Redesigning Your Website

REDESIGNING YOUR WEBSITE Keys to a Successful Overhaul Michael Reynolds, SpinWeb

SPINWEB • Professional website design and development ﬁrm • Founded in 1996 • Workswith businesses and nonproﬁts • Services: website design and development, SEO, online Web: www.spinweb.net marketing coaching Twitter: @spinweb

MICHAEL REYNOLDS • President/CEO of SpinWeb • Serveson AMTA-Indiana state board • Speakerfor Web 2.0 Expo (New York), CMS Expo (Chicago) • Plays tennis, loves sushi Web: www.michaelreynolds.com Twitter: @michaelreynolds

OUTLINE • Redesign vs Realign • Know your constituents • Say no to the RFP • Choosing a web ﬁrm and CMS • Avoid “design by committee” • Create a content plan • Launch early, reﬁne later

Redesign vs Realign

“Too often, look and feel, color scheme, layout, and identity are presented as solutions to problems discussed in these conversations long before regard is given to other less-aesthetic issues that may very well be the root of the problem.” - Cameron Moll “Good Designers Redesign, Great Designers Realign”, A List Apart, October 24, 2005

Redesign • “It’s been 2 years since our last redesign.” • “Our current stuff just looks old.” • “A redesign would bring new trafﬁc to the site.”

Realign • “Market trends have shifted. Should our website be adjusted accordingly?” • “Our users’ needs have changed. Do we need to adapt?” • “We’ve added 3 new sections and a slew of new content to the site over the last 12 months. Are we presenting content as effectively as we can?” • “Our current website does little to convey the strength of our product offering. Does our online presence enhance or devalue our overall brand perception?”

KNOW WHEN TO REDESIGN • Design trends have changed • Your website truly is really ugly • Your website is made in Flash • You re-brand the organization

KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS • Who are they? • What do they want? • What do you want them to do? • Be sure to serve your constituents, not just your internal audience

SAY NO TO THE RFP • RFPs distance you from creative input • RFPs can deter serious ﬁrms • RFPs are annoying to write • RFPs are annoying to read • RFPs are a brick wall • RFPslead to fake numbers and encourage lying

SAY YES TO INTERVIEWS • Get recommendations • Talk to potential ﬁrms • Share your basic objectives • Be open to new ideas • Don’t ask for a price too early • Be willing to pay for planning

Choosing a Web Firm • Clear planning process • Proven, explainable design/deployment process • Content Management System • Experience in your industry or similar type • Willingness to say no to certain requests • Realistic promises • Realistically high fees

Avoid “Design by Committee”

Deﬁnitely built by committee. Where do I start?

• Choose one person as your project lead/liason • Solicit feedback, but ﬁlter accordingly • Make sure decision-makers are in meetings with web ﬁrm

CREATE A CONTENT PLAN (This includes both text and photography)

CONTENT MATTERS Get it done by a good writer or hire a professional

Professional photography can make or break a design

Launch Early, Reﬁne Later

MICHAEL REYNOLDS www.spinweb.net • 317.324.1100 michael@spinweb.net

Redesigning Your Website

by Michael Reynolds on Apr 27, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 9

Statistics

Redesigning Your Website — Presentation Transcript