June 3, 2024

Planning your website revamp? Here’s how to get it right!

How To

by Rajat Kapoor

If you are reading this, chances are, you’ve already decided to revamp your website and are now looking for guidance on how to plan it to make the most out of it. If that’s you, you can jump straight to the ‘Setting the right goals for your revamp’ section of the blog.

But if you haven’t made up your mind and are still in the decision-making phase, we’ll help you clear things up and decide if a revamp is the right move for you.

In this blog, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to plan your website revamp the right way. We’ll cover setting clear goals, asking the right questions, planning the revamp, finding the perfect agency, and much more. By the end of this blog, you'll have a solid roadmap to ensure your revamp goes as planned.

Let’s get started!

Do you even need a revamp?

Regardless of what that $500K website revamp agency told you, you need to do your own research and analysis to figure out if revamp is the right move for you. Here’s how to figure that out -

Signs you need a revamp

To start, ask yourself these questions about your current website:

Has your brand positioning or target market changed in the last few months?
Is your website traffic declining?
Are your bounce rates high?
Does your design look outdated compared to the current market?
Is your mobile experience poor?
Are your load times slow?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, it’s likely time for a website revamp. Apart from low conversion rates and poor user experience, an outdated or poorly performing website often also ruins your brands perception in the market. Solving these issues with a comprehensive revamp can help you stay current with the market trends, and resonate with your audience better.

When a revamp might not be necessary

Not every website needs a full revamp. Sometimes, minor updates or optimizations can make a big difference.

If the issues with your current website looks like these, you might just need to address them to get results.

Does your content need updating? If your content is outdated, consider refreshing it with new information rather than overhauling the entire site.
Is your SEO lacking? Improving your SEO can help you drive more traffic and improve engagement without needing a full redesign.
Are there smaller performance issues? Simple fixes like optimizing images, enabling browser caching, and reducing server response times can significantly improve load times and user experience.

Even if your website has a little more going on than these issues, it’s worth trying to first fix the issues before you go for a full revamp. And if you see that the cost & time of fixing them is as major as building from scratch (which has other benefits) then it’s a good sign that you need a revamp.

Pro tip: Align your website’s functionality with your business goals. If your site’s performance metrics are good and align with your business objectives, a full revamp might not be necessary. Instead, focus on incremental improvements to keep your site updated and efficient.

Now that you have a better idea of whether a revamp is needed, let’s move on to setting the right goals for your website revamp. This will ensure that any changes you make are actually useful and help your business.

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Setting the right goals for your revamp

Alright, so you've decided that a revamp is the way to go. Now, let's make sure you’re setting the right goals to get the most out of this project. Clear, achievable goals will keep you on track and ensure your revamp delivers the results you want.

Identify your objectives

First, you need to identify what you want to achieve with your website revamp. Here are some common goals that might resonate with you:

Increase Traffic: Are you looking to attract more visitors to your site? This might involve improving your SEO, creating more engaging content, or leveraging social media.
Improve User Experience: Maybe you want to make your site easier to navigate or more visually appealing to keep visitors engaged longer.
Boost Conversion Rates: Are you aiming to turn more visitors into customers or subscribers? This could mean optimizing your landing pages, enhancing your call-to-actions, or streamlining your checkout process.
Update Brand Image: Perhaps your brand has evolved, and your website needs to reflect your new direction or visual identity.
Improve Mobile Experience: With so many users browsing on mobile devices, ensuring your site is fully responsive might be a top priority.

Ask the right questions

To help refine your goals, ask yourself these questions:

What do I want my website to accomplish? Whether it’s selling products, generating leads, or providing information, be clear about your main objectives.
Who is my target audience? Understanding your audience will help tailor your website to meet their needs and expectations.
What are my competitors doing? Look at competitors’ websites to see what they’re doing well and where you can improve.
What feedback have I received from users? User feedback can provide valuable insights into what’s working and what needs improvement.

Pro tip: Document answers to all these questions. This will help your team or the agency you hire make the right decisions when working towards your new website.

Set SMART goals

Once you’ve identified your objectives, it’s important to make them SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Here’s how you can apply this framework:

Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve. For example, "Increase website traffic by 20%."
Measurable: Ensure you can track your progress. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor metrics.
Achievable: Set realistic goals based on your resources and timeframe.
Relevant: Make sure your goals align with your overall business objectives.
Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your goals. For example, "Increase website traffic by 20% in six months."

Example SMART goal: "Increase website traffic by 20% over the next six months by optimizing SEO, publishing weekly blog posts, and promoting content on social media."

Setting the right goals for your website revamp will keep you focused and help you measure success.

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Choosing between in-house and agency

One of the key decisions in revamping your website is whether to handle the project in-house or hire an external agency. Both options have their unique pros and cons, and the choice would depend on factors like your budget, timeline, and project complexity. Here’s a quick comparison to help you make a decision.

In-house development

Pros	Cons
Full Control: Having an in-house team gives you complete control over the project, allowing for quicker adjustments and more direct communication.	Higher Costs: Hiring and training staff can be expensive, especially if you need specialized skills for the revamp.
Deep Brand Knowledge: Your internal team understands your brand, goals, and audience better than anyone else.	Limited Expertise: Your team might lack the specific skills or experience needed for a complex revamp.
Ongoing Maintenance: An in-house team can continually update and maintain the website without additional costs.	Resource Allocation: Diverting your team to focus on the website revamp might impact other projects or business operations.

Hiring an agency

Pros	Cons
Specialized skills: Agencies typically have a diverse team of experts in design, development, SEO, and more.	Less control: You’ll have less direct control over the project, which can sometimes lead to communication challenges.
Proven processes: Experienced agencies have established processes and methodologies to handle projects efficiently.	Potential misalignment: Agencies might not fully understand your brand and business goals, leading to potential misalignments.
Cost-effective: While agencies have upfront costs, they can be more cost-effective than building an in-house team from scratch.	Dependency: Relying on an external agency might lead to ongoing costs for future updates and maintenance.

Making the decision

When deciding between in-house and agency, consider these factors:

Budget: Compare the cost of hiring an agency versus building an in-house team. Factor in long-term maintenance costs as well.
Project complexity: For highly complex projects, an agency with specialized skills might be the better choice.
Timeline: Agencies often have the resources to complete projects faster than an in-house team.
Control and communication: Determine how important it is for you to have direct control and frequent communication throughout the project.

Based on your specific needs and budgets, you can make an informed decision that best supports your website revamp goals.

Planning your website revamp

Once you’ve decided between hiring an agency or doing it in-house, the next step is planning the revamp. Proper planning ensures that the process runs smoothly, stays on budget, and achieves your goals. Here’s how to plan your website revamp in the right way -

Step 1: Audit your current site

Before making any changes, you need to understand what’s currently working and what’s not. An audit will give you a clear picture of your site’s performance and areas for improvement.

Use tools like Google Analytics to analyze traffic, user behaviour, bounce rates, and conversion paths.
Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg can show you where users are clicking and how far they’re scrolling before they drop off.
Tools like SEMrush. or Ahrefs can help you identify SEO issues, track keyword performance, and analyze backlinks.

Key metrics to review:

Traffic: Overall site visits, unique visitors, and traffic sources.
Engagement: Bounce rate, average session duration, and pages per session.
Conversions: Goals and e-commerce tracking to see how well your site converts visitors into customers.
SEO Performance: Keyword rankings, site speed, mobile-friendliness, and technical SEO issues.

Step 2: Research and analysis

Along with your website, understanding your market and competitors is also essential. Look at industry trends and analyze competitor websites to see what they’re doing right.

Competitor analysis:

Identify your top competitors: Use tools like SimilarWeb to identify your main competitors.
Analyze their sites: Look at design, usability, content, SEO performance, and user experience. Note what you like and what you think could be improved.
User feedback: Gather feedback from your current users through surveys, user testing, or direct feedback. Tools like SurveyMonkey or Typeform can help with this.

Step 3: Choosing the right platform

Picking the right platform for your website is going to affect your functionalities, scalability and growth in the long run. Here are some key factors to consider before you decide on a platform:

Ease of use: Choose a platform that is user-friendly and fits the skill level of your team.
Customization: Ensure the platform allows for the customizations you need without excessive limitations.
SEO capabilities: Look for platforms that offer strong SEO features and tools.
Scalability: Consider whether the platform can grow with your business and handle increased traffic and functionality over time.
Support and community: Platforms with strong support and active user communities can be invaluable.

Why we recommend Webflow:

‍Webflow combines ease of use with powerful customization options, making it a top choice for businesses looking to revamp their websites. It offers pixel-perfect development capabilities, robust SEO tools, and scalability. Webflow allows designers and developers to create responsive, high-quality websites without extensive coding, speeding up the design process and reducing development costs. We’ve answered the question ‘Why Webflow’ in-depth here.

Step 4: Setting a budget and timeline

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Now that you understand the problem and have decided on a tool, the next step is setting a clear budget and timeline to keep your project on track and ensure you don’t overspend. Here’s how to do it:

Budgeting:

Determine scope: Decide which parts of the website will be revamped. Is it a full redesign or just specific sections?
Get quotes: If you’re hiring a web development agency, get detailed quotes from several providers. This will help you get a better estimate for your project.
Allocate funds: When talking to an agency, communicate your budget with them and discuss how it can be allocated to maximise the value you gain from it.

Here’s what your sample budget would look like -

Task	Estimated Cost	Notes
Design:	$XXXX	Wireframes, mockups
Development:	$XXXX	Coding, CMS integration
Content Creation:	$XXXX	Copywriting, media production
SEO and Marketing:	$XXXX	Keyword research, SEO setup
Testing and Launch:	$XXXX	User testing, bug fixes

Setting a Timeline:

Define milestones: Break the project into phases like planning, design, development, and testing.
Set deadlines: Assign deadlines to each phase to ensure timely completion.
Regular check-ins: Schedule regular progress meetings to keep everything on track.

Pro tip: If you hire an agency, collaborate with them to decide these timelines and deadlines to ensure tasks aren’t rushed.

By this point, you will have a more concrete plan for achieving your goals, scope, budget, and timeline. The final step of the revamp process now is executing your plan. Whether you’ve decided to go ahead with an agency on an in-house team, we have some tips for you to make sure your execution goes as planned.

Executing the revamp (in-house)

If you are executing the revamp with an in-house team, you’ll need to make sure you manage your team and project effectively. Here’s how you can do that -

Project management and workflow

Setting up a project management tool

Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira to manage tasks, timelines, and collaboration efficiently. These tools help in tracking progress, assigning tasks, and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Establishing a clear workflow and roles

Define clear roles and responsibilities within your team. Ensure each member knows their tasks and deadlines. A well-structured workflow can prevent bottlenecks and enhance productivity.

Quality assurance

Implementing a robust QA process

Establish a QA process to catch issues early. Regularly review the progress and test functionalities to ensure everything is up to the mark.

Regular testing cycles

Schedule frequent testing cycles throughout the development process. Test for functionality, usability, and performance. This iterative testing will help in identifying and fixing issues promptly.

Post-launch plan

Monitoring performance

After launching the revamped website, monitor its performance using tools like Google Analytics. Keep an eye on key metrics such as load times, traffic, and user engagement to ensure the site is performing well.
Review your progress periodically to see if you are getting closer to the goal you set for yourself.

Handling bug fixes and updates

Have a plan in place for addressing any bugs or issues that arise post-launch. Regularly update the site to improve performance and security.

By focusing on these key areas, your in-house team can effectively manage the website revamp, while ensuring that your new website helps you achieve the goals you’ve set.

Executing the revamp (agency)

If you’ve decided to hire an agency for your revamp, the next step is to find and hire the right agency to execute your revamp. Once you’ve done that, most of your heavy lifting part will be done.

Here’s what to look for in your ideal agency -

Proven track record: Look for an agency with a strong history in web development, especially with the platform you prefer, like Webflow. Check their portfolio to see examples of their work and ensure they have experience with projects similar to yours.
Feedback and reliability: Client feedback can provide valuable insights into an agency's reliability and quality of work. Look for reviews on their website, Google, or platforms like Clutch.
Effective communication: Good communication is key to a successful project. Choose an agency that listens to your needs, provides clear timelines, and keeps you updated throughout the process.
Full range of services: An agency that offers a full range of services, including design, development, SEO, and ongoing support, can handle all aspects of your project, ensuring a cohesive, faster and more reliable approach.
Understanding your brand: It’s important to work with a team that understands your brand and shares your values. This cultural fit can lead to a more collaborative and productive relationship.

For a more detailed process, check out our step-by-step guide on choosing the right Webflow development agency.

Working with your chosen agency

Setting expectations and communication practices

Initial meetings: Start with detailed meetings to discuss your goals, expectations, and any specific requirements. Ensure that the agency fully understands your vision.
Regular updates: Establish a schedule for regular updates and check-ins. This keeps you informed about progress and any potential issues.
Feedback loops: Create clear channels for giving and receiving feedback. This helps address any concerns promptly and keeps the project on track.

Collaboration during design and development

Involvement in key decisions: Stay involved in major design and development decisions. Your input is crucial to ensure the final product aligns with your vision.
Review milestones: Agree on key milestones where you can review progress and provide feedback. This might include wireframes, design mockups, and early development builds.

Post-launch support

Ongoing maintenance: Discuss and agree on the level of post-launch support the agency will provide. This can include regular updates, performance monitoring, and bug fixes.
Training and documentation: Ensure the agency provides training and documentation for your team to manage the website post-launch. This is essential for smooth operation and maintenance.

By focusing on these areas, you can ensure a successful collaboration with your chosen agency, and get a website that meets your business goals.

To wrap it up

Revamping your website is a big step towards improving your online presence and achieving your business goals. Whether you decide to handle it in-house or hire an agency, proper planning and execution is the only way you can make your revamp worth it.

Remember to set clear goals, choose the right platform, and maintain open communication throughout the process. A well-executed revamp can improve user experience, boost traffic, and increase conversions. And no, it doesn’t have to break your bank.

If you’re ready to start your revamp process or need more information, get in touch with Saddle here.