Planning a website redesign is no small feat. It requires time, money and resources and can involve emotion when a website feels like our “home.” In fact, marketers often wrestle with their own website on a regular basis, so we have been on both sides of this big task. But just like anything that takes well-thought out hard work, redesigning your website is incredibly rewarding and can bring a boost success if done well. With the countdown to 2014 in full motion, you may be struggling with whether or not to include website design for the New Year in your planning and budget. We make the case for why you should consider redesigning your website in 2014 with these 6 compelling facts below!
1. You don’t have to do it all at once.
If the thought of overhauling your entire website by next year leaves your head spinning, consider this new data from Hubspot: In 2013, 80 percent of marketers said they redesigned their homepage and 73 percent redesigned various pages within their website. Focus on one area of improvement at a time and roll our various changes gradually if the design itself isn’t changing drastically.
2. If it has been more than 3 years since your last redesign – your site is outdated.
When was the last time you updated your website? If it has been several years since your last refresh or if you haven’t made any changes since your website’s launch – it may be time for an update. Major companies like Staples opt for a website redesign every 2 years in order to keep their content relevant and organized based on current website trends.
3. A website redesign could improve your metrics and analytics.
37 percent of marketers said that redesigning their website changed their metrics by up to 25 percent! We’ve witnessed firsthand with the various sites we’ve designed that making changes provides an opportunity to drive new traffic to your site. Redesigning a website gives you a PR and advertising opportunity to tout with the trade press, plus you can showcase your site’s new features on social media networks. And finally, you can use your new site to start a new benchmark for measuring your analytics. Curious about how you can measure your marketing effectiveness in 2014? Click here to request a free consultation with Dan’l.
4. Use the redesign to go mobile.
2014 is the year of mobile (just like 2013!). We know that consumers and buyers alike are surfing the web more and more from their various mobile devices, and this trend isn’t going to change. Plus, you don’t need two websites in order to be mobile friendly. Make responsive design a part of your 2014 website plans. According to Google, 74 percent of web users say they are more likely to return to a website that is mobile friendly. That’s because 90 percent of web viewers hop from one device to another while they surf.
5. It doesn’t cost as much as you think.
We’ve all heard of or been the company that allocated a very large chunk of our marketing budget for the year towards our website design, but the good news is that you don’t have to do this to be successful. 75 percent of marketers said they only allocate between 5 and 25 percent of their marketing budget to designing their website. The sweet spot? Around 10 percent!
6. You don’t have to do it yourself.
50 percent of marketers surveyed by Hubspot said that they utilized an external resource to help them with their website redesign. Whether you’re looking to update a few pages or overhaul your site completely, having a fresh set of eyes and an outside perspective on your website’s design and functionality will go a long way to lead you to a successful redesign.
Refreshing your website’s design will help you to better serve the needs of consumers or customers that come to learn more about you. With smarter content, accurate messaging, updated design and SEO optimization, your site will generate more engagement and relevant leads for you. So where do you begin? If your head is swirling with how to pinpoint a starting place and timeline, give us a call! We can help you assess your website and determine what changes, if any, should be factored into your 2014 marketing plans.