Have you ever wanted to give your website a major overhaul and bring it up-to-date with the latest design trends, only to realize that there is so much more involved in this process than you originally anticipated? Redesigning your website can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what common issues people face during the process.
That’s why we will cover some of the most frequently encountered obstacles when it comes time for web admins, business owners, and digital marketers to make changes.
Specifically, we will discuss how various features, content strategies, and visual elements affect user experience (UX).
Keep reading to learn more about typical roadblocks that come with revamping an existing site and ways to avoid them.
The Top and Severe Website Redesign Mistakes
Not Making The Website Responsive
Redesigning your website is an exciting and potentially lucrative endeavor, but a lot can only go right if you take the proper steps.
One common mistake that people make is not making their website responsive, which can lead to major issues. A website that isn’t responsive won’t be optimized for mobile devices, meaning anybody trying to access it on their phone or tablet will have difficulty navigating everything.
If a potential customer can’t access your site easily and efficiently on whatever device they use, you risk losing them to competitors whose sites are accessible on all platforms. Responsive websites are the way of the future.
Tip: Always use responsive frameworks and test your design across multiple devices (phones, tablets, laptops, desktops) before launch.
Not Setting The End Goals
Far too often, people must set goals before jumping headfirst into a website redesign. This can lead to poor strategy and a lack of direction – leaving designers needing an idea of what they’re aiming for.
Companies must have set achievable and measurable goals to determine whether or not their website is delivering the desired outcomes.
Most importantly, it’s impossible to understand if the investment in the site is paying off! Before taking the plunge and getting your website redesigned, think carefully about what you want to achieve.
Doing so will help ensure you get maximum value from your design project and ensure your venture succeeds. You’ll have something tangible to measure against afterward.
Tip: Align redesign goals with specific business KPIs like conversion rates, time-on-site, bounce rate reductions, or lead generation improvements.
Overcomplicating the Design
It’s easy to get caught up in making the perfect website, but often, this comes at the expense of ease of use. Too busy design and clutter can hinder visitors from quickly finding what they need on your website.
Additionally, bombarding them with too many visuals can cause overload and lead to a lack of engagement with your site.
It’s vital to ensure that your web design is simple, streamlined, and user-friendly: even though you want to showcase beautiful visuals or interesting details, it’s best not to go overboard when trying to make an impressive design. Remember: what looks good doesn’t always equate to practicality.
Tip: Embrace white space, limit your color palette, and prioritize easy navigation over “fancy” visuals.
Not Optimizing Your Website
One of the most common – and easily avoidable – mistakes people make when redesigning their website is not optimizing it for search engines. From slow loading speeds to unresponsive designs, adequate SEO optimization can prevent your site’s visibility from tanking in SERPs, resulting in fewer clicks and views.
This can be easily avoided by using best SEO practices such as using relevant keywords throughout your web copy, focusing on page speed optimization, ensuring your page titles reflect the page’s content, and implementing meta descriptions highlighting the key features or benefits of a given page.
Taking the time upfront to ensure your website is properly optimized will put you miles ahead once launch day rolls around.
Tip:
- Set up 301 redirects for old URLs.
- Maintain optimized page titles, headers, and meta descriptions.
- Conduct an SEO audit pre- and post-launch.
Failing To Understand Technical Requirements
Everyone occasionally wants to spruce up their website, but many people need help understanding the technical requirements needed for a successful redesign.
Knowing bandwidth capabilities and HTML code knowledge is especially important if you want your redesign to be more than cosmetic. Even if the pieces are pretty, it won’t matter if they can’t function properly on your page.
Avoid this costly mistake by making yourself aware of all necessary technical details before committing to a website revamp – it’ll save you plenty of headaches in the long run.
Tip: Involve technical experts early. Check your hosting, CMS compatibility, page speed, and security protocols before relaunching.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How often should I redesign my website?
Every 2–3 years is recommended to keep up with evolving technology, branding, and user behavior. - Should I redesign or just refresh my website?
If your structure and tech are solid, a refresh (new visuals, updated content) may be enough. Otherwise, a full redesign might be necessary. - What should I prioritize during a redesign?
Mobile responsiveness, page speed, SEO best practices, intuitive UX, and a clear brand voice. - Will my SEO rankings drop after a redesign?
They can — unless you carefully maintain URL structures, set up redirects, and optimize SEO during the process. - How much does a full website redesign cost?
Costs vary widely based on project scope but can range from $5,000 to $50,000+ for a professional, custom-built site. - How long does a website redesign take?
On average, a full redesign takes 2–6 months, depending on the size and complexity of the site. - What’s a common mistake during redesigns?
Focusing only on aesthetics and neglecting functionality, content quality, and user experience. - How can I ensure better results after a redesign?
Conduct pre-launch audits, run usability tests, and gather user feedback post-launch. - Should I rebrand during my redesign?
If your business has evolved significantly, a redesign offers a perfect opportunity to update your branding. - What’s a quick win for a better redesign outcome?
Set measurable goals early.
Hire a professional agency that understands both design and strategy (like Site Architects!).
Are You Redesigning Your Website & Not Sure Where To Start?
Site Architects is a web design company that can help you redesign your website from top to bottom. We’ll work with you to ensure the new site looks great and functions better.
Our experts are ready and waiting to partner with you to create a stellar website that loads quickly and efficiently. So what are you waiting for? Let’s take your site to the next level.
