Yeah, we said it —“information superhighway.” As in, are you still partying like it’s 1999? If your website still has mall hair, you might need a website redesign.
No doubt, you know the value of your site to your business. But do you know if it’s working for and not against you? Is it working as hard as it should be?
If you’re not staying up-to-date with the latest technology and web marketing tactics, you just might find yourself on the road to nowhere—the place once relevant companies go to retire.
Stay relevant. Take our short quiz to find out if you need a website redesign.
1. Have you redesigned your website in the last 24 months? Y N
According to Hubspot, marketers typically redesign their websites every 18-24 months. Design trends and technologies change. If your site looks outdated and performs inadequately, people wonder what else you’re behind the curve on.
2. Can you make changes to your site yourself? Y N
Do you call your designer or developer every time you want to make a change to your site? Static sites are so 1997! Today’s Content Management Systems (CMS) allow you to easily create, edit and publish text and digital media as well as better manage your content. Your agency should be able to give you a short tutorial on how to use your CMS to make many updates yourself.
3. Does your website effectively use the most up-to-date technology? Y N
A good web developer knows how to implement the most up-to-date and effective technologies. Technical improvements and efficiencies that may be gained with a new website include the automation of functions such as e-commerce, online calendars, feedback forms and product selection tools.
4. Have you embraced the mobile revolution? Y N
According to Google, 57% of mobile users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site, and 40% have turned to a competitor’s site after a bad mobile experience. What does a mobile optimized site look like? Multiscreen compatibility, simplified navigation, small chunks of text and quick-loading images are just a few features that make for a good mobile experience.
Are you giving your visitors a good mobile experience?
5. Does your website capture the essence of your company's brand? Y N
Your website is an extension of your brand and should reflect that. Does it help tell your brand story? Is it consistent with your brand messaging? Does it integrate well with your other marketing efforts and your total online presence?
6. Does your site achieve the objectives of your current business strategy? Y N
Your website objectives should align with your business strategy. For example, if one of your business objectives is to increase new business by 30%, how is your website helping you achieve that goal? If your business strategy changes, your website should change with it.
7. Does your website serve the needs of your customers/prospects? Y N
Your site should serve the needs of your target audience, providing them with the useful or entertaining content they seek. It shouldn’t be one big advertisement for your company. Needs change and needs also vary between desktop users and mobile users. Are you meeting your audience’s current needs?
8. Does your website provide a good user experience? Y N
User experience (UX) is how a person feels when interfacing with your website. It encompasses such things as usability, utility, navigation, information architecture and design. UX is especially important on more complicated sites such as ecommerce sites.
9. Is your website visually appealing? Y N
“Users build an initial ‘gut feeling’ that helps them decide whether they’ll stay or leave” your website in less than 50 milliseconds, according to Google. “Users strongly prefer website designs that look both simple (low complexity) and familiar (how representative a design looks for a certain category of websites).
A professional web designer knows how to use colors, fonts, white space, symmetry, graphics and more to create a visually appealing site.
10. Does your website have a distinct look? Y N
Looking familiar doesn’t mean using cookie-cutter templates with no customization. Could your site be interchangeable with other sites out there? Beware of bad stock photography that’s cliché, cheesy and widespread. A professional designer will help you create a site that reflects your brand and shows your personality.
11. Is your website optimized for search engines (SEO)? Y N
Contrary to what some say, SEO is not dead. But the rules change frequently and SEO can be very complicated to the unadulterated. SEO should be a team effort. Your company’s decision maker, developers, designers, and SEO professionals should work together throughout the redesign process. Ideally, one firm can manage all of these elements for you.
12. Does your site make use of personalization? Y N
Today’s consumer expects tailored, personalized content when they visit your site. A recent survey by Janrain & Harris Interactive found that nearly three-fourths (74%) of online consumers are frustrated with websites when served up content that has nothing to do with their interests.
Dynamic websites serve up content based on predefined user profiles, where visitors are in the buying cycle, past behaviors, the device they are using, referral sources and more.
Results
Tally up your “N’s” (and “I don’t knows” if you have any) to get your results.
1-3 If you answered even one question with “NO” or “I DON’T KNOW,” you may need a website redesign.
4-6 It’s very likely you need a website redesign.
7-12 We’re willing to bet lunch that you need a website redesign.