Website Rebuild: 9 Tips to Outrank Your Competitors
Learn the secrets to take into account for a proper website redesign, which will add value and a strong identity to your brand and help you overcome your competitors.
Redesigning the website is a necessary investment and this is because in our time, the developments in the digital world are changing rapidly.
Something that was fashionable a few years ago is now outdated.
It is not only to follow the trends of the time but to ensure that your website is functional, user-friendly and in line with your goals.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to walk you through the process:
1. Determine your Needs
Before starting the redesign, evaluate the current website:
User feedback: collect feedback from website users. Having trouble navigating? Is the content engaging?
Metrics Analysis: Use tools like Google Analytics and Page Insights. If the engagement rate is low and the user experience is below average, they indicate serious design problems.
In addition, you should evaluate all important pages individually and keep elements that work well.
Otherwise, there is a possibility that you will displease some of the users, causing them to leave the new website.
2. Set Clear Goals
Be clear about the goals you want to achieve:
Improve User Experience (UX): Make user navigation enjoyable and content accessible for everyone.
Increase conversion rates: Improve CTAs and simplify the checkout process, contact form, etc.
Make the design more attractive: The new design should be eye-catching and in line with any change in branding.
3. Update Content
Take the time to create top-notch content for the new website.
Capture user questions and concerns, find out what interests potential customers, create user personas and develop content that inspires trust and persuasion and answers all the important questions.
If some content is outdated and doesn’t make sense to exist, don’t include it in the new website.
4. Emphasize SEO
Keep the URLs: Keep all the URLs of the pages, so as not to lose positions in the search engine rankings. If you change any, 301 redirect the old ones to the new ones.
Optimize the content: Make sure each page is optimized for search engines and has the right meta-tags, and that the content is relevant and interesting to users.
5. Use the Right Design Elements
Mobile-First: With the increase of users from mobile devices, prioritize mobile design and check your website from real and different devices.
Color palette: Choose colors that are consistent with your brand and are visually appealing. Learn more about the psychology of colors. Don’t forget to use the appropriate contrasts to meet the contrast reasons defined by the WCAG standard.
Font: Choose a font that is easy to read on all devices and supports the available languages of the website. Ideally, use 1 font and only the styles you need, so that your website loads faster.
6. Include Modern Tools
Chatbots & AI: Improve user interaction and respond to queries instantly using chatbot and AI tools.
Animation: Use animated effects to gain impressions and attract users’ interest.
Video: Create a top quality video that evokes positive emotions in your audience, to strengthen the brand and the time spent on the website.
7. Prioritize Loading Speed
Optimize images: Use tools to compress images without losing quality (lossless compression). Ideally, use the new generation of WebP images and make sure images load on all devices (webp fallback jpg).
Use of CDN: This is a service that uses a network of servers geographically distributed in different locations, which caches content close to the end users. It allows fast transfer of the elements required to load the web page, including HTML pages, JavaScript files, CSS, images and videos.
Leverage Browser Caching: Use techniques and tools to store data in users’ browsers so they don’t have to reload with each new visit.
8. Do Testing
Functionality: Make sure all forms, CTAs and other elements are working properly.
Compatibility: Check that the new website works correctly in all browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge) and on all devices (desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile).
9. Go Live
Inform your audience: Send a newsletter, post on social media and send a press release to relevant sites about the new design, highlighting new features or improvements.
Track metrics: Track how the new design affects user behavior, conversion and engagement rates, and make the necessary corrections as needed.
Conclusion
Website redesign is a major undertaking that will greatly benefit your business, as long as it is done correctly.
By following the steps above, you can ensure that your website remains a key asset in your digital strategy and leaves your competitors behind.
If you still find it difficult to do the above on your own, contact us to undertake the complete redesign of your company’s website and corporate identity.
Who We Are
Simple Web Solutions is a multi-award winning website development and promotion company with a team of top designers, developers and marketers with over 13 years of experience in web design, development and digital marketing.
We have been able to build a thorough reputation for success in creating and implementing comprehensive digital marketing services for various businesses that deliver guaranteed results.
By choosing Simple Web Solutions, you are sure that your goals will be realized.
We are committed to offering top quality services tailored to the specific needs of each business.