Today we’re switching gears a bit to talk about website redesign. Thrive Web Designs is often contacted by businesses who are looking for a Boise web design company to update or redesign their current sites for a variety of reasons. We have clients who have websites that haven’t been touched for ten years or more. We have clients who had a WordPress site built by either another company or themselves and are now having major issues due to updates and plugins not working correctly. We have clients who are looking for a total rebranding of their company and would like an updated website to go along with it. Whatever the reason, one thing we know is that web design is constantly changing with the trends, methods, and availability. Here is a quick Q&A session for everything you wanted to know about website redesign.
Q: How do I know if my site needs to be redesigned?
A: Web design trends are changing so often nowadays that it can be hard to keep up. Take a look at your competition’s sites and compare yours to theirs. Or better yet, take a look at websites of companies in your industry in the big cities (New York, LA, Seattle, etc.). These companies tend to constantly be up with the trends and are a good place to start to see what your site might be lacking. If you feel as though your site could use some sprucing up after looking at these sites, then it’s probably a good idea to think about sprucing up your site. Also, if anything on your site isn’t working properly, loading slowly, or looks vastly different from one internet browser to the next, a redesign should definitely be scheduled in the very near future.
Q: Will I need to update my content, as well, or just the design?
A: Updating your content is always a good idea even if you aren’t redesigning your site. Search engines frown upon stagnant sites that just sit for months or years without any updates. So either adding pages with brand new content or refreshing your current content is a great idea. If you are doing a site redesign, why not update your content while you are at it? If your last update was 12-18 months ago there is no question it is time for an update. You’ll probably find as you read through your current pages that there are things that have changed (staff, prices, inventory, services, etc.). Also, adding in updated keywords to help with SEO is a must for site traffic.
Q: Will a site redesign help business?
A: If you are selling your home, will updated paint, fixtures, and appliances help you sell it? Of course. Your website acts as a major part of your company’s brand and it if it looks outdated, bare, or broken, then your company will look that way to your website viewers, as well, and it’s a real turn-off for potential business. Also, if you update your site with relevant content and keywords along with the design, your website traffic is bound to rise.
Q: What are some things to consider when deciding to redesign my site?
It can seem a bit overwhelming when deciding how you want your new site to look and function. A questions to think about and brainstorm are: Does your business need an updated logo and business identity to go along with the new site or do you plan on keeping your current one? Can your site be made easier to navigate for your viewers with a more visible navigation bar, links, etc.? Do you need to have new photos taken of your business, products, or staff? What about video updates or additions? Do you want to keep your current style or color scheme or start completely new from a blank slate?
Q: How often should I consider a site redesign?
It’s best to review your website at least annually to decide if a redesign is in order for you and your business and to make sure it is meeting your customers’ needs and wants. If your site hasn’t been redesigned for two years, it’s definitely time to update things! If you’d like to discuss a website redesign, you can contact us with any questions you may have!
Until Next Time!
Bonnie Olswanger | Thrive Web Designs, a Boise web design company
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