We (at WPM) have successfully redesigned and revamped mora than 10 major websites (including both websites and online stores) on WordPress over the past year. Based on our experiences we are presenting you with 10 key steps to help you achieve a successful website redesign.
1. SET GOALS
Before starting a website redesign, you need to ask yourself “Why?”. What exactly do you want to achieve with the overhaul? What are your intentions, requirements and expectations that the overhaul will bring? Is your goal to improve the overall user experience? Do you probably want increased/increased conversions and better search engine rankings (SEO optimization)?.
A well-defined goal consists of two components, namely:
- Clarity: the objective must be clearly and precisely defined. Only with clearly defined goals will it be easier to get through the individual decisions that will accompany your renovation;
- Measurability: The goal must be measurable, but we can define the unit ourselves. For example, visual changes are difficult to measure as such, so the goal can be the opinions and reactions of visitors and friends, or even an increase in website traffic.
2. ANALYZE YOUR CURRENT WEBSITE
Before the overhaul, it is wise to perform a complete analysis of the existing website, as this will give you the best insight into its strengths and weaknesses. If you think that your website has no weaknesses, it is possible that you are too attached to it and consequently subjective. In such a case, seek another, objective opinion.
The findings you get from this analysis will help you decide what to keep and what to discard during the renovation. In addition, we can advise you to divide your analysis into different parts of the website, such as for example:
- the content part (where we review the content presented on the website);
- the visual part (where we review the placement of elements, graphic image, adaptation for mobile devices);
- functionality (logic and functions within the website)
- performance (where we check website loading speed, security, technical functionality, etc.)
We can also analyze your current website – you can order it via our smart inquiry form – https://wpm.si/en/inquiry/
3. ANALYZE YOUR TARGET GROUP
Your target audience are those users who are interested in your content, your products, your opinions and your experience and knowledge. It is the group of people your website is built for. For this reason, it is crucial,to create models based on the target group, taking into account their demographics, their preferences, their interests and beliefs.
It may happen that, after analyzing the target audience, you will find that they do not want you to totally revolutionize the website, and that a minor upgrade and optimization, as well as minor design corrections of your already existing website, is enough.
Website redesign
Before embarking on the journey of revamping your website, first make a detailed plan. The latter should include renovation in phases, with each individual renovation phase having its own time frame. This plan will serve as an accurate map and ensure that the project will be completed on time, according to the wishes, requirements and within the budget that you have allocated to the project.
Renovation of the website4. PREPARE A PROJECT PLAN (WITH TIMELINE)
Before embarking on the journey of revamping your website, first make a detailed plan. The latter should include renovation in phases, with each individual renovation phase having its own time frame. This plan will serve as an accurate map and ensure that the project will be completed on time, according to the wishes, and requirements, and within the budget that you have allocated to the project.
When planning, it is wise to remember all the problems that the website has caused you in the past and to allocate specific time and resources within the plan for their successful solution.
5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT THEME
A WordPress theme is the foundation on which your entire renovation will rest, so choosing the right theme is key to a successful renovation. When evaluating themes, consider your online identity, the functionality you want and/or need, and your visual preferences.
When choosing a theme, it is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that:
- the theme is responsive
- the theme is SEO friendly
- the theme is updated
- the theme is compatible with popular plugins*
* We recommend that you reduce the number of plugins as much as possible when renovating. A website made with a small number of plugins is more secure, faster and easier to maintain than one with a large number of plugins.
6. OPTIMIZE WEBSITE STRUCTURE AND NAVIGATION
It happens too often that we have only our wishes, problems and opinions in mind when we are doing a website redesign. Too often we forget about the experience of the end user, who may have problems precisely with the structure of our website.
The structure of your website must be well and easily placed, as this greatly improves the user experience and allows you to rank better in search engines.
Since a better user experience is one of the goals of the overhaul, we must ensure that the website is intuitive and user-friendly. This can be achieved with an orderly structure and navigation of the website, resetting the menu, using descriptive tags and included navigation with breadcrumbs (the so-calledbreadcrumbs”).
Web Analysis
Before embarking on the journey of revamping your website, first make a detailed plan. The latter should include renovation in phases, with each individual renovation phase having its own time frame. This plan will serve as an accurate map and ensure that the project will be completed on time, according to the wishes, requirements and within the budget that you have allocated to the project.
Order the Free Analysis7. UPDATE AND IMPROVE THE CONTENT
Review your existing content in detail before renovating. After reviewing it, evaluate it and identify areas for improvement. Quality and relevant content is the foundation of a successful website, so tackle any old information and update it.
Transform long texts into individual paragraphs that can be displayed more interactively on your new website and thus hold the readers’ attention. Don’t forget the pictures either, as there is a possibility that the quality of your pictures on the old site is inadequate. In such a case, replace them with new, better ones, or if you don’t have new ones, with possible infographics.
8. INCORPORATE BEST SEO PRACTICES
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is necessary if we want to get as much organic traffic to our website as possible. This includes keyword optimization, correct use oftagsfor titles, and optimized meta descriptions (“meta description”).
There is another part of SEO optimization that is often forgotten It is the mobile-friendliness of a website that is an increasingly important factor in search engine rankings.
Contact us via our inquiry form to perform a free SEO analysis for you – https://wpm.si/en/inquiry/
Free SEO Analysis
9. TEST AND PERFECT
Before the final launch of the renewed website, it is imperative that you perform thorough testing to identify and eliminate potential problems. Of course, you will discover some problems later, during regular operation, but it is crucial that you do the first major testing before your new website sees the light of day.
You determine the scope of testing yourself, and you can read some suggestions below:
- Check the performance, responsiveness and functionality of your website on different devices, operating systems and browsers;
- Collect feedback from trusted colleagues, friends and family members;
- Do a SEO analysis;
- Check the loading speed of the website;
10. START AND MONITOR
When you have finished testing and fixed any errors, your website is ready for launch. Inform your audience about this via e-mail, within the database of collected e-mail addresses, via social networks, and through a blog post.
But don’t forget the first point from the subject list – measurability. Track your site’s performance, user opinions and behavior, and other goals you’ve defined as measurable. Based on the results, you can further customize your website.
Thoughtful planning, implementation and monitoring are the three key phases that determine your success in your website redesign. By following these 10 key steps, you can transform your website, improve your online presence, improve your business process, meet customer demands for a better user experience, and much more.
Finally, we remind you not to forget that a website (and especially an online store) is a living organism. Due to constant development and new security risks, regular maintenance and updates are essential, as this is the only way to stay relevant, attractive, and up-to-date
In the last year, WPM.si has renovated more than 10 websites – kamp-soca.si, or-ca.si, prideshop.eu sare just some of the most recognizable renovations. Some websites do not need renovation at all
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