Are you thinking about making a revamp to your business website or, are you interested in replacing it completely and starting from scratch?
In either option, you’re probably balancing a pair of contrasting emotions. Experience has taught us that business owners can be excited about the prospect of getting new customers, enhancing their credibility, and reaching more people with a stronger web presence. At the same time, they tend to be incredibly nervous about the idea of losing what they have.
We’re going to share a few important tips and tricks that can not only save you time and money but ensure you get the best possible results.
#Audit and Evaluate Your Site
The first thing you can do to build a better website is to look at the one you have. That’s because auditing your existing site shows you what’s working and what’s broken. It can also help you in your design team to figure out what sorts of features and improvements belong on your wish list going forward.
It’s easier to get where you’re going when you know where you are, it is why web presence is a good first step towards creating a newer and better one.
#Focus on your Business Goal
Make a list of some real-world business goals you might expect to achieve with the new website. Think in terms of increasing sales, better recruiting, or busier retail stores. Consider the direction your business has been headed for the past few years, and think about how you might be able to use your website to get closer to your next major milestone. A good business website should be a clear reflection of your company and values.
#Choose the Right Web Design Team
Naturally, if you are going to build a new house choosing the right architect to design it would be an important step along the way. In the same way, it’s going to be easier to get a great website if you work with a creative and trustworthy web design team.
Business owners tend to select web designers based on two things: portfolio samples and quoted fees. Both of these are obviously very important and should be weighed heavily into your decision. Don’t make the mistake of focusing solely on either one, though.
#Start Packing
The first is to back up your old site or have your creative team do it for you. In an emergency, it can be put online again for a short period of time. Additionally, you might have content (like blog posts) you want to migrate to your new web presence.
#Help with the Web Design Process
Give specific feedback whenever possible. If your web design team shows you something you really like, try to figure out what it is you really appreciate about it. And of course, if you would like them to make changes, see if you can articulate what those changes will be, or at least why you are requesting. The same goes for any sample websites you might show them. Do your best to give them a sense of what you like about a competitor’s design.
#Gather Your Content
If there’s one thing that tends to slow down the web design process more than any other, it’s the need to gather or create new content. That’s probably because this is the least fun part of the process for business owners, and one that tends to be incredibly impactful.
Change your business website, while most people we work with don’t enjoy writing webpages. Neither, do they love being photographed, or listing out bullet points for their personal biographies. And yet, the writing on a website, the photos of you and your team members, and your professional summaries are all massively important. No matter how good your new website looks, ultimately the messaging you put in place will have to convince buyers to take the next step.
#Create an Internet Marketing Plan
There are so many websites competing for customers’ attention. If you want to stand out and make your site profitable, you have to promote it constantly.
The point is that you’re never going to get the maximum value from your website unless you pay plenty of attention to things like search engine optimization, social media marketing, and pay-per-click advertising. Email, blogging, and even mobile apps can all come into play, too. To change your business website is the right start.
#Launch and Grow Your Website
It’s okay to be a little bit nervous and excited at the same time when your new site launches. Just remember that this is the beginning of the next phase in your online marketing journey. Work the plan you created for promoting your site and look for ways you can grow and expand.