How Often Should You Update or Rebuild Your Website?

The great thing about updating your company’s website is that there are no rules – at least when it comes to when you should do it. So, when you are trying to decide whether you should redesign, reengineer or simply update your website, it should all boil down to your business goals, economic considerations, and company objectives, instead of some crazy timeframe that someone else told you about. Read on to learn more.

Why You May Want to Redesign and Not Rebuild Your Website?

When it comes to redesigning a website, there are many reason why you may want to consider. However, there are certain factors that will almost always require that an update occur.

• You have developed a new brand, color, etc., and you need to ensure that this new look is on your website for customers to see.
• You are experiencing high bounce rates, which means that people are visiting your site, but not many are converting – a strategic redesign can help with this problem.
• Your business has experienced substantial growth, which calls for new products/services, so your website needs to reflect these new changes.
• Your customers may be complaining about your site, such as saying that it is outdated or not functioning well.

What Would Require You to Reengineer a Website from Scratch?

Ultimately, the most important thing that you must consider is whether or not your site adapts to cell phone screens. With mobile devices taking over the world, so to speak, in today’s day and age, this is something that has to be fixed immediately. Another thing that must be taken into consideration is whether your website operates off of Flash, as Apple iPhones and iPads do not support Flash. With Apple devices being so popular, it is a huge reason to rebuild. Plus, Flash simply slows your website down.

Using a content management system (CMS) is simple, so it should be easy to find someone in the company that can learn the CMS and use it to update your website. There should be no need to hire an experienced programmer to do it for you, unless it is sophisticated changes/fixes, such as if your website has excessive load times because visitors are not going to stick around for your site to load.

Should You Include Your Customers in the Redesign Process?

Absolutely! Anytime you can include your customers you should. Their feedback and opinion is important, as it can provide you with insights that can help convert regular visitors into loyal customers. You should begin by asking what their thoughts are on your potential design and whether it appeals to them. Next, you should find out what problems they are coming to your site to solve and if they are finding the information they need easily with the new design. Once the new site is launched, ask your customers again if they like the new design. If their answer is no, find out why an address their concerns with enhancements.

This is something that both Amazon.com and Apple.com has done over the years. They hardly ever undergo 100 percent facelifts. Instead, they simply allow their websites to evolve over time by refining their designs by inviting their customers to be included in the design process. Remember: it is all about the user experience.

If you have any questions about updating or rebuilding your website, or are ready to undergo a change, reach out to our experiencing web design team at WebDetail.