Tips for a Successful Website Redesign
Thursday, 21st January 2016
Today we launched the new Big Fridge website, updating and improving on the original that we had created in 2002. So much has changed in that time, so here are my top six tips for a successful website overhaul.
1. Design it with a goal in mind
Just because the original website was designed to meet a particular objective doesn't mean that the new one has the same goal in mind. Think about what the new website should do to be considered a success, and design it to do that.
2. Learn from the old site data
Do your homework and check the old site analytics data to see how people found it and moved around. Then make sure the most popular pages on the old site are prominent in the new site navigation and learn from any SEO problem areas.
3. Don't do it just because it's trendy
Yes it's exciting to update your website, but don't add in parallax scrolling or animation effects just because you can, only do it if you can justify the reason why.
4. Make it fast
Load times are just as important as they were in 2002 (when we were all on dial-up modems). Broadband isn't an excuse for having heavy, full screen images, especially when you consider the visitors that will be using mobile phones. Focus on function, and don't let bloated images bring the site down.
5. Don't lose links
If you're changing the structure or filenames of your web pages make sure you redirect the old site pages over to the new site. If you don't you'll lose all that linkjuice and social buzz you've worked so hard to build up.
6. Go mobile friendly
The majority of website visitors are now viewing websites on a mobile device - use responsive design and keep it simple. The image below shows the old site and the new one - which do you think is the most mobile friendly?
As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said:
A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
If you're thinking about updating your website please get in touch and we can have a chat about how to make sure a redesign is a success for you.
