In case you’re one of many 1000’s of companies on the market that may redesign its web site this yr, you’ve most likely obtained the identical nagging thought behind your head.
This had higher work.
It could be a twinge as you write a five-figure test to your internet design company.
Our new web site MUST carry in additional income.
It could be a pit in your abdomen if you have a look at visitors numbers or conversion knowledge.
The leads have to start out rolling in proper after launch.
If these ideas preserve you up at night time, you are not alone.
A brand new web site is a big funding — in each money and time. You need to make sure that the funding goes to repay.
And right here’s the unhappy fact of it all: Most companies that purchase a brand new web site this yr don’t actually need it. They’ve been offered a “miracle treatment” that’s not truly going to unravel the issue they’re going through.
After all there are occasions when a brand new web site IS wanted — when it’s a extremely sound funding in the way forward for your online business. And that’s what this text goes to do. That will help you know if you do want a brand new web site, and if you don’t.
Beneath, I’ll clarify:
- Why a brand new web site is commonly not the answer you’re in search of.
- Why you suppose you want a web site (however truly don’t).
- Whenever you truly ought to spend money on a brand new website.
Earlier than you spend large, let’s have a look at some laborious truths collectively.
Arduous fact No. 1: Companies are blissful to promote you a website you don’t want
Companies are desirous to promote you a flowery new web site with the entire bells and whistles. Their job is to promote web sites, and also you’ve obtained cash to spend. They’ll take your cash and construct you a web site, whether or not you want it or not.
This technique is profitable as a result of companies suppose a brand new web site will resolve all their issues.
When a enterprise chief sees their visitors or their leads fall off, they suppose a brand new web site will resolve all the pieces.
Whereas I’m not saying a brand new web site is essentially a nasty funding, it may be an costly gamble. Web sites usually are available over finances and delayed — and so they don’t at all times ship a transparent ROI.
Say you spend $75K on a brand new website that takes 9 months to launch. How are you going to make sure that will probably be definitely worth the funding?
In case you’re not connecting that web site to a method, you possibly can’t.
Arduous fact No. 2: A web site shouldn’t be a advertising and marketing or gross sales technique
You suppose you want a brand new web site since you want extra leads and extra income. However pause for a second and suppose this by: what in regards to the new website is truly going to do that?
Or, put it this manner: What’s going to make prospects discover your shiny new web site?
- Are they coming to you thru natural search or social? Then you want a strong content material technique to provide and publish the content material that may construct your model and convey individuals to your website.
- Are these prospects coming by PPC? Then you definitely want devoted, efficient touchdown pages and conversion paths that may converse to their challenges and current your options.
In any case, you want a method for a way your clients will use this new web site — and any company not speaking about technique is unlikely to ship the positioning you want.
Now, most companies do discuss technique, however they’re speaking a few web site technique — that’s, web page structure and UX, not a advertising and marketing, gross sales, or enterprise technique.
4 Causes you suppose you want a brand new web site (however you truly don’t)
Regardless of what you’ve been informed, most web site points might be solved and not using a full redesign. In case you’re going through certainly one of these challenges, don’t spring for a brand new web site simply but.
‘Our website simply feels stale’
If what you’re going through is an aesthetic problem, you may decide to replace the kinds of the present web site as an alternative of doing a full web site redesign. You’ll pay about 80% much less and may probably be finished in weeks as an alternative of months.
‘We simply employed a brand new CMO’
A brand new advertising and marketing chief usually desires to shake issues up and a brand new web site could be first on the checklist.
Nevertheless, a brand new web site by itself shouldn’t be going to repair no matter points you’ve confronted up to now. Pump the brakes and have a look at some numbers earlier than you give your new CMO a clean test.
‘We’ve simply launched a brand new product’
That’s thrilling! Do you want an entire new web site to help this launch? Virtually actually not.
In case you need assistance, an company can construct new pages with out designing and growing an entire new website. (And with a bit of coaching, you may even do it your self.)
‘Our leads are down’
I get it. It’s worrying when your lead pipeline shrinks, however except you’re addressing your underlying advertising and marketing technique, a brand new web site is unlikely to unravel the issue in and of itself.
So, if any of these have been your causes for wanting a brand new website, I counsel you to decelerate and suppose twice. However there are some instances if you do want a brand new web site. Let’s look there subsequent.
Whenever you DO really want a brand new web site
Now let’s have a look at the opposite facet of issues. When is the proper time to revamp your website?
Having labored with lots of of companies through the years, I consider there are solely two conditions if you completely must replace your website.
Motive #1: ‘We’re unable to replace the positioning on our personal’
That is the most important one. If your online business can’t replace its personal website with out contacting an company or hiring a freelancer, it’s time for a brand new website.
The best way fashionable websites are constructed, your group ought to be capable to do all the pieces from constructing touchdown pages to updating product listings without having to code.
An outdated web site is a legal responsibility that makes your online business look dangerous.
No matter you do, don’t work with any company that tells you they will’t construct you a website you possibly can replace by yourself. This can be a main purple flag that is designed to maintain you from being impartial.
Motive #2: ‘Our web site doesn’t meet immediately’s tech requirements’
This has nothing to do with graphics or person expertise. Nothing to do with inventory photos or web page structure. As a substitute, we’re speaking about Core Net Vitals, comparable to website pace, cellular responsiveness, and web page scripts.
(Supply: Google)
In case your website doesn’t meet the fashionable requirements established by the major search engines, it’ll be laborious to rank properly in them, and it’s time for a brand new website.
In case your web site is unable to ship in these two basic methods, new photos and designs gained’t reserve it. Your listed pages will regularly slip in search rankings, and your visitors will dwindle.
You want a website that meets up-to-date thresholds for efficiency.
Earlier than you spend money on a brand new website, think about your technique
Earlier than contemplating a brand new web site, take inventory of your present website. Listed here are some vital steps to take:
- Conduct a UX audit: Use instruments like Fortunate Orange or Hotjar to see heatmaps, report person habits, and analyze patterns. Determine ache factors and areas for enchancment within the person expertise.
- Run experiments: Primarily based on what you see in your UX audits, you’ll discover what customers do (and don’t) have interaction with. For instance, if a main call-to-action will get no engagement, run an A/B check to see if extra particular language can enhance engagement.
- Construct a content material technique: Develop a complete plan for creating useful and interesting content material. Conduct key phrase analysis, create a content material calendar, and diversify your content material codecs.
- Observe and analyze efficiency: Implement a strong analytics platform like Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Monitor metrics comparable to visitors sources, natural visitors modifications over time, bounce charges, and conversion charges. Make data-driven selections primarily based on insights gained.
- Optimize for serps and AI: Incorporate related key phrases in titles, descriptions, headers, and content material. Take note of on-page components like URL construction, inner linking, and picture alt textual content. Enhance website loading pace, cellular responsiveness, and technical efficiency.
In case you observe all of these greatest practices, you’ll virtually actually discover enhancements in your web site’s efficiency. And in the event you do want a brand new web site, you’ll be armed with the data you’ll must make it as efficient as attainable.
Get the positioning you want
A web site is a giant funding — and the method is each thrilling and worrying.
In case you suppose you’re out there for a redesign in your customized website, do your analysis. Don’t simply speak to companies which might be leaping to promote you the factor you’re nonetheless deciding in the event you want.
We work with companies day by day who come to us after spending a ton of cash on a brand new web site. As a substitute of being the salvation they have been hoping for, the web site fails to ship outcomes. Their numbers keep flat, and so they’re left scratching their heads as to why it didn’t work.
Keep away from their expensive errors.
Ask the proper questions so you realize you’re getting the positioning you want.
And in the event you’re undecided what you want, begin with our free web site efficiency evaluation. You may get the insights you have been in search of.