Website redesign: a comprehensive step by step approach

The year is 2023 and your website is begging for a makeover. That virtual space that was once the cutting edge of style and functionality might now just be the online equivalent of an 80s hairdo. But where on the world wide web do you even start?

“Redesign isn’t just about a fresh coat of pixels. It’s about rejuvenating your site to better connect with your audience and achieve your goals.”

Let’s picture this–you’re in a room full of strategically placed sticky notes, whiteboards filled with brainstorming sessions, and an overenthusiastic team eager for change. Sounds exciting, right? But a website redesign isn’t just an artistic endeavor–it’s a strategic task that demands a defined blueprint. 

From clarifying your goals to safeguarding your valuable content, selecting the right software to understanding your target audience, every step plays a pivotal role in the success of your redesign.

What is a website redesign?

Let’s start our journey by addressing the elephant in the room – what exactly is a website redesign? Simply put, it’s like a makeover for your website; a process where the visual elements, layout, and user experience of your site are revamped and optimized to meet current market trends and user expectations. It’s all about enhancing your online presence and giving your visitors a fresh, engaging, and seamless browsing experience. 

But remember, a website redesign is not just about changing the aesthetics. It’s more than picking new colors and fancy fonts. A successful redesign also focuses on improving functionalities, optimizing the site’s performance, and ensuring it aligns with your business objectives. 

Why is a website redesign important? 

Ever entered a store that hasn’t changed its interiors for years? Didn’t it feel dull and outdated? Now, think about your website in the same light. The average lifespan of a website design is 2-3 years. As your business evolves, your website should too. It needs to reflect your current offerings, values, and brand identity. 

Further, a well-executed redesign can boost your site’s SEO, improve its load speed, make it mobile-friendly, and increase engagement.. And let’s not forget – it can give your brand a competitive edge in the digital world. 

So, when should you consider a website redesign? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But, if your site is not meeting your current business goals, appears outdated, is not user-friendly, or has a high bounce rate, it might be time for a revamp. Remember, your website is often the first point of contact potential customers have with your business. You want to make a strong first impression, right? 

Inspired? Intrigued? Great! Now let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how to plan and execute a successful website redesign.

The Website Redesigning Process Explained End-to-end

Just like a custom website design from scratch, a website redesign project is dotted with unique elements, high-priority areas, and challenges. However, we can sketch out a rough, shared roadmap for a successful website redesign process. Let’s embark on this journey together, shall we? 

1. Examine Your Current Website

The first step to a successful redesign is asking yourself, “Why do we need a website redesign?” This crucial question helps to prevent missteps and miscalculations that can drag you back to square one in the long run. 

If you have a dedicated in-house developer team and time to spare, harness them to uncover elements, copy, pages, or other items that may be causing usability issues. 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. Without an in-house team? No worries! Rally your entire staff to ensure no crack or corner goes unchecked. 

One effective strategy at this stage is to involve your user base in the process. Give them the opportunity to provide feedback on your website and feel like part of the team throughout their customer lifecycle. Two birds, one stone 😎.

2. The Ideation Stage

If everything went according to plan in the previous step, you should now have a compiled list of areas that need improvement on your website, focusing on both user experience and user journey. It’s time to gather your team and get creative! Ideation is the process where you brainstorm ideas on how to improve these identified areas. It’s a time to think big and out of the box. I like to reframe the challenge into a ‘how might we’ question to help reframe the mindset into ideation mode.

Try to embody your website’s users – consider their needs, desires, and problems they might face while navigating your site. Then, generate possible solutions that could enhance their experience. Remember, no idea is too wild at this stage. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible.

Use techniques like mind-mapping, sketching, or even digital tools designed for brainstorming, like Miro or Figma. These platforms can help facilitate the creative process and allow for collaboration if your team is working remotely. Once you have a considerable list of ideas, it’s time to sift through them.

Prioritize the ones that best align with your website goals and target audience needs. It’s important to note, however, that an idea’s feasibility should also be taken into account. Consider your budget, resources, and timeline before finalizing ideas for implementation. 

3. Sketching Out Ideas and Crafting Initial Prototypes

Once your idea factory is buzzing and churning out solid concepts, you’ll find yourself knee-deep in actionable drafts. These drafts, in turn, pave the way to your early prototypes. 

This phase of the redesign process is quite the game-changer, acting as the cornerstone of your work in the upcoming month(s). It’s crucial to iron out any kinks at this juncture because backtracking once development has kicked off can be a tough and expensive affair. However, there’s a secret sauce to minimizing hiccups and keeping the error rate as low as possible.

4. Stakeholder reviews

Inviting stakeholders to scrutinize your website redesign prototypes can uncover critical insights. This crucial step ensures every concern and query is addressed before you dive headfirst into the project. 

Key questions to guide your conversation with stakeholders might include: 

• Do the changes resolve issues?
• What’s the impact of changes on user experience?
• Are there any additional enhancements needed?
• Should we adjust the new modifications? What could be the UX effect?

These are just a few examples – your specific project might call for even more tailored questions.

5. Development, Implementation & Review

It’s time to implement your website redesign ideas. You have two options. 

If you have an in-house team, ensure proper planning and task delegation to avoid futile efforts. 

If you’re working with an agency, monitor the progress closely. Be ready to supervise any unexpected changes. 

In this context, providing the agency with clear guidelines helps them make decisions in line with your goals.

6. Unleash the Power of Testing

So, you’ve got a shiny new website all set to catapult into the digital space, right? Well, hold on a second… 

Don’t hit that launch button just yet! 

Yes, you’ve dotted all your i’s, crossed all your t’s, and it seems like you’re good to go. But there’s a crucial piece of the puzzle you’re missing. 

The voice of your audience. A website redesign should include a thorough testing phase to ensure functionality and user experience.

So, before blasting off into the web-o-sphere, your revamped site needs to pass the acid test – user testing. Budget constraints? Opt for guerilla testing. 

If you can splurge on A/B testing, by all means, don’t think twice. 

In the grand scheme of things, an untested website redesign is just a newer version of an old problem. It’s a website that’s deaf to your users’ needs and feelings.

7. Launch and optimize

Drumroll, please! After you’ve fine-tuned and tweaked to perfection, the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. 

It’s Go-Live Day! 

But don’t rush into popping the champagne just yet. The launch also signals it’s time to see your website in action, in real-time. Is it slower than a snail on a treadmill? Are some elements playing hide-and-seek? Did a last-minute change slip through the cracks, or are there more modifications needed based on user feedback? 

Take a deep breath. It’s all part of the process. Even the pros have been there. The key is to keep finessing, keep optimizing. Now that we’ve walked through the redesign journey, let’s dive into the specifics. 

Here are some fail-proof tips to skyrocket your success rate when designing and launching your revamped website.

Website Redesign Checklist: 7 Essential Steps to Follow

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and dive into the heart of the matter—your website redesign. By now, the very thought of it may seem a tad overwhelming. But fear not, I’m going to break it down for you, step-by-step, into a nifty checklist. Ready? Let’s get started. 

Step 1: Defining your goals 

Before you plunge headfirst into the redesign, it’s vital to establish clear, measurable goals. Are you looking to increase website traffic? Improve lead generation? Boost sales? Maybe all the above? Good. Write it all down, because these goals will guide your redesign journey. 

Step 2: Know Your Audience 

Your website isn’t a vanity project—it’s a tool to serve your audience. Keep them in mind throughout the redesign process. Think about their needs, their pain points, their desires. It’s all about providing a user experience that’s as enjoyable as it is effective. 

Step 3: Protect Your Valuable Content 

Don’t let your high-performing content get lost in the shuffle. Ensure that it’s protected and highlighted during the redesign process. Protecting valuable content during a website redesign is essential to maintain website credibility and authority.

“Your top-notch content is the lifeblood of your website’s overall success. Guard it with all your might!”

• Identify: First, have a solid understanding of what your key content is. Use analytics to assess which pages are getting the most traffic, and the highest engagement.
• Preserve: Keep URLs the same when possible to maintain SEO rankings. If URL changes are necessary, make sure to set up proper 301 redirects.
• Highlight: Make these top-performing pages easily accessible and noticeable on your redesigned site. They should be just a click or two away from any page on your site.

Step 4: Pick the Right Software 

Your choice of software for your website redesign can have a significant impact on the end result. The right tools will simplify the process, keep you organized, and allow for seamless collaboration. Choosing the right software for the website redesign process can save time and resources.

1. Design Software: Use a tool that allows you to visually create and iterate on your website design. Adobe XD and Sketch are popular choices.
2. Project Management: Use software like Trello or Asana to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and project progress.
3. Communication: Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams can facilitate real-time communication amongst your team.

Step 5: Assemble Your Redesign Team 

An efficient and effective website redesign requires a mix of skills. From graphic designers to web developers, content writers to SEO specialists, it’s a group effort. Remember, your team doesn’t have to be large, but it should be mighty! 

Step 6: Draft a Sitemap 

A UX sitemap is nothing but a roadmap of your website. It outlines the website’s structure, including the main topics and subtopics that will be included. This is a critical step to ensure that your website redesign aligns with your initial goals. 

• Begin by listing the main pages that you want on your site.
• Then, identify the subpages or dropdown menus for each main page.
• Finally, consider the user journey and ensure that navigating your site is intuitive and user-friendly.

Step 7: Develop Your Content Strategy 

Your content is the heart of your website. It’s what draws in visitors, helps answer their questions, and ultimately, turns them into customers. So, a clear content strategy is a must. 

“Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it’s decoration.”

– Jeffrey Zeldman

Start by conducting a content audit of your current site. Take note of what’s working, what’s not, and what needs a revamp. Then, create new content that aligns with your goals and caters to your audience’s needs. 

Content Type	Purpose	Target Audience
Blog Posts	To educate and inform	Existing and potential customers
Product Descriptions	To sell products or services	Potential customers
About Us Page	To tell your brand story	All website visitors

Now that you understand the significance of different content types, their purpose, and target audience, you’re in a better position to strategize your content. But getting it right can be quite a task. Don’t worry, though! 

Need Help with Your Content Strategy?

If the idea of doing extensive keyword research and creating an editorial calendar seems overwhelming, I’m here to help! With years of experience in content strategy, I can support you in these crucial steps of your website redesign journey. 

Remember, a well-thought-out content strategy can make all the difference in a successful website redesign. Don’t leave it to chance!

Roxanne Rosewood

Ready to take your website content to the next level? Don’t hesitate! Contact me today and let’s get started on creating a content strategy that resonates with your target audience and achieves your business goals.

Wrapping up

Phew! That was a journey, wasn’t it? By now, you should be feeling like a website redesign pro, ready to take on the digital world. But hang tight, let’s do a quick recap for the road. 

Key Takeaways 

• Envision Success: Imagine your perfect website—what does it look like, how does it feel? Having a vivid idea of success in your mind’s eye can guide your redesign journey. Don’t just set goals, dream them.
• Bond with Your Users: Think of your users as friends. What would they love to see? What would make their lives easier? A website redesign isn’t just about creating a site—it’s about forging a connection.
• Guard Your Gold: Your website content is your treasure trove. Keep it safe during the redesign, because it isn’t just about maintaining SEO rankings—it’s about preserving the value you’ve spent time building.
• Pick Your Power Tools: Your choice of software is like choosing a superhero sidekick. It can either make your journey smoother or cause unnecessary hassle. Remember, it’s not just about fulfilling needs—it’s about finding a perfect ally in your website redesign endeavor.

There you have it – your ultimate guide to nailing a website redesign in 2023. This isn’t the end, though. It’s just the beginning of a beautiful, user-friendly, high-performing website journey. Cheers to turning pixels into experiences that matter! 

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of redesigning a website?

Redesigning your website is like giving your business a full-fledged makeover. It’s about more than just visuals; it’s about enhancing performance, improving user experience, and driving growth. Let’s look at some of the main benefits: 

• User Experience: Redesigning allows you to improve navigation and make your website more user-friendly. This can significantly improve user experience and increase time spent on your site.
• SEO Ranking: A well-structured, fast, and responsive website is favored by search engines. A redesign can boost your SEO ranking, making your website more discoverable.
• Brand Image: A fresh, modern design can help to strengthen your brand image and credibility. 48% of people cited a website’s design as the number one factor in deciding the credibility of a business.
• Conversion Rates: By optimizing site layout, call-to-actions, and loading times, you can increase conversions and business growth.

Remember, a website redesign isn’t just an aesthetic makeover, it’s a functionality and user experience upgrade. It’s a strategic move towards business growth.

How do I understand my target audience before redesigning my website?

Understanding your target audience is an essential step in your website redesign process. It’s akin to setting the compass for your journey, ensuring that your redesign efforts are focused and efficient. But how do you exactly understand your target audience? Let’s break it down: 

1. Define Your Audience: Start by defining who your audience is. Are they tech-savvy youths, or maybe professionals seeking industry knowledge? Establish who you’re speaking to.
2. Research Your Audience: Conduct surveys or interviews to gather data about your audience’s preferences, pain points, and needs. This information will guide your redesign decisions.
3. Analyze Your Data: Use analytics tools to understand your audience’s behavior on your current website. What pages do they visit? What content do they engage with? This data will help you identify what works and what doesn’t.

Remember: Your website should cater to your users’ needs and preferences. By understanding your target audience, you can create a website that truly resonates with them.

How long does a typical website redesign take to complete?

Website redesign, much like home renovation, is a process that varies in length based on several key factors. 

• Size of the website: A smaller website may take between 1-2 months, whereas a larger, more complex site could take 3-6 months, or even longer.
• Goals and Objectives: If you’re looking to make a simple aesthetic update, the process will be quicker than if you’re aiming to rebrand or overhaul your site’s functionality.

Note: Regardless of the size and scope of your project, remember – a rushed redesign can lead to poor outcomes. It’s important to take the time you need to achieve your goals effectively.

How do I measure the success of a website redesign?

The success of a website redesign can be gauged through a variety of metrics. Crucially, these measurements should align with the goals you set at the outset of your redesign project. Let’s delve into some key ways to evaluate your redesign: 

1. User engagement: Increased traffic, longer visit duration, and higher interaction rates are good indicators of improved user engagement.
2. Conversion rates: If your goal was to boost sales or signups, an upturn in these numbers post-redesign would signify success.
3. SEO performance: Better search engine rankings and visibility post-redesign can indicate a well-optimized site.
4. User feedback: Direct responses from your users about their experience on your new site can offer valuable insights.

In essence, the success of a website redesign is defined by whether it fulfills your specific objectives and enhances your online presence.