9 Common Website Redesign Mistakes: What to avoid?
Last update: 23 August 2023 at 11:04 am
3.00/5Are you planning a website redesign for your existing site? Hold on to your mouse, because we’re about to navigate through some common pitfalls to avoid!
From forgetting to involve your target audience and users in the process to neglecting the all-important task of search engine optimization (SEO) using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics, there are plenty of mistakes that can derail even the most well-intentioned redesign efforts.
But fear not, dear reader! By the end of this article, you’ll be well-equipped to steer clear of these common mistakes and embark on a successful website redesign journey with the help of a professional web designer.
9 Website Redesign Mistakes to Avoid
Are you ready to revamp your website? Before you take the leap, make sure to avoid these common redesign blunders!
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Discover the most relevant agencies for your project based on your own specific requirements.
Find an agency!From neglecting user feedback to ignoring website performance, these 9 website redesign mistakes will steer you clear of a redesign disaster.
Not involving users in the process: Don’t miss out on valuable feedback!
When it comes to redesigning a current website, there are several common mistakes that organizations often make. One mistake is not involving users in the redesign process.
It’s important to gather feedback from your site visitors and target audience to ensure that the new web design meets their needs and expectations.
Failing to do so can lead to a design that is less effective in meeting the needs of users, potentially leading to a decrease in site traffic and conversion rates. In fact, a study found that involving users in the design process can lead to a 38% increase in conversion rates.
An example of a company that effectively involved users in the website redesign process is Starbucks, which conducted extensive user testing and focus groups to gather feedback on its new website design.
As a result, the new design was able to better meet the needs of users and resulted in a 15% increase in online sales.
Neglecting SEO: Don’t risk a drop in search traffic and revenue.
Another mistake is neglecting SEO in the redesign process.
It’s important to ensure that your new site is easily discoverable by search engines and ranks well in search results, as this can have a significant impact on your organic traffic and overall digital marketing efforts.
Ensure that your new site is easily discoverable by search engines and ranks well in search results, as this can have a significant impact on your organic traffic and overall digital marketing efforts.
Failing to consider SEO can lead to a drop in search traffic and revenue. An example of a company that suffered from poor SEO after a redesign is Overstock.com, which saw a significant drop in traffic and revenue after launching its redesigned site.
The company was eventually able to recover from the SEO losses, but it took several months and a significant investment in SEO efforts to do so.
Thus, to make sure that your redesign is generating leads and in the end, making sales, you have to pay attention to the content creation of landing web pages and blog pages based on SEO. Make sure you have an SEO expert on your team.
Failing to test the new design: Proper testing can lead to a 43% increase in user satisfaction.
Another common mistake is failing to properly test the new web design.
Testing is an essential part of the redesign process, and it’s important to work with web designers and other experts to ensure that the new design is effective and user-friendly for website visitors, as it allows you to identify and fix any issues before the new design goes live.
Neglecting to test the new design can lead to a host of issues, including broken links, layout problems, and user experience issues that can negatively impact the success of the redesigned site.
Proper testing is an essential part of the redesign process, as it allows you to identify and fix any issues before the new design goes live. A study found that user testing can lead to a 43% increase in user satisfaction.
An example of a company that effectively tested its redesigned site is Zappos, which used a variety of testing methods, including user testing, focus groups, and A/B testing, to ensure that the new design met the needs of its users.
As a result, the new design was well-received by users and contributed to an increase in online sales.
Not considering mobile: Mobile devices now account for over 50% of web traffic.
It’s also important to consider mobile optimization, as more and more users are accessing the internet via mobile devices.
Failing to optimize the new design for mobile can lead to a poor user experience, which can impact the success of the redesigned website.
Mobile optimization is also important, as mobile devices account for a growing share of internet traffic. In fact, mobile devices now account for over 50% of all web traffic worldwide.
An example of a company that effectively optimized its site for mobile is Amazon, which saw a 30% increase in mobile sales after launching its redesigned mobile site.
By using a content management system, you can start using ready-to-go templates for mobile websites.
Not having a clear plan: Organizations with a clear plan are more likely to complete projects on time and on budget.
Another mistake that organizations often make is not having a clear plan in place for the redesign process. It’s important to have a clear redesign strategy and timeline in place to ensure that the redesign project is completed on time and within budget.
Failing to have a clear plan can lead to a disorganized and haphazard redesign effort, which can negatively impact the success of the new site.
Having a clear plan in place is also essential for the success of a website redesign. A study found that organizations with a clear plan in place are more likely to complete projects on time and on budget.
An example of a company that effectively implemented a clear plan for its website redesign is GE, which used a structured process to ensure that the redesign was completed on time and within budget.
As a result, the redesigned site was a success and contributed to an increase in online sales.
Ignoring website performance: A slow-loading website can lead to a loss of visitors and revenue.
Another mistake that organizations often make during a website redesign is ignoring website performance.
A slow-loading website can lead to a loss of visitors and revenue, as users are more likely to leave a site if it takes too long to load.
It’s important to work with a web designer to ensure that the new design is optimized for performance, including using appropriate file sizes for images and videos, minimizing the use of heavy scripts and plugins, and ensuring that the site is hosted on a reliable server.
An example of a company that suffered from poor website performance after a redesign is Etsy, which saw a significant drop in traffic and revenue after launching its redesigned site.
The company eventually recovered, but it took several months and a significant investment in website performance optimization to do so.
Not considering accessibility: A website redesign that doesn’t take accessibility into account can exclude some users.
Another mistake that organizations often make during a website redesign is not considering accessibility.
It’s important to ensure that the new design is accessible to users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies such as screen readers, as this can lead to a more inclusive and user-friendly website.
Failing to consider accessibility can lead to a website that is less accessible to some users, potentially leading to a loss of traffic and revenue.
An example of a company that effectively considered accessibility in its website redesign is the BBC, which conducted extensive user testing and research to ensure that its new design met the needs of users with disabilities.
As a result, the new design was well-received by users and helped to make the site more inclusive and user-friendly.
Not future-proofing the website: A website redesign that doesn’t take into account future updates and changes can quickly become outdated.
Another mistake that organizations often make during a website redesign is not future-proofing the website.
It’s important to ensure that the new design is flexible and adaptable to future updates and changes, such as new technologies and design trends.
Failing to consider future-proofing can lead to a website that quickly becomes outdated and less effective in meeting the needs of users.
An example of a company that effectively future-proofed its website redesign is Apple, which used a flexible and modular design approach that allows for easy updates and changes to the site in the future.
As a result, the new design was well-received by users and helped to make the site more adaptable to future changes.
Not updating the website’s content: A website redesign without updating the content can lead to a mismatch between design and messaging.
Another mistake that organizations often make during a website redesign is not updating the website’s content.
It’s important to ensure that the website’s content is up-to-date and aligns with the new design. Failing to update the content can lead to a mismatch between the design and the messaging, potentially confusing users and negatively impacting the success of the redesigned site.
An example of a company that suffered from a mismatch between design and content is Nike, which faced criticism for its redesign which was seen as too minimalist and not in line with the company’s bold and athletic brand image.
The company eventually updated the content to align with the new design, but it took longer to implement and resulted in a loss of traffic and revenue in the meantime.
Conclusion
In addition to these common mistakes, it’s also important to avoid unrealistic launch dates, neglecting to update meta descriptions and other site content, and failing to work with skilled graphic designers and web technology experts.
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Discover the most relevant agencies for your project based on your own specific requirements.
Find an agency!It’s also important to perform cross-browser testing and usability testing to ensure that the new design is effective and user-friendly across all devices.
By avoiding the worst website redesign mistakes and taking the time to properly plan and execute, you can create a new site that meets the needs of your users and helps achieve your business goals. If you are not a graphic designer or an expert, outsource redesign services.
Well, there you have it – five common mistakes to avoid when redesigning your website. By involving users in the process, prioritizing SEO, properly testing the new design, considering mobile optimization, and having a clear plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to a successful website redesign.
So go forth, dear reader, and avoid these common website design mistakes like the plague (or at least a particularly pesky cold).
Happy redesigning!
