In an ever-changing digital environment, redesigning your website is sometimes essential to stay competitive. By adapting to trends, customer and user expectations, and technological developments, you can deliver an optimal online experience on an ongoing basis. This article aims to provide you with a guide on the methods and dangers associated with this manipulation which is not without risk.
Success depends largely on the attention paid to search engine optimization. Indeed, SEO aspects are crucial to maintain and improve the visibility of your site on the web. It is essential to call upon experts like Ingenius Wordpress consultants to accompany you throughout the process and to help you make the best strategic and technical decisions.
Methods to successfully redesign your website
Analysis of the existing system and the importance of SEO
The importance of facilitating the crawl of bots
One of the first things to consider when redesigning a website is the analysis of the existing site, and in particular the architecture. A sitemap is a useful tool to understand and organize the structure of your content. It allows you to identify all the pages of your site and to facilitate navigation, both for users and for search engines.
Creating a sitemap before and after the operation will help you understand how your site has evolved and compare the two versions. This comparison allows you to spot changes in the structure and to set up the necessary redirection plan to avoid 404 errors and traffic loss in case of URL changes.
If you want to know more about this subject, we invite you to consult our complete guide on the creation of a sitemap.
PageRank evaluation to understand the popularity of the site
The PageRank is an algorithm developed by Google that allows to evaluate the popularity and authority of a page. It is mainly based on the number and quality of incoming links to it. It is therefore essential to evaluate the PageRank of your pages to understand their impact on SEO and their importance in the structure.
By analyzing the page score, you will be able to identify the pages that attract the most traffic and keep them or improve them during the redesign. It will also allow you to detect the less performing pages and to work on their optimization. To learn more, we recommend you to read our dedicated article: PageRank, its definition, its calculation and its scope.
Consideration of SEO aspects to maintain and improve visibility
The redesign of a website must imperatively take into account SEO aspects to avoid a loss of visibility and traffic. These precautions include actions on content, structure, internal and external links, etc. You will have to take care of :
- Maintain the quality and relevance of the content, adapting it to the requirements of search engines and user expectations.
- Keep existing URLs that drive traffic or set up 301 redirects for pages whose URLs have changed, so as not to lose the benefit of inbound links.
- Optimize the hierarchy and the internal linkage to facilitate navigation and improve the understanding of the site structure by search engines.
- Ensure performance and page load speed, which are key factors for ranking and user experience.
Definition of objectives for the redesign
A successful operation requires a clear definition of the objectives of your site. These elements will guide the method used.
Tailor content to user needs
Take the time to understand the expectations and needs of your target audience to propose relevant and attractive content. Analyze your site statistics, user feedback and market trends to identify the topics that interest your audience the most. Keep what works and adapt the rest accordingly, taking into account the relevant keywords already acquired so as not to lose them.
Improve usability, design and user experience
Ergonomics, design and user experience are key elements to build loyalty and convert your visitors into customers. When redesigning your website, take into account the principles of ergonomics and accessibility to offer a fluid and intuitive navigation.
- Use a clear and consistent hierarchy to organize information and make it easy to navigate.
- Optimize page load time to avoid frustration and abandonment.
- Make sure your site is responsive, meaning that it adapts to different screen sizes and media.
Possible dangers when redesigning a website
This handling remains a delicate process that presents several dangers if not done correctly. Here are some points to watch out for to avoid the most common mistakes and ensure the success of your project.
Loss of natural referencing
One of the major risks is loss of ranking. To ensure a successful mission and minimize the loss of ranking, it is crucial to preserve the continuity of the content. In other words, what was available before the redesign must be accessible and findable by Google after it. Here are the key points to take into account to ensure this continuity:
- Keep the URLs that already rank or set up 301 redirects for pages whose URL has changed, to preserve the benefit of inbound links.
- Ensure the quality and relevance of the content to maintain the interest of users and search engines.
- Maintain a coherent internal mesh and a clear structure to facilitate indexing by search engines.
Poor user experience
A successful assignment should enhance the user experience, not degrade it. To do this, make sure to:
- Test and optimize usability and navigation to provide a smooth and intuitive experience.
- Adapt the design and content to the different media (computer, tablet, mobile) to ensure an optimal experience for all users.
- Ensure the speed of loading pages, because a loading time too long can lead to abandonment and harm your natural referencing.
Technical and compatibility issues
Finally, the redesign of your site can lead to technical and compatibility problems if it is not carried out according to the rules of art. To prevent these problems :
- Check the compatibility of your site with different browsers and operating systems to avoid malfunctions and incompatibilities.
- Make sure the source code is clean, well structured and compliant with web standards to facilitate maintenance and scalability.
- Regularly test the functionality of your site (forms, links, etc.) to identify and correct any errors.
Tips and best practices for a successful redesign
Analyze and optimize SEO
Take into account what you have learned in SEO and identify areas for improvement to maintain and strengthen your search engine rankings. Consider performing a thorough analysis of keywords, internal linkage and backlinks, and then establish an action plan to optimize these elements.
Adopt a mobile-first approach
With the ever-increasing use of mobile devices, it's crucial to take a mobile-first approach to your site. Make sure the design and navigation are optimized for smartphones and tablets, and that performance remains responsive to these devices.
Establish performance indicators and regular monitoring
The analysis of the various performances will allow you to identify the points to improve and to adjust your strategy accordingly. Set up relevant KPIs and monitor regularly to measure the impact and evolution of the site.
Surround yourself with competent experts
To ensure the success of your redesign, it is essential to collaborate with experts in various fields such as design, development, SEO and project management.
Perform regular tests and adjustments
Redesigning a website is an evolving process that requires regular adjustments. Do not hesitate to perform user tests to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments based on feedback and measured performance.
Why trust Ingenius with your redesign?
As we mentioned above, the success of the redesign depends on a competent and experienced provider who understands your needs and is able to accompany you throughout the project.
Ingenius' technical expertise and skills
Ingenius has a strong expertise in website creation and redesign, as well as in SEO and branding. As anagency specialized in Wordpress, Ingenius will propose solutions adapted to your project and will accompany you throughout the process.
Communication and support by Ingenius
We place great importance on communication and support throughout the process. You will be kept informed of the project's progress, your questions will be clearly answered and advice will be offered to optimize your strategy afterwards.
If you are afraid of geographical proximity, no worries, we will meet your expectations. Whether you are looking for a Wordpress agency in Paris or a Wordpress agency in Geneva, Ingenius will be able to offer you a personalized service adapted to your needs.
Flexibility and adaptability of Ingenius
Ingenius is also distinguished by its ability to adapt to your constraints and your requirements. Whether you need a site created for a craftsman or you have a specific project for a city like the creation of sites in Paris or the creation of site in Toulouse, Ingenius is there!
In summary, the ABCs of a successful redesign
To successfully redesign a website, make sure to follow key steps and take into account important aspects such as SEO, user experience and technical aspect. In this article, we have presented the methods to succeed the operation, the dangers to avoid, as well as tips and best practices.
Finally, to ensure optimal results, it is highly recommended to surround yourself with competent experts who will accompany you throughout the redesign process or else your business will collapse. There is always a member of the Ingenius team available to explain everything during a discovery call!
