Let’s be honest—websites don’t last forever. If you haven’t updated yours in a while, it might be showing its age. Maybe it feels outdated, or perhaps it’s not working as well as you’d like. Don’t worry. You’re not the only one dealing with this.

According to studies, 94% of people’s first impressions of your website are based on design. That means if your site isn’t looking or functioning well, you might be losing potential customers before they even get a chance to explore what you offer.

The good news is redesigning your site doesn’t have to be a huge challenge. It’s actually a great opportunity to refresh your site, improve the user experience, and make it work harder for you—whether that means improving speed, making it mobile-friendly, or giving it a more modern look.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get your website redesign right. From figuring out what’s not working to setting clear goals and picking the right tools, we’ll help you every step of the way. Let’s get started and make sure your website is doing what it should for your business!

Why Your Website Might Need a Redesign?

You might be thinking, “Why would I need a website redesign? My site is fine!” But here’s the thing: websites need to evolve, just like your business does. If your site’s not doing what it used to—like converting visitors into customers—it might be time to refresh things.

Let’s dive into some common reasons businesses decide it’s time for a redesign:

1. Reasons Prompting Website Redesigns

Here are a few reasons why a redesign might be necessary:

• Your site looks outdated: If it still feels like it’s from the early 2000s, that’s a sign it’s time for a change.
• You’re not getting enough leads: Traffic is great, but if your visitors aren’t sticking around or taking action, something needs to change.
• Your business has changed: If you’ve expanded, shifted focus, or added new products, your website should reflect that.
• Your competitors are ahead: If your competitors have sleek websites and yours feels old or slow, it might make you seem less trustworthy.

If you’re nodding along, a redesign could be just what you need.

2. Redesign vs. Refresh: What’s the Difference?

Let’s look at the differences between the two twins, shall we?

• Refresh: This is more of a “quick update” — tweaking colors, graphics, and layout, but keeping the core structure the same.
• Redesign: An entire overhaul. Think of it as a brand-new look, where you rework your design, layout, and even content to meet your goals better.

If your site’s performance is slipping, a redesign is usually the best option.

Not sure which one your website needs? Book a free clarity call and let Beetle Beetle help you decide the best approach for your business!

3. Scenarios When a Redesign is Preferable

Here are a few tell-tale signs that a redesign is in order:

• Navigation’s a nightmare: If visitors can’t find what they need quickly, they’ll leave.
• It’s not mobile-friendly: More people browse on their phones than ever. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re losing potential customers.
• Your site is slow: Slow load times drive people away. In fact, 53% of people abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to consider a redesign.

We’ve just scratched the surface here, but you can already see why a redesign might be the next step for your website. Next, we’re going to get into the nitty-gritty of initial planning and audit. Ready? Let’s go!

Initial Planning and Audit

If you're ready to revamp your website, it's important to start with a plan. Laying a solid foundation now will ensure the process runs smoothly and prevent unnecessary complications later on. 

1. Importance of Analyzing Current Site Performance

First, let’s take a look at where your site stands right now. Here’s how you can measure performance:

• Traffic Levels: How many people are visiting your site? Are they sticking around or bouncing quickly?
• Bounce Rate: If people leave within seconds, your site might not be engaging enough.
• Conversion Rate: Are visitors taking the actions you want, like signing up or making a purchase?

Beetle Beetle offers thorough site audits to pinpoint where your website can improve. Let’s take a deep dive into your current performance!

2. Conducting a Website Audit

Next, it’s time for a deeper look into your site’s usability and SEO.

• Usability: Is your site easy to navigate? If users can’t quickly find what they’re looking for, they’ll leave.
• SEO: If your site isn’t showing up on Google, it’s time to address SEO issues like slow loading speeds, broken links, and missing meta tags.

This audit will give you the complete picture of what’s working and what’s not.

3. Use Tools to Gather Data

Here are some great tools to gather data and insights:

• Google Analytics: This will show you where your traffic is coming from and what pages are the most popular.
• Heat Maps: Heat maps (like those from Hotjar) track where users click and scroll and where they get frustrated.
• User Feedback: Don’t forget to ask your visitors for feedback! A simple survey can help uncover issues you might miss.

Once you’ve done the audit, you’ll have a crystal-clear picture of what needs to change. But it doesn’t stop there. The next step is defining your goals and strategy. You need to know exactly what you want to achieve with this redesign, so you’re not flying blind!

Defining Goals for Your Redesign

Now that you know what needs to be fixed, it’s time to set some goals for your redesign. This will help guide the entire process and ensure you’re creating a site that supports your business objectives.

1. Set Clear Objectives

What do you want to achieve with your new site? Here are some common goals:

• Boost Conversions: Do you want more sign-ups, downloads, or purchases? A redesign can help optimize your site for conversions.
• Improve User Experience: If your current site is confusing or hard to navigate, improving the user experience (UX) should be a top priority.
• Better SEO Rankings: If SEO is important to you, your redesign should include strategies to improve rankings.
• Faster Load Times: Slow websites are frustrating. Speed should be a key focus for a better user experience.

Once you’ve set your goals, tie them to measurable metrics (KPIs) so you can track progress.

2. Set a Realistic Timeline

Website redesigns take time! Break the project into phases, and set clear milestones to avoid getting overwhelmed. Here’s an example of how to break it down:

• Discovery: Research and planning.
• Design: Wireframes and mockups.
• Development: Coding and testing.
• Launch: Going live with the new site.

Setting milestones helps keep everything on track and ensures your redesign doesn’t take forever.

3. Build Your Dream Team

A website redesign isn’t a solo project. You’ll need a team to make it happen. Key roles to consider:

• Project Manager: Keeps everything running smoothly and on schedule.
• Web Designer: Brings the look and feel of your site to life.
• Web Developer: Turns your design into a working website.
• SEO Specialist: Ensures your site is optimized for search engines.
• Content Writer: Creates and optimizes the copy for SEO.

It’s also a good idea to involve your marketing team to ensure the redesign supports your ongoing efforts.

And if you don’t want to invest in all of this, Beetle Beetle has you covered with its dedicated team of experts to cater to your conversion goals, SEO rankings, and faster load times.

But before we dive into design and wireframes, remember: your audience’s experience is key. We’ll talk about user-centered design next, where we get into building a website that your visitors will actually love.

Design and User Experience: Making It All Work

Now, let’s move on to the exciting part—design! But it’s not just about making things pretty; it’s about creating a smooth, easy-to-navigate experience for your users.

1. Putting the User First

The key to a successful website is understanding your users. Here’s how to do it:

• Know Your Audience: Who are your visitors? What do they need from your site?
• Keep It Simple: A cluttered, complicated design will turn people off. Make navigation easy, and keep the layout clean and straightforward.
• Be Accessible: Your site should be usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. Consider things like text contrast and keyboard navigation.
• Clear CTAs: Make sure your Call-to-Action buttons (like “Sign Up” or “Shop Now”) are clear and easy to find. For a better overview, you can also read our blog on how one small CTA radically improved our conversion rates.

A user-centered design makes sure your website works for the people who matter most—your visitors!

2. Developing Your Site Map and Wireframes

Before jumping into design, you need a roadmap. Here’s where you start:

• Site Map: This is a high-level view of your site’s structure. It helps you organize your homepage, main pages, and subpages.
• Wireframes: These are basic blueprints for each page. They don’t have colors or fonts yet—just a rough layout to show where text, images, and buttons will go.

Planning your site map and wireframes helps ensure your site is organized and easy to use.

3. The Importance of Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design

We all know that mobile-friendly design is crucial. Have you ever tried to use a website on your phone, only to find yourself zooming in and out just to read the text? Super frustrating, right? 

Now, imagine your visitors are feeling the same way if your site isn’t optimized for mobile.

Did you know that more than half of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices? So, if your website doesn’t look good or function well on a phone or tablet, you’re missing out on tons of potential visitors. Here’s why it’s a must:

Why It Matters?

• Mobile Traffic Is Huge: Let’s face it—people are always on their phones. According to research, mobiles generated 58.67% of global website traffic. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing out on a ton of potential visitors. Plus, Google actually ranks mobile-friendly sites higher, so it’s a win-win for both your users and your SEO!
  
  
• Flexible Layouts: Whether someone’s on a tiny phone or a huge desktop, your site should look awesome everywhere. Flexible grids and images can ensure that everything adjusts smoothly. It’s all about that seamless experience no matter the screen size!
  
  
• Touch-Friendly: On mobile, people tap instead of click. That means your buttons should be nice and big, so visitors don’t get frustrated. And, avoid cramming too many links or buttons close together—no one wants to hit the wrong one by accident.

If your site isn’t mobile-friendly yet, it’s time to make it happen! Mobile is where it’s at, and Google loves sites that are optimized for it. So, get ready to improve that experience and boost your rankings.

Still trying to figure out where to start?

The Design & Development Team at Beetle Beetle specializes in creating seamless, mobile-optimized websites that look great and perform flawlessly on any device. 

Next, we’ll focus on content and SEO—because having the right design is just one piece of the puzzle. The key is making sure people can actually discover your site!

Content and SEO Considerations

Now that your site looks great, let’s look into something equally important: content and SEO. A pretty site is fantastic, but if no one can find it or your content isn’t valuable, it won’t do much for you.

We want to make sure your content is top-notch, and your SEO is strong so your site actually gets noticed!

1. Conducting a Content Audit and Migrating Valuable Content

Before you go adding a bunch of new stuff, take a step back and do a little content audit. It’s kind of like cleaning out your closet—time to see what you want to keep and what can go.

• What’s Working: Check which pages or posts are already getting traffic or are performing well. Whether it’s a blog post or a product page, these are your winners! Keep ‘em!
  
  
• What’s Not Working: Some pages might not be doing much. Maybe they’re outdated or just not relevant anymore. You can either update them or just let them go.
  
  
• Migrate the Good Stuff: Don’t forget to bring over your best content when you launch your new site. But, give it a little freshen-up if it needs it—make sure it’s still valuable and up-to-date.

By doing this, you’ll make sure that when your new site goes live, some solid content will be backing it up!

2. Developing a Keyword Map and SEO Strategies

Here’s where the magic happens—SEO. Having great content is one thing, but if it’s not optimized for search engines, no one will ever find it. So, let’s chat about how to make sure your site gets noticed!

• Keyword Research: You’ll want to find out what your audience is searching for. Think about what terms people would type into Google when looking for a product or service like yours. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs can help you get the scoop on the best keywords.
  
  
• Keyword Mapping: Once you’ve got your keywords, make sure each page on your site focuses on the right ones. This way, you won’t have different pages competing for the same keywords.
  
  
• On-Page SEO: Make sure your keywords are in all the right places—your page titles, headings, and meta descriptions. But, be careful not to overdo it! Google knows when you're stuffing keywords in there, and that’s not a good look.

With these SEO basics in place, you’ll make sure people can actually find your awesome content!

3. Protecting High-Performing Pages with 301 Redirects

Okay, here’s a little trick you’ll need when you redesign your site: 301 redirects. Why? Because when you change URLs, you don’t want to lose the SEO power or traffic those old pages have built up. And that’s where redirects come in.

• What’s a 301 Redirect? It’s a way of telling Google and users, “Hey, this page has moved to a new address permanently!” It helps keep your SEO rankings intact and sends people to the right page. Here’s another article for you if you are one of those techy persons who want to learn more.
  
  
• Redirect the Right Pages: Ensure you’re setting up redirects for any pages that change URLs or structures. It’s super important to keep everything running smoothly and avoid broken links.
  
  
• Check Your Analytics: After setting up the redirects, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your analytics to make sure traffic is flowing to the right places. This helps ensure everything’s working as it should.

If you do redirects right, you’ll keep all that SEO goodness from your old pages and avoid any broken link issues.

Now that you’ve got your content and SEO in check, your website will not only look great but rank great too! 

Next up, we’ll dive into the technical aspects—because a site that’s fast, secure, and functional is a site that thrives.

Technical Aspects of Redesign

Alright, now that the content and SEO are in check, let’s talk about the techy stuff. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! These are the behind-the-scenes things that make sure your site runs smoothly, stays secure, and loads quickly. 

And guess what? Google really cares about these things too!

1. Choosing the Right CMS and Development Tools

You’ve got to pick the right content management system (CMS) to build your site on. It’s basically the platform that powers everything behind the scenes. Here are a few options:

• WordPress: This one’s super flexible and customizable. It’s perfect if you want a site that can grow as your business does.
• Webflow: If you’re a designer who doesn’t want to get into coding, Webflow is a great option that lets you build beautiful sites without touching any code.
• Squarespace: Ideal for small businesses or personal websites, Squarespace is easy to use and looks great right out of the box.
• Joomla/Drupal: If you need something more complex or custom, these platforms offer advanced features (but they come with a bit of a learning curve).

Pick a platform that fits your needs—and one that can grow with your business over time!

2. Ensuring Site Speed, Accessibility, and Security

Okay, let’s cover the essentials: speed, accessibility, and security. These are the things that make your site smooth to use, safe for visitors, and loved by Google.

• Speed: Nobody likes a slow website. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to see how fast your site is. If it’s slow, check things like image sizes or messy code that might be dragging it down.
  
  
• Accessibility: Make sure your site’s easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. Use readable fonts, add alt text to your images, and make sure the site works with screen readers. It’s all about making your site inclusive.
  
  
• Security: Keep your site safe and secure with an SSL certificate (that little padlock symbol you see in browsers). Not only does it protect your visitors’ data, but it also helps with your SEO. Google loves secure sites!
  
  

3. Testing in a Staging Environment

Before going live, it’s smart to test everything in a staging environment. Think of this like a test version of your site. It lets you try everything out before making it public.

• What’s a Staging Environment? It’s a private area where you can test out your site and work out any issues before it’s live. You won’t mess with the live version, so you can fix things with no pressure!
  
  
• Why It’s Important? You don’t want to launch your site and discover a broken link or a slow page. Testing on a staging site gives you the chance to spot problems before they affect your real visitors.

With all these technical details checked off, you’ll have a site that’s fast, secure, and user-friendly—and that’s exactly what your visitors want.

Need help with the technical side of things? Beetle Beetle’s Website Development will ensure your site runs smoothly, securely, and quickly, boosting both user experience and SEO. Let’s optimize!

Next up, we’ll look into the Testing and Launch phase, where we’ll make sure everything’s ready for the big debut. Stick with me—we’re almost there!

Testing and Launch

Now that your site looks fantastic and works well, it’s time to prepare everything for the big day.

1. Usability and A/B Testing

Before you hit that “launch” button, it’s super important to test everything out to make sure your users have a great experience.

• Usability Testing: Get a few people (not your team!) to test your site and give feedback. Did they find everything easily? Did any part confuse them? Their feedback is super helpful for fixing any issues before launch.
  
  
• A/B Testing: A/B testing is like a mini popularity contest for your website’s features. You create two versions of a page and see which one performs better. It’s a great way to fine-tune your design and improve your site’s performance.
  
  

2. Pre-Launch and Post-Launch Checklist

The countdown is on, and you’re almost ready to hit that “go live” button. But before you do, here’s a handy checklist of things to double-check before you launch—and after!

3. Ongoing Monitoring and Optimization

Once your site is live, your job isn’t done. Websites need ongoing care and optimization to stay fresh and perform well.

• Monitoring: Keep an eye on performance using tools like Google Analytics. Watch how users behave and look for areas that need improvement.
• Optimization: Based on your data, tweak your site regularly to improve performance. If a page isn’t converting or a form isn’t working, make adjustments.

SEO is also an ongoing process, so keep your content fresh and up-to-date. This will help keep your site ranking high and visitors coming back for more.Want a smooth launch with zero stress? Let Beetle Beetle handle the testing and deployment so you can focus on growing your business. We’ve got this!And that’s it for the Testing and Launch phase! It might feel like a lot to juggle, but it’s all worth it to make sure your website is ready to impress from the get-go.

‍Conclusion

And there you have it! You’ve got the full rundown of everything you need to know to pull off a website redesign. It might feel like a lot, but don’t worry – with the right steps in place, you’ll be on your way to creating a site that not only looks great but also performs better than ever.

The main takeaway? Make sure your website is working for your business goals. 

Whether that’s improving your user experience, boosting conversions, or just making your site more up-to-date, it’s all about creating something that serves your audience and drives results. Remember, launching your site is just the start! It’s all about keeping it fresh and continuously improving. Regular tweaks, updates, and tests will keep you ahead of the game.

If you’re ready to bring your dream website to life, Beetle Beetle is here to help. Our expert team will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring your site is both beautiful and functional.

Ready to leap? Book an intro call today and let’s get started on your website redesign journey! Your dream website is within reach – make it happen!