for, they will move on to the next website, and more than likely never return to yours. A simple way to test your site for usability is to ask someone (neighbor, friend, family member) who's never been to your site to accomplish a task you expect your visitors to complete. If they can't figure it out, you probably have a usability issue. An experienced web developer will be able to address usability issues during a website redesign.
Add New Functionality
If you're looking to add new features like a blog, ecommerce, or lead generating pages, a website redesign may be in your future. This would be the perfect time to restructure your website for these types of new features.
Blogging
Do your traditional and digital marketing complement each other? If you're handing out new business cards with your updated logo, but your website still has the old look and feel, you definitely need to update your website. Branding 101 means making all of your material consistent. This includes your logo, fonts, colors, tagline, and art (icons, photography, and design elements).
Local Focused Content
If you live here in Louisville and you're not showing up in search results, you probably need some major search engine optimization (SEO) work. That could also be the right time for a redesign of your website. We can help focus your content on keywords so people in Louisville will find your products and services.
Looking Outdated
Trends in the digital space seem to shift every 3 – 6 years. The days of beveled buttons and drop shadows are behind us. The current trend is toward flat design, simplicity, and a focus on functionality... another thing to consider when thinking about a redesign.
Your Focus Has Changed
If your business model has changed or you have several new products or services that need to be added to your website, a redesign may be the perfect opportunity to incorporate these new offerings.
Website Redesigns: A Worthwhile Investment
Well, there you have it. You've reviewed several things to consider when determining if it's time for a website redesign in Louisville. Only you will be able to tell if this is something that can wait, or something you need to make a priority.
Free Website Evaluation
If you want an evaluation of your website to get our thoughts, just shoot us an email. No pressure, no obligations – just a straightforward review of your website with an outline of any issues and recommendations to address them. We're here to help!
