When Is It Time To Redesign Your Web Site?
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To keep up with the times, and the competition, you may want to consider redesigning your web site from time to time. This article covers some of the main factors that will help you determine whether the time has come to redesign your web site.
How Long Has It Been?
If it has been some time since you last redesigned your web site, take a look at your current site and evaluate how dated it has become. In the fast-paced world of the Internet, progress happens at a rapid pace. New technologies are introduced all the time. Other technologies evolve over time, or become more cost effective, or more popular. Design trends come and go.
Take Flash for example. Today it is very popular and all the major web browsers come with Flash preinstalled. There are many new features in Flash that give it great new capabilities that were not available in the past. So if your web site does not have any Flash, or if your site is not using the best new features of Flash, then you may want to consider adding some new Flash content.
If your site was built prior to 2005, then it may have been built using HTML table-based layout, which is no longer recommended. Table-based web designs have many pitfalls, and are rapidly being phased out. Eventually, if you have a table-based web site, you will have to update it. The new recommended standard for web design is to have a CSS-based layout. A CSS layout will ensure that your web site is compatible with current and future technologies. CSS layouts are also much more search engine friendly, and will help your web site rank better. Your web site will also be much easier to redesign in the future if it is based on a CSS layout.
You’ll also want to make sure that your web site is compatible with the main standards being recommended by the web governing bodies. Your web site should be XHMTL compliant, again to assure the best future compatibility of your site. Your web site should also be accessible to people with disabilities as defined by the web accessibility guidelines.
Finally, take a look at the graphical design of your web site. Like and old hairdo, the look and feel of your web site can become dated as well. If your site looks outdated, not with the times, or just plain ugly, then consider a web site redesign.
Is Your Web Site Making An Impact?
What kind of impact is your web site making to your business? Is it a major revenue generator, or is it just a small factor in your business. How many of your new customers are generated from your web site? Are your current customers using your web site? Take some time to analyze your business model, and determine what role your web site plays. If your web site is not a big factor in your business, then a redesign may be in order.
By redesigning your web site, you can try to fix all the issues that are causing your current site to under perform. You can make it look more professional. You can add new features. You can reorganize the content. You can make the improvements necessary to make your web site more successful.
Compare Your Web Site Against The Competition
The competition never stands still – nor should you. If your main competitor just came out with a killer web site, then you should take note because it will affect your business. Customers often directly compare one web site to another, when they are deciding which business to go with. If Company A has a web site that is much better than Company B’s site, then more than likely the customer will have a more favorable opinion of the company with the better web site. So, you always want to be in touch with how your competition is doing, and strive to have a web site that is on par or better than your main competitors.
Analyze Your Web Site Statistics
Web statistics are a great way for you to see the usage of your web site over time. Take a look at your web stats and see how many visitors have been going to your site over the past few years. If you notice a significant decline in visitors, then you know your site is becoming less popular.
Also take a look at how “sticky” your web site is. In other words, how long are visitors spending on your web site. If they are spending a long time on your site, and visiting many pages, that is good. However, if they spend a short time on your site, or exit after visiting only a page or two, then that is bad, and changes need to be made.
Redesigning your web site can help generate new interest in your web site to help increase its usage and popularity.
What Do Your Customers Think About Your Web Site?
You want an honest opinion – just ask your customers. Customers are a great source of feedback, and will usually tell you straight out what they want and don’t want on your web site.
If you are serious about redesigning your web site, get in contact with your customers and ask them what they would like to see in a new web site. You may, for example, add a small form to your existing web site that asks users what new features they would like to have. Or you can send an email to all your customers asking them how they would improve the web site. You’ll get back some great ideas, and will be able to spot any trends that are common throughout.
What Do Your Employees Think?
Your employees know your company well. They know your products and services well. They know your competition well. And you can bet that they know your web site quite well too.
Your employees probably have a good feeling of the strengths and weaknesses of your web site. So, as with your customers, just ask your employees what they think. Send out a survey to your employees asking their opinions on your web site and how it can be improved. Review the results, and you will have a good handle on some of the main things you can do to make your web site more successful.
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