Website redesign checklist: Six steps for a better small business website
For small businesses, it is imperative that the business’ website stays functional and up-to-date due to the ever-changing landscape of the digital world. The largest two generations are now the top customers, Millennials and Gen Z. These consumers have strong values and are less loyal to brands than their previous counterparts.
These two generations find the digital space important and utilize it frequently, therefore, it is important for small businesses to revamp their website sooner than later.
The perfect place to start is with a website redesign checklist to ensure that all areas are being checked off.
Our experts suggest the following six on our checklist.
Website redesign checklist
1. Figure out what is and isn’t working
The first step in determining the need for a website redesign is to understand what is and isn’t working. While there are many different elements that are not working together on the internal side, what about the customer side?
The first step in the redesign process is to start with an analysis of the overall website. Is there necessary information missing or entire website pages? Which pages are performing and what ones are not performing well?
Is the site from the 90s? Is it not mobile-friendly? Difficult to read? Not accessible? There are a plethora of other questions to take into consideration to understand what is and isn’t working at the beginning of the project.
2. Understand the customer journey
SalesForce research states that 80 percent of customers feel the experience is the most important element of their journey. While products and services are what drives a consumer to a website or a company, the overall experience is what will bring them back or drive them away.
This matters in the entire customer journey because it’s a strategic and analytical approach to the ideal audience, their needs, and their entire journey before purchasing a product or service.
A better website can provide a better customer experience, and in return, can improve lead generation and conversion rates.
3. Set your goals and create a plan
Any business plan or strategy will need goals and objectives to help the plan continue to move forward while keeping it within the scope of the project. There needs to be a “why” behind every decision and element moving forward.
The biggest thing that small businesses forget about is that design is important, but the functionality of the design is even more important.
Whether it is to increase SEO, sell more products and services, join the 21st century, or another reason, set goals and start creating a plan.
4. Create a sitemap
A sitemap is a file that developers or an agency that your small business is working with uses to let Google understand that this is a new site and help it get to know the content on the site. While one could argue that a sitemap isn’t always necessary, it does help the process in the end. It never hurts to submit your website to Google.
5. Employ best design practices
Millennials and Gen Z are provided a plethora of choices on brands and business, so much so, that 38 percent of consumers will stop interacting with a poorly designed website. The best design practices follow Google Development Guidelines and the latest Core Web Vitals update.
At the same time, the design should always be created with the intention of the customer first and foremost. Without remembering their customer journey and usage for the site itself, the best design isn’t the best design.
6. Apply SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the organic strategy that ranks websites on search engines, and the most common one is Google. While it takes a bit longer to rank on search engines versus running paid advertising, it does prove its worth over time as a long-term growth strategy.
If a consumer is searching for local soaps, butchers, shoe stores, and other local products or services, this can help with visibility on the search engine!
Launch your new website!
It can be difficult to know when and why it is time to start the redesign process, but in the end, it will be worth the investment of the website over the course of its life. Review our Check out our website redesign checklist with our team today by contacting us. We can provide you with in-house expertise when it comes to all of this and more.