But undertaking a website revamp<\/a> can seem overwhelming considering the time, effort, and energy involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way – if you understand users<\/a>, plan the key stages, stick to a plan, and follow best practices, you can take your website from zero to hero in one go.<\/p>\n\n\n Before we get into the stages of a website redesign, let\u2019s take a look at the signs which indicate that your website needs a revamp:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you begin putting ideas into action, it\u2019s a good idea to take a closer look at your existing website and customers. This process will help you build a new website that solves known and unknown challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n The good news at this point is that you might not have to overhaul everything <\/em>on your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There may be a number of areas that are already working rather well, and which can either be left untouched or just tweaked a little. And chances are you already have a lot of content, which might need tweaking rather than starting from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this is the time to concentrate on things that need to be changed. Start by creating a list of what\u2019s working and what isn\u2019t. To help you figure this out, a good place to start is tools like Google Analytics and dynamic heatmaps<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Review your target audience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Target audiences don\u2019t always stay the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now is the time to go back to your buyer personas that identify who your target audiences are today. Do some research and document their needs, pain points, and behaviors. Knowing what they like and dislike will allow you to design a website that gets them interested and engaged with your offering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perform a content audit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Content is the lifeblood of the website, so this is a perfect time to perform a content audit. This will give you insights into your best-performing content so that you can decide which type of content to focus on, and which type of content to either drop altogether or at the very least, modify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A content audit will also highlight your content gaps, which is especially important if you are putting (or plan to put) a lot of effort into content marketing. Tools like BuzzSumo<\/a> and Quora<\/a> can help you to understand what kinds of content your audiences are looking for – both for your website and in content marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perform an SEO audit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Last but not least, it\u2019s important that you conduct an in-depth SEO audit. Since you plan to do a website redesign<\/a>, it is only logical that you want to end up with an SEO-optimized website. This will ensure your website ranks highly in search engines, attracts organic traffic<\/a>, and maximizes the chances of referrals from other sources.<\/p>\n\n\n Armed with the data and knowledge gathered from your research, it\u2019s now time to put together a website revamp plan. This is a to-do list based on your analysis of what is and isn\u2019t working<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest decision to make when undertaking a website revamp is whether to partner with a web development freelancer or agency or do it yourself using a platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a huge range of no-code website platforms such as Squarespace or Wix which provide easy-to-use templates that look great off the shelf while being customizable to your needs. All you do is select a template, add your content, and you\u2019re good to go. These platforms even build in tools and have a myriad of integrations with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you have a more complex website or need it to look unique, engaging a provider such as an agency or freelancer might be the way to go. This is also a good time to consider whether to keep or switch your hosting provider<\/a> especially if it lacks speed and reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A key element of your website revamp strategy is brand consistency. If you lose this, you will lose customers as customers look for brands they recognize and can connect to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, it is key that typography, logos, color schemes, and images are in place so they can be consistent across all your pages. It\u2019s also important to keep your brand consistent beyond the website too \u2013 from email and social media to business cards<\/a> and brochures<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that your branding doesn\u2019t have to be loud and eye-catching. It can be simpler and understated \u2013 as long as it matches the desired brand personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most common reasons a website needs a revamp is that the user experience is poor \u2013 be it because the website is cluttered, difficult to navigate, or takes a long time to load. In this step plan how many pages, the Information Architecture, the categorization and navigation of your website, as well as how will users navigate between pages and sections of the website. Make sure you apply web design principles<\/a> that work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some tips on UX:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Write the copy or create the imagery that will be on your new website. Good copywriting can be a key driver of conversions<\/a>. Now is also a good time to create a content marketing strategy<\/a> that will help you create regular content that boosts your conversions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve probably well aware of the importance of SEO, so we won\u2019t drill you with that. You know it is important and should be a key consideration in your website revamp. Planning which keywords to focus on, and how best to include these keywords in your content, images, videos, and data will ensure your website ranks highly in search engines and attracts audiences to your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Revamping your website into something you can be proud of is a great feeling. However, one technical difficulty is enough to ruin the user experience. Review if part of your current issues is related to your hosting provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If that is indeed the case, just switch your hosting \u2013 there are plenty of affordable web hosting<\/a> providers you can choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is time to get to work. Do what you know you can, outsource what you can\u2019t \u2013 don\u2019t do things in half measures \u2013 you will just end up needing another revamp a year later. Whether using a team or DIY, create the website and apply your designs, and upload content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could begin with a soft launch and gather some feedback first. However you do it, make sure to test, test, and test before launch. This includes testing site speed using Google PageSpeed Insights, the navigation of your website, all links, and mobile responsive design<\/a>. Test on different browsers, screens, and devices to check that things work and function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask friends and colleagues to test the website too. It is always a good idea to have some fresh eyes that were not a part of the revamp process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once it\u2019s done, you\u2019ll have a fresh and clean website that attracts leads, instead of turning them away. From now on, it\u2019s just a matter of optimizing your website <\/a>and consulting your analytics for tweaks that can ensure your website performs better over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch the webinar to learn more about optimization:<\/p>\n\n\n\nDownload Free: Website Optimization Guide<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Signs your website needs a revamp<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n
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How to improve your website in one revamp<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
1) Assess your current website<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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![\"Blog](\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/10\/Blog-Banner_How-to-go-from-Zero-to-Hero-with-Website-Revamp.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n2) Completing your website revamp in seven steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
Step 1: Platform or partner? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Revisit your brand<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"example](\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/10\/Image-1.png\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Plan the user experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Step 4: Create the content <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Pick the right host<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Download Free: Website Optimization Guide<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Design and develop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Test and launch<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step 8: Optimize <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n