What makes a website redesign successful?
A successful redesign isn't just about creating something that looks better. It's about building a website that genuinely works for your users and your organisation. These questions will help you assess your current site or guide your redesign project.
Does your website deliver on the fundamentals?
Is your website user-centred? A user-centred website focuses on the people who actually use it. That means understanding your audience and making decisions based on their needs, not just your team's personal preferences.
Is your website accessible? Websites should be usable by everyone. Following accessibility best practices and standards benefits all users, not just those with disabilities.
Does your website work well on a multitude of devices? There's no way to know which device a user might visit your website from, so a website must adapt to any device and screen size.
Does your website load quickly? Slow sites frustrate visitors, increase bounce rates and reduce conversion rates. A slow site can also harm your search rankings.
Is your website well-designed? Good design is a balance between beauty and function. Beautiful design for its own sake, at the expense of performance or accessibility, is bad design.
Is your site well-written? A website is only as good as its text. Organising and structuring content is a crucial part of the design process, making sure it’s clear, easy to find, and speaks to your audience in the right way.
Is your website trustworthy? When users land on a website, they instinctively look for subtle clues about whether they can trust it. Does your site feel credible and reliable?
Is your website easy to update? Great websites provide accurate, up-to-date information. To achieve this, they need to be updated regularly with new and updated content. That means it is important to ensure your website is easy to update.
Is your website sustainable? A sustainable website works for your organisation now and is built to keep working years into the future.
Beyond the fundamentals
Does your website accurately represent your organisation? This is more about feeling than measurable metrics, but it's important to consider whether the site reflects your organisation in a way that makes you proud, clearly communicating who you are and what you do.
Are you tracking the right metrics, and is your website achieving them? Focus on 3-4 key metrics that directly relate to your organisation's goals. Too few metrics and you won't have enough data to improve things. Too many metrics and you run the risk of cluttering your site and harming the user experience.
Are you making informed decisions about technology and integrations? Pick technologies and platforms that fit your needs. A simple, well-implemented solution often beats a complex one that's hard to maintain.
In summary
Use these questions throughout your redesign process. They'll help you make better decisions, avoid common mistakes, and end up with a website that works for your users.
There's a lot here to consider, but you don't need to be perfect from day one. Remember: your website is never done. Keep these questions in mind as you improve your website, month after month, year after year.
The key is understanding where you are now and where you want to be. That clarity will guide you towards a much better outcome.