Why Redesign?
Over the past year, I've found myself spending a greater percentage of my time redesigning outdated websites. Whether a project is approached in stages, or completed in one fell swoop, there are several very good reasons to consider a redesign.
VISUAL APPEAL
Sites older than 3-5 years often have a decidedly musty
look and feel. Flash introductions, 3-D buttons, unnecessary
use of frames, dull and lifeless colors, animations and other
dated design features now appear amateurish and unprofessional.
An attractive, up to date design is a critical ingredient
of your message. Aesthetically unappealing sites profit markedly
from a redesign.
SEARCH ENGINE VISIBILITY
There are effective strategies that can be employed when designing
search engine friendly sites. If your site is not coming up
in the search engines, the cause is more than likely outdated
technology. A redesign will correct these flaws.
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Learn about Search Engine Visibility ]
A LOGICAL, USER-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE
If your site is too confusing and visitors cannot find
what they are looking for, you will lose them. The goals of
a redesign must include intuitive navigation, streamlined
browsing and well-organized content presented in an engaging
manner.
WEB READY CONTENT
Effective web content is simple, on target and easy to
find. Content must not only be relevant and up to date, it
must be written specifically for the web. Usability studies
show that people do not read web content, they scan it. Therefore,
web copy has to be short, punchy and to the point. Main concepts
must stand out in the form of headlines. Marketese and language
that is too cute are counterproductive
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Read about Writing for the Web ]
GET AHEAD OF COMPETITORS
Your website has to make a unique impact that makes it
stand out from competitor sites. Analyzing the competition
is an important part of the redesign process. If your website
is not on par with the competition, it's time to consider
a redesign.
DATED TECHNOLOGIES
Internet standards are always changing. If your
site has not been reworked for some time, there may be technical
reasons to have it redesigned. New trends include separating
form from function using style sheets, creating scalable structures
for growth and using content management systems. Browsers,
systems and search engines are continually being revised.
Websites need to stay technically current.