Expert Advice for a Powerful Website Revamp

If you’re scaling a successful business, you know that your website is never finished. It should be monitored, maintained, and optimized as your business grows. When updating your website, start by evaluating your brand, your business goals, and your functional needs. You don’t have to have all the answers (in fact – you likely won’t!). A web professional or development agency will know how to guide the process. A new website has major business implications, so prepare for it accordingly.

Take a Hard Look at Your Brand

Before you start outlining a wish list for your website, look at your branding. This includes your logo, marketing materials, tone, website copy and content, imagery, and more. Spending thousands of dollars on a website will miss the mark if your brand doesn’t resonate. A powerful brand stems from a clear understanding of your customer, and how your brand speaks to him or her. Professional branding and graphic design may sound expensive, but all your business communications stem from your brand. Seek a trained designer for core brand elements such as your logo and brand style guide. As you grow your business, this helps you maintain a cohesive brand that tells a compelling story to customers. Investing early in key brand elements is essential and makes it easier to create compelling materials that match.

Consider Your Business Goals

Why is now the time to revamp your website? Are you taking on more clients, offering new services, or hoping to refresh your online presence? Your business goals drive your brand and website strategy. Establish your main business priorities in the next year, and five years (knowing they could change!). How can an updated website help you achieve your goals? Websites should be reviewed on an ongoing basis (we suggest a re-evaluation at least every three years). Considering your short- and long-term goals, align your website’s evolution with your business over its lifespan. As part of your website redesign, outline your customer’s needs. Use this to determine what your website can do to better support your ideal purchaser.

Determine the Functionality Needs of Your Site

Rather than determine solutions for your current site (E.G. I need a button here that says “Buy”), share your goals with a professional. An agency can encourage you to think differently and solve for challenges you might not consider. Think about your ongoing needs, and how you plan to manage the website. Your agency partner can recommend a content management system best suited for your business and your ongoing management needs, allowing you to make website changes with little to no technical knowledge. Find a website partner and a platform that can continue to scale with your business as needs change. And aim for a return on your website investment for years to come.

Website revamps are exciting. They indicate success and reinvestment in your growing business. Don’t rush into the process, or miss key steps along the way. Your website’s business implications are worth the extra time. Wherever you are in your process, take time to consult with a professional. If you’d like to learn more about how you can start your website revamp process, reach out to us here.

Tags: custom web design, custom web development, web design, web development