As we go about our business of logo and web design, we occasionally receive calls from people asking about website redesign. If you own a website, chances are you often wonder whether it is the right time to do a total redesign of the layout of your website. Here are some points to consider:
Are you thinking of a redesign just for the sake of it? If you answered yes to that question, it is not yet the right time to do a redesign. Remember, a design serves a specific purpose. Make a list of the pros and cons of getting a redesign. You’ll likely find the core of what is lacking in your current site. Can it just be added to your existing site without a redesign? Cool, you just saved time and money.
On the other hand, if your website has had the same website design since 1990, perhaps it is high time to do a redesign. The last thing you would ever want to happen to your site is when visitors leave your site without taking a look at your content just because the design is old fashioned (or takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to load). If this is your case, here are some points to ponder before doing a redesign.
Redesigning your website is like doing a remodel on a house. Your website loses its current identity (for the better or worse) and your regular visitors might not recognize your new design at first glance. You risk losing them just because they thought they landed on the wrong page. Hence, it is very important that you retain a characteristic feature from your old layout. Perhaps it is the logo of your site; perhaps it is the same text style for the title for your site.
Check out your competition. Notice I didn’t say copy your competition. You are different, so choose a different design. Can you incorporate certain similar elements like your competition’s website? Sure. But if you want to innovate, you gotta design. That goes for logo design too.