10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Designing A Website

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Posted on 04/05/2023 at 08:30 AM

Does your business need a new website? Building a website is a big investment of time, money, and resources, which is why it's important to ask yourself several questions before diving in.

Whether you're creating a new website from scratch or redesigning an existing one, answering these 10 questions will help you make informed decisions about how to create the best new website for your business.

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1. How do I know if my website needs to be redesigned?

2. 10 questions to ask before building a website

3. Key takeaway

4. Related articles

Signs You Need A New Website

How often should a website be redesigned? According to research, the average lifespan of a website is 2 years and 7 months. However, this is more of a guide than a rule, as a website's lifespan can vary from site to site.

How do you know if a website needs to be redesigned? Some common signs that your website needs to be redesigned include:

Your website looks old and outdated
Your website is slow
Your website is not mobile-friendly
Your website is not WCAG-compliant
Your website is difficult to edit/manage/navigate
Your website analytics are bad
- High bounce rate, low engagement metrics, etc.

Free WCAG Compliance Scan Free Website Health Audit

10 Questions To Ask Yourself When Creating A Website

1. What’s working on your current website? What don’t you like about your current website?

The first step in building a new website is to evaluate your current one. This will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your website and determine what you want to keep or change. Consider the following questions when evaluating your current website:

What pages on your website are getting the most traffic?
What pages have a high bounce rate (i.e., visitors leave quickly)?
Is your website mobile-responsive?
Is your website easy to navigate?
What design and functionality aspects do you like the most on your site?
What design and functionality aspects do you dislike on your site or do you feel are missing from the site?

2. What are your goals for your new website?

Before you start building your website, you need to have a clear understanding of your business objectives and what you want your website to achieve. Are you looking to generate leads, increase sales, build brand awareness, be an informational resource, or all of the above? Once you have identified your goals, you can tailor your website design and content to achieve them.

3. What do you want visitors to do on your website?

When visitors land on your website, what actions do you want them to take? Do you want them to fill out a contact form, purchase a product, or sign up for a newsletter? Understanding what actions you want visitors to take on your website will help you design your website with a clear call-to-action (CTA) and guide them toward taking that action.

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Identifying the action you want a website visitor to take is also necessary to know what additional web development work will be required and/or what third-party integrations may be needed.

4. What do you want your website to look like?

Your website's design is one of the most important factors in its success. It's important to choose a design that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and consistent with your brand's image. Consider factors such as color schemes, typography, and layout when designing your website. Choose one overarching web design style for the entire site to keep your design consistent and prevent clashing styles.

5. What's your timeframe and budget?

Building a website takes time and money, so it's important to set realistic expectations and budget accordingly. Determine how much time and money you are willing to invest in your website and set a realistic timeline for completion. While you certainly don’t want to spend more than you can afford, it’s important not to look for the cheapest website option. Investing in a fast, secure, and reliable website will pay for itself in no time.

6. What do your competitors' websites have in common?

Researching your competitors' websites can give you valuable insights into what works in your industry and what doesn't. Look for common themes and design elements that are present across your competitors' websites. This will help you identify what your audience expects from your website and also what you can do to differentiate yourself.

7. Where are you going to host your website?

Choosing the right website hosting provider is crucial to the success of your website. Your hosting provider will affect your website's speed, security, and uptime, so it's important to choose a reputable provider that can meet your needs. Consider factors such as bandwidth, storage, and server location when choosing a hosting provider.

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8. Who will provide IT support for your new website?

Once your website is up and running, you'll need ongoing IT support to ensure that it remains secure and functional. In addition to performing routine website maintenance, such as website updates and security updates, it’s also important to have IT support services to help in case you experience any issues with your website.

9. How are you going to measure the success of your new site?

Measuring the success of your website is important to ensure that it's meeting your business objectives. Determine what metrics you will use to measure your website's success, such as traffic, conversion rates, or engagement metrics. This will help you identify what's working and what's not and make data-driven decisions to improve your website's performance. Making sure you have a Google Analytics 4 (GA4) account hooked up to your website is a key step before making any website live.

10. How are you going to promote your new website?

Once your website is live, it's important to promote it to your target audience to drive traffic and generate leads. Determine how you will promote your website, whether it's through social media, email marketing, SEO, or paid advertising. Develop a digital marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals and budget to ensure that your website gets the visibility it deserves.

Key Takeaway: Asking The Right Questions Helps Set Your New Website Up For Success

Building a new website or revamping your current website requires careful planning and consideration of a variety of factors. By asking yourself these 10 questions before starting your website project, you can ensure that your website meets your business objectives, resonates with your target audience, and drives measurable results.

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