From the wire framing to the usability testing
to the launch, a website redesign can be quite the experience—especially if you've never been through the process before.
By the time it's done, you should have a website that works for your company and your customers while outperforming the competition.
But how will you really know if your new website is performing as well as it can and delivering consistent conversions?
The answer to that question lies below, so keep reading to see five critically important tools to help make sure your website is its best, even after you've launched the redesign.
1) Compare it to the competition
At the end of the day, you want your website to perform better than the competition. That means you're going to have to make sure yours looks sharper, functions better and is easier to find. Look at everything from URLs to search engine optimization to the quality of the content. Then make sure your site leaves a lasting impression with visitors.
2) Analyze the analytics
Perhaps nothing will tell you more about the quality of your website than the analytics. Search to find what's working for users and what's not. Look for trends such as high bounce rates and short visit times that can point to problems with navigation, wasted space, calls to action and why people aren't finding your most important pages.
3) Put first things first
Time is money, and the more time it takes visitors to find what they're looking for, the less money they're likely to spend. Make sure it's as easy as possible for people to accomplish their tasks, whether that's to make a purchase or connect with customer service. Too many clicks and too much aimless searching are certain ways to drive visitors away.
4) Test it ... again
Usability testing isn't something you should only do on the front end. It's something that should be ongoing, even after you've redesigned the website. Gather customers together and conduct more usability testing. At the very least, it will confirm you did things right the first time. At its best, it will show you how you can make minor adjustments to further improve the site.
5) Keep it current
Resting on your laurels. It's easy to do, especially after you've put so much work into redesigning your website. But people's interests change, trends vary and everyone always wants fresh, new and exciting content. Make sure to keep your website current, by checking the competition to make sure your site is offering better content, the latest apps that make your customers' lives easier and anything else to set your site apart.
Make sure your redesigned website actually works
If you're considering a redesign—or if you've recently finished a redesign—and want to make sure you're on the right track, contact the experts at ADTACK for more information about making sure your site actually works.
