How to Plan a Website Redesign

How to Launch a Website Redesign

Does this sound like your company’s website?

• You don’t remember when it was developed
• You can’t update some outdated content
• You’ve been getting user complaints

Without an upgrade, those complaints are only going to get worse. If customers can’t stand your website, they’ll scroll to your competitors’, and Google will eventually stop suggesting yours at the top of search results.

What you need is a workable plan. A systematic approach that considers your website as a marketing representative. But how do you plan a website redesign that actually generates business?

Start with SEO

Search engine optimization needs to be considered first. You can develop the prettiest, easiest-to-use website on the internet, but if you don’t build it with SEO it will not be able to reach more customers. So how do you redesign with SEO in mind? Follow these steps:

1. Collaborate on a website layout.

Business owners, internal marketing managers, subject-matter experts and web developers need to meet together to collaborate on an SEO-driven website redesign strategy. Here are some of the things that need to be discussed during this meeting:

• Which keywords are valuable for your website’s page rank?
• Who are your competitors and what are their keywords?
• What are your most important products and services?
• What extra content needs to be included to best help users?

The answers to these questions will help to outline an SEO-friendly navigation for your website.

2. Produce a website mockup.

After the layout meeting, the web developers can design a mockup using a graphic design platform. A mockup doesn’t include programming; it’s simply a non-functional, visual representation of your website. A mockup allows everyone involved to approve of the visual layout prior to developing the functional-end of the website with code.

During this time, you should supply visuals of your products, faculty, and facility. While secondary to SEO, graphic design (including images and video) is extremely important in producing an engaging and competitive website that customers will want to visit.

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3. View progress, suggest revisions, and launch the site.

Once you’ve approved of the site mockups, the web developers will start programming your website on a server. Some developers can give you a URL that allows you to see live progress.

In this case, you can go through and create a list of items that need to be added, changed, or removed. Once you are satisfied with the aesthetics and function of the website, the developers can initiate a launch.

After your new website is launched, the developers should remain in contact with you to make seasonal updates to keep your website fresh and relevant.

Key Takeaway

Don’t let your old, static website sweep your business beneath search engine pages. Focus on SEO from the start of your website redesign. Still don’t feel confident about designing with SEO in mind? Download our free guide to learn how to integrate best SEO practices, get your website found by prospects, and generate business.