Online marketing is the new trend and as technology advances, there is continued need to upgrade, streamline and reevaluate your website in order to stay current and relevant. A website makeover may be just what you need.
Depending on your level of expertise, website redesign can prove to be a very challenging undertaking. Therefore it should be approached with a lot of care in order to generally avoid mishaps.
The following are some useful guidelines to consider when planning a website makeover:-
Why exactly do you need the website redesigned?
Are you launching a new service and/or product? Is it to attract more traffic to your business' webpage? Are you trying to expand your marketing territory? In short, what is the main objective? Once you have figured this out, it will make it easier for you to determine layout, color,and user friendliness of your website.
Who would you like involved in the web makeover process?
Gathering top notch website designers and think tanks, if affordable, might be a smart move. Furthermore you wouldn't want to end up with a redesigned website that looks like itself needs redesigned altogether! Get it right from the very start and get he right help, if need be. Brainstorming ideas has never been a bad thing to do.
First impressions matter big and therefore before you settle down on that lime green solid background or a lukewarm and passive color, think of what message you would like your customers to grab at first sight.
Are you going for a fun and chic or stern and businesslike mood? Whatever mood you set, the bigger question should be whether it reflects your companies vision and mission as well as the products and/or services that you offer.
Build for your Visitor
The customer is and should always be the driving force behind which you streamline your services and products. It shouldn't be any different while designing your website. Continually ask yourself if your website accounts for simpler ways for the customer to nagivate, to get feedback and to offer suggestions and reviews of your services/ products. Keep user-friendliness in mind.
Scout Out your Competition
Always maintain a competitive edge. If you are looking to increase sales through your newly redesigned website, ensure that you scout your competition, make strategic and deliberate efforts to outsmart or outplay them. Whatever you do, maintain quality and uniqueness and let that aspect permeate through your website's overall outlook.
Website Features
How functional would you like your website to be? Are you adding an online shopping cart? Are there order forms? Do you plan on integrating a social media platform? Is there a blog?If so how interactive are these functions?
Budget
How much money are you willing to invest in your new website makeover, that is if you are not utilizing in-house talent. Ensure that you get value for your money. Mediocrity can be very costly in a business environment.
Your online image should be in tune with your offline image as well. Therefore it is essential to strike a balance between your marketing tools that are already in print, with your online marketing venture. You do not want to lose your credibility by sending mixed messages to your customers. Consistency is key.
After gathering all the information needed and are satisfied with your order of business, it is therefore essential to set a realistic time frame of when you expect your website redesign project to be complete. Do not rush things and neither should you drag it along. Ideas can get fogged up and quickly outdated if not implemented in a timely manner.
After all the main objective of your web makeover is to stay current and relevant!
