Should I Get a Website Design Makeover?

Trends in website design and web development change over time, just like haircuts and pop charts. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your site, just that after a while it will start to look tired and dated. Here are 5 considerations to help decide if your website design needs an overhaul; Functionality - does your site offer up-to-date functionality? Are you able to track and communicate with customers effectively? Maybe there's a better way. Functionality is an area of website design that changes constantly, so keep an eye on other platforms and make a note of any limitation your own website may have. Navigation - is site navigation clunky and slow? In a recent survey, 40% of web users said they would leave a site if it took more than 3 seconds to load. Is that you? Slow navigation is the equivalent of poor in-store service. Nobody likes waiting around for a shop assistant, so keep your navigation up to date. Design - sure, the orange stripes and blue stars seemed like a good idea in 2005, but the world has moved on. There are plenty of tutorials and advice on colour schemes and their impact on the human brain. Do some research so you don't send the wrong message. Content Management - upgrading your CMS will speed up editing, leaving you more time and less headaches. A poor CMS can slow you down, drive you crazy and restrict the presentation of your content. Branding - does the site promote your brand in the best and most effective way? Is it time to upgrade the company image? Like website design, logos go out of date. Even huge companies such as Apple and McDonald update their brand every so often. Follow their lead and stay fresh. Having said all of that, there are some very good reasons why you should limit changes to your website. Here are a few; Ask your customers - before embarking on a major web design overhaul, ask your customers what they think. They may not want the world to change. By asking their opinion, you will encourage loyalty and you're more likely to get the makeover right. Don't reinvent the wheel- if customers are comfortable with the process and understand how your site works, don't confuse them unnecessarily. Cosmetic adjustments are probably more desirable. Track everything - ask questions, study figures, read reviews, check competition, etc, etc, etc. The more you know the better your business will perform.

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