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Before you start a web site re-design...

Written by: Ezra Silverton

Article Overview: When a company decides to re-design their web site, the effort commonly begins with the sourcing of the right web design company. The typical scenario involves someone who's assigned to the task contacting a slew of web design and development companies from the first page of their Google search and asking for a quote. If this is what you're currently doing or about to do you're heading in the wrong direction.

Before you start a web site re-design...

When a company decides to re-design their web site, the effort commonly begins with the sourcing of the right web design company. The typical scenario involves someone who's assigned to the task contacting a slew of web design and development companies from the first page of their Google search and asking for a quote. If this is what you're currently doing or about to do you're heading in the wrong direction.

To ensure that your re-design is a success, we've laid out the steps you should take, which incidentally is likely to get you praise from the boss for your incisive approach.

It's up to you to provide a web design company with the critical information that defines your company. Don't just tell them that you want a re-design and wait for a new creative. If you want to save time and money, before you commit to a web site re-design project, try to gather the following information.

1. What are you business goals and objectives? What are your web site goals and objectives? They should align with each other. Have they changed since your last web design? Does your current web site fulfill these goals? If not, why?

2. Who is your target market? Has this changed?

3. What are your competitive advantages? Has this changed? Does your current web site highlight them? If not, why?

4. Has your brand changed or do you want it to change?

5. What feedback are you getting from your existing web site? What is currently working and what isn't?

6. What are your top competitors up too? Are they doing anything that you would consider?

Based on these answers, it will be easier to determine which changes to your web site will lead to the right results? The web design company you’ve partnered with will be in a much better position to suggestion solutions you may not have considered. Although you may be bored with your existing web site, you may find that a complete web site re-design is not necessary.

Taking the time to organize your information will lead the way to a much more strategic decision making process. Remember that a web site is often an overall first impression, it is more then just an online business card. Take it seriously. The right web site can improve your company's efficiency, increase profitability and provide you with a leading advantage over your competitors.

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Article Tags: boss, business goals and objectives, competitive advantages, goals and objectives, google, google search, slew, suggestion, taking the time, target market, time and money, typical scenario, web design company, wrong direction



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