Your website is the most important tool in your business arsenal. It encompasses your eCommerce store, your content marketing platform, your brand & persona, and is the cornerstone to your inbound marketing strategy.
In many ways, websites have become nearly as important as brick and mortar stores. In some cases, they are the store for companies that exist only online.
Like any commercial building, website design and redesign varies dramatically in cost. Small businesses taking the do-it-yourself route can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $3,000—and countless hours in time and effort—to build a basic site.
You may be thinking this is a ridiculous price range for something as important as a website. We couldn’t agree more. That is why we’re taking a look at everything you should know before your website redesign: how to get a quote, what to expect, important questions to ask, and what influences the price of your website. Want to get your money’s worth out of your website redesign? Let’s get started.
The Cost of Bad Web Design
Before we dive into how to ensure you get the most out of your redesign, it’s important to establish why you need a redesign in the first place. Or in other words, what do you have to lose by keeping your site the way it is?
The most obvious answer is revenue. A popular study in 2012 revealed that if the page load speed for Amazon.com were just one second slower, they could lose $1.6 billion in sales each year. That was 8 years ago. A lot has changed since, including Amazon’s annual revenue.
There are other factors besides page load speed that can inhibit your company’s growth and your customer’s online experience. A study from Stanford shows that at least 75% of website users admit that they judge a company’s credibility based on their web design.
Why You Need a Website Redesign
If poor load speed, graphics, design, and usability are inhibiting your website visitors, then it is time to look at revamping your site. The good news is, there is a lot to be gained from a redesign.
Bing experienced a similar outcome. Their specific choice of blue on their site resulted in an additional $80 million in revenue annually.
Gone are the days when basic information on a landing page will convert leads into sales. Your website, your number one salesperson, is often the first encounter a potential customer will have with your business. It’s time to use your website to its fullest potential through a redesign.
How a Website Redesign Works
Every company, studio, firm, and freelancer will approach your website redesign slightly differently. Yet, there are some key things that every good web designer will provide, including a custom approach to your website.
There is no one-size-fits-all web design or redesign package. Your website is as unique as your business, and your redesign package should adjust to fit your needs.
Here are several ways to ensure you get the most from your redesign.
Brainstorm the Key Elements of Your Site
Before you get started with your web designer, consider the elements that are important to your new site. Ask the following questions to determine what you most need from your redesign.
- Where are customers having trouble with your current site?
- What pages are most visited?
- What is your main goal in the redesign?
Schedule a Consultation
A preliminary consultation will give you and your web designer an opportunity to discuss goals, company culture, and the look and feel you hope to achieve from your redesign.
At this stage, your designer should provide you with some homework, a variety of questions that help her determine how best to move forward with your website.
Get a Quote and Scope of Work
Prior to moving forward with your site, your designer will provide you with a quote and a scope of work, a document that outlines what will be accomplished in the web design. This gives both you and her a way to gauge the progress of the redesign and hold each other accountable for that progress.
Ask the Right Questions
The cost of website redesign is determined by many different variables, including the complexity of your site. By asking the right questions, you can better determine the range your website may fall into.
For example, will your site require an eCommerce store, special apps or plugins, or custom design that is specific to your company or industry? Do you need help creating a content strategy, SEO support, or custom graphics for your business?
All of these elements impact the price of your website, and clearly communicating this upfront will help both you and your designer ensure your redesign is a success. Ask your designer what she recommends for your site. Spend time dreaming and brainstorming, questioning, and building a plan that will get you a website that generates results.
Local Web Redesign with You in Mind
A survey by BrightLocal revealed that consumers prefer local businesses that have a website. They also feel that a well-designed site gives the business more credibility and they are more likely to contact that local business.
HL Design Studio works with local and global companies to establish a web presence that builds revenue, creates trust and credibility, and increases traffic. Contact us today for a quote on your custom website redesign and to learn more about our redesign process.
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