Slow loading times. Confusing navigation. Outdated information. Be honest – when you land on a website with these issues, you click away, don’t you?
Your website is the online face of your brand. It should reflect who you are and what you offer. If your website has user issues, is outdated, or is simply – to put it bluntly – ugly, it might be time for a change.
A website redesign includes, but is not limited to, changes to website functionality, appearance and menu structure – essentially, the ways in which information is presented to your users.
So, how do you know when it’s time for a refresh?
Ask yourself:
- Is the content on my website outdated or misinforming users?
- How are users interacting with my website? Is the current user experience aligned with my goals?
- What do I want users to learn/do? Is my current website helping them to achieve this?
Businesses grow and change; this should be reflected in their online presence. A redesign can boost customer conversions and modernize how a business interacts with its users.
Trends change and so do services – sometimes you just gotta switch ‘er up.
There’s a lot to consider when redesigning a website, so we’ve put together a list of the top three dos and don’ts of web design.
DO prioritize responsive mobile design. Roughly 60% of all users who access the web are doing so through a mobile device. As such, how your website appears on mobile is very important.
DO pay attention to website speed. Large images, too many elements, and motion can affect your website’s performance, and a slow website will cause a user to leave immediately. Consider what is important visually to make the site dynamic, and remove unnecessary elements.
DO be clear and concise. Users don’t want to read large paragraphs of text (unless it is for policy/medical/educational purposes). Give your content room to breathe with good spacing and organization. Make it clear and easy for users to find what they are looking for.
DON’T neglect content and SEO optimization. SEO is incredibly important for your website’s online presence and appearing in online databases (such as Google searches). If this is poorly optimized, it will affect visibility and user retention.
DON’T disregard accessibility. Whether the website requires a mandated level of accessibility or not, poor accessibility will turn users away from your website. Poor contrast, cluttered content, poor spacing, and inconsistent elements all reflect poorly on your website.
DON’T rush your project. A rushed project rarely produces a good product. Allow for some breathing room in your workplan and account for any snags or delays in the pre-production phase.
Bottom line: your website should enhance your online presence, not hinder it.
Need help? Whether you’re looking for a refresh or a brand-new website, reach out to us for your next web project.
