Redesign your website - step by step to a beautiful website

A modern website is crucial for visibility on the Internet. Notoriety, customer contact and entrepreneurial success depend on it. What must be clear to you at this point: Even the best website needs to be renewed from time to time. In the following post, you'll find out when you should redesign your website and what you should pay attention to.

When is a virtual change of scenery necessary?

Regular updates are crucial. And that doesn't just apply to content. The design, technical options and shape should also be regularly renewed. If technical problems arise or the homepage no longer loads smoothly, minor work is essential. But even if everything works, there may be good reasons for a redesign. Typically, the following things are a signal that it's time for a virtual change of scenery.

- negative feedback: Visitors are increasingly pointing out problems with the homepage

- technical issues: loading difficulties or security breaches

- high bounce rates: website visitors leave the website immediately after visits

- declining sales figures: sales via web shops are falling significantly

- declining identification: You no longer feel well represented visually by the design

- virtually invisible: the website does not appear on Google and is not found

Is the need identified? Or do you want to give the website a new look for another reason? Then it's time to redesign. Basically, there are different stages of redesign. Your choice here: You can either opt for minor updates. You can add new areas to the existing website. You can opt for a redesign or a complete relaunch. Were any of the above signals detected? In this case, a comprehensive redesign makes sense. This gives you a new website that allows you to better address visitors.

Planning phase: Align redesign with customers

Before you start designing, detailed planning makes sense. After all, you shouldn't end up with just any website that looks good visually. One should be created that appeals to your target groups in the best possible way. A virtual website that people like to visit and encourages people to contact us, exchange ideas or make a purchase. There are three key questions that you need to answer at this point.

1. What are the goals of the redesign?

Set goals clearly and plan from those goals. It can be about supporting a current campaign. Or a website that generally offers new technical options. It could be about a more concise page or about promoting certain content more prominently. And there are plenty of other destinations. Note what yours is.

2. What kind of target groups would you like to address?

The second step is to determine which target groups you want to address. The design and content should be tailored to the tastes of these target groups in the best possible way. In addition, it could be that a target group prefers to communicate via specific channels, for example via a chatbot. Then you should offer her a low-threshold communication offer via the website.

3. What is the customer journey of these target groups?

Do you sell products or services? Then you don't just want to generate interest with your website. You want to create the best possible conditions for making a purchase decision. Professionals plan the customer journey or user step by step. This means that they understand the customer's journey from finding, weighing and making a purchase decision to product satisfaction and customer loyalty. A well-designed website can make this journey easier.

Implementation: Design, new concept and content design

After planning, it's time to design. Based on previous considerations, a website is being developed that fits individual goals. Design and content should be coordinated. The website should be designed in such a way that it serves current Internet channels well for its own target group. In particular, contact via social media can be helpful. What else do you need to pay attention to?

First, the page must be clear and user-friendly. Anyone who visits them shouldn't have to search long. Especially where there is a lot of content or numerous products on a homepage, the structure on the start page and the page areas must remain manageable. Make sure that the design is barrier-free. People with visual disabilities should be able to use the website. In addition, it should be easily accessible from all technical devices.

As soon as the structure is ready, the page is populated with content. Pay attention to SEO (search engine optimization). Your content should include relevant keywords and questions. And it should look trustworthy. This ensures that it appears in search engine listings. If required, you can commission the creation of search engine optimized content. Tailor contributions to the interests of your target groups. Visitors should recognize that the website helps them well with their specific questions and offers advantages.

What else you should consider as soon as you redesign your website: Place call-to-actions on your website. With these, you can give a little jerk at the right place. In this way, you ensure that visitors decide to buy or take action in another way. You can include these CTAs with text or with a visually recognizable button.

Test phase and redeployment

The last step is the test phase. Try and see if everything works the way you want. You can ask employees, friends, or test users to do this. Check that everything is running technically. If you want to process sales, do trial runs. Make sure that this is possible via computers, tablets, and smartphones. Keep an eye on data protection and add a clean legal notice if this is not yet available. Collect feedback from the test phases and make final changes as a result.

In the end, the redesigned website can be freely put online. A relaunch is often planned for a specific date. You can start a promotional campaign with a discount for the new release. Or you offer special content. Do you operate social media channels? Then point out there that you have a new website. Small video posts and beautiful pictures can be shared in the community. In this way, the news about your website and the campaign makes the rounds quickly. It's not hard to redesign a website. And when you do it the right way, it has a huge effect!

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