It’s been a couple years since you’ve updated it and now your website looks outdated and doesn’t do anything to help your business. Even worse – your competitor just rolled out a flashy new website that can do everything yours can’t. Looks like it’s time for a change.
Redesigning your site may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Watch out for the three warning signs below to avoid major stresses (and wasted money!) that can occur when redesigning your website.
#1 Lack of strategic direction
If you go into this project only knowing that you want your website to be blue with moving pictures, we’ve got a problem. The most important thing you can do is to go into your redesign with your customer’s experience and your business objectives in mind. After all, you aren’t the person your website is built for – it’s for your customers. The easier you can make navigating your website for them, the better experience they will have, and most likely they’ll stick around on your site. More time on site means more likely to buy, and that is a win for everyone.
Approach the plan for your site with the basics. What does it need to do? This can vary from e-commerce sites that are meant to sell inventory, to service sites that need to function as a scheduler, to real estate sites with ever-changing homes to showcase. Whatever the function of your site, be sure to keep that function top of mind.
#2 Unrealistic timelines
Faster isn’t always better. Many people can build you a website in two weeks, but chances are it won’t be any help to you or your business. Work with a company that wants to sit down with you on the front end to talk about your goals, visions, and the estimated time it will take to get there. Keep in mind that building a website is a process – one that you need to be involved in! Go into this meeting with an open mind. Websites shouldn’t take forever to build, but a few months is not uncommon. Usually, websites are presented in phases in order to stay on track overall, present progress, and make sure adjustments can be made along the way.
#3 A free website from a friend or family member
A professional may seem like a waste of money when a nephew can build a site at a fraction of the cost, but keep in mind that saving a few dollars now for an ineffective website won’t save you money for long and could cause some hard feelings if changes are needed.
When developed and designed correctly, your website is a tool to help bring in and keep business. Take some time to review these tips to ensure that you’re making a valuable investment in a site that will best market you to potential clients. It won’t be long before you begin to see your return on investment!
To see how FLEX360 can help you with your website redesign, call Robert at 501-251-6217 or email him at robert@flex360.com.
From: Hubspot
