Website Redesign Checklist

The Power of Website Updates: Why You Should Consider a Website Redesign

Great websites need beautiful images and can help give your website a fresh and updated look. Try Elevae Visuals stock photos to elevate the vibe.

Elevae Visuals

When was the last time you updated your website?  Most people get thru the arduous task of setting up a basic website and then they don’t look at it for years.  Take a minute and go look around your website (I’ll wait right here) . 

Are you thinking “Help…I need to refresh and update my website!” You are probably ready for a website redesign.

I went to a friend’s beauty website, which is a beautiful well-designed website created 2 years ago. But this last time I visited it there was a widget that embedded her Instagram feed at the bottom of her home page, and the Instagram feed was gone leaving an ugly empty space. She must have forgotten to update the widget and her page looked neglected.  Is her business neglected too? 

In today’s digital age, having a functional and visually appealing website is essential for any business or individual. Your website serves as your online storefront, and just like a physical store, it needs regular attention and updates to keep it relevant, engaging, and effective.  Let’s explore the reasons why you should update your website and provide you with a handy website redesign checklist to ensure a smooth and successful revamp. 

And if none of this appeals to you, I can help you start from scratch and give you a modern website  design that you will be proud to show off.

Why Update Your Website?

Stay Relevant: 

Just like the beauty industry, technology is constantly evolving, and your website needs to reflect the latest trends and designs. An outdated website can give visitors the impression that your business is stagnant and well, uncool. 

So make it cool! Enhance User Experience: 

Also known as (UX) is crucial for keeping visitors interested enough to explore your content or make a purchase. Having parallaxing images, video backgrounds and scrolling text are trending and will get your visitors excited about your business. If your website is missing movement it’s time for a website redesign. For an example, check out The Skye Template.

Optimize for Mobile:

If your target market is anyone under 50, your mobile website design better be on point! Having the option to fully customize your mobile website is really important. I use Showit as my website platform for this reason. Check out the Template Shop from your phone and watch the demos to see examples of great mobile design.

Improve SEO: 

Search engine algorithms change frequently. By updating your website, you can implement the latest SEO practices, including keyword optimization, meta tags, and structured data, to improve your site’s visibility on search engines. More blog posts coming about SEO, so follow for more.

Showcase New Content:

If your website hasn’t been updated in a while, your clients might not know about the new facial service that you’re offering or maybe the new hairstylist in your salon hasn’t been added to the About Us Page. Fresh blog posts, images, and updates can help establish your expertise and keep visitors coming back.  And new content ranks your listing higher on Google!

Ready to raise your prices or Update your Image?: 

Businesses grow and evolve over time. If your brand’s identity, mission, or offerings have changed, your website should accurately reflect these updates to maintain consistency and build trust. If you have been in business for a few years and still have the same logo and branding from when you first started out, it’s probably time for a change. Hiring a photographer can get pricey, so using high-quality stock images can work beautifully! Try Elevae Visuals.

Security and Performance: 

Outdated software and plugins can pose security risks, making your website vulnerable to cyberattacks. Regular updates ensure that your website is running on the latest, most secure versions, enhancing performance and protecting user data.

Website Redesign Checklist

When embarking on a website redesign, it’s important to have a structured plan to ensure a smooth process. Here’s a checklist to guide you through the redesign journey:  And if this makes you want to pull your perfectly styled hair out, LETS CHAT!

1. Define Your Goals:

• Identify the specific goals you want to achieve with the redesign.
• Consider factors like improving user experience, updating branding, or increasing conversions.

2. Did I really say that?!  Conduct a Content Audit:

• Review and categorize your existing content.
• Identify outdated, irrelevant, or redundant content to remove or update.
• Identity services that you want to remove from your menu.

3. What’s your competition up to? 🤔

• Analyze your competitors’ websites for inspiration and insights.
• Identify design trends and features that resonate with your target audience.

4. Pinterest is your homework.  Design and Visuals:

• Go onto Pinterest and create a secret board. Start to collect images, a color palette and typography that aligns with your brand identity.
• This can be shared with your website designer..

5. Is your SEO done correctly?

• Is your Title, H1, H2 and meta descriptions optimized?
• Are your images reduced in size, named and alt text labeled?

6. Look at your website from your phone:

• Ensure that your website design looks and functions well on mobile devices and tablets.

7. Are you using keywords in your website content?:

• A lot of SEO comes from your website content. Don’t keyword stuff, but make sure your keywords are sprinkled throughout your website.
• Incorporate SEO best practices, such as relevant keywords and meta descriptions.

8. Test Thoroughly:

• Check for broken links, formatting issues, and responsive design problems.
• Test your website on different browsers and devices to ensure consistent functionality.

9. Optimize for Speed:

• Compress images and minimize code to improve loading times.
• A fast-loading website enhances user experience and SEO ranking.

10. Launch and Monitor:

• Launch your redesigned website and monitor its performance using tools like Google Analytics.
• Have friends check your website from their desktops and cell phones.

11. Backup and Security:

• Regularly back up your website to prevent data loss.
• Ensure all software, plugins, and security measures are up to date.

12. Gather User Feedback:

• Encourage users to provide feedback on the new design and features.
• Use their insights to make further improvements.

Remember, a website redesign is a significant undertaking, so don’t rush the process. Take the time to visit your own website and look around. If it needs significant work, reach out and we can tackle it together. That’s my specialty. We will work together to create a modern website design that reflects the new vision you have for your business growth.