Do you need to get a new business website, or just make some improvements to the web design you already have? The answer isn’t always obvious. It’s often easier (and more profitable) to work with a blank slate and get all the features you want at once. But, renovating your web presence is faster and less expensive, and lets you keep the creative elements that are working for it.
For all of those reasons there isn’t necessarily a clear-cut choice between the two options. Instead, it comes down to weighing the pros and cons of each approach. As you do, here are a few things you should consider…
Why Does Your Website Need to Be Changed?
Are you looking to simply freshen up your web design, or are there important upgrades your company needs? Often, just thinking about things in these terms can help you make the right decision.
If you are looking to make small or cosmetic alterations to your website, then a renovation might be the better (and more cost-effective) choice. But if bigger wholesale improvements are called for, then it might be easier to start over than it would be to work new code and plugins into a site that wasn’t built for them.
What Are You Hoping to Accomplish?
This is perhaps another way of asking the same question, but it gets to your short-term goals. Are you looking to make a stronger impression on customers, grow revenue through ecommerce, or meet some other target?
Once again, getting clear about these aims can help you figure out whether it’s a matter of small upgrades or a bigger redesign. For instance, it may be that you simply need to change the text and images on your site. Or, you might have to replace it completely for better mobile compatibility.
What Kinds of Resources Can You Commit to the Project?
It’s important to talk about needs and goals, but we all know that time and money are major considerations, as well. What sorts of limits or constraints do you have when it comes to your web design project?
It could be that you have big plans for the future but want to devote your budget and attention to other priorities at the moment. If so, then renovating your existing website might be the best option. Alternatively, you might be tired of making small improvements and feel like you’re ready to make a bigger investment that’s going to position you well for the future. In that case rebuilding is a stronger option.
Will You Be Facing the Same Decision Again Soon?
What will the next few years look like for your business? How will that affect your website strategy?
As an example, suppose you were looking to sell your business or change your product and service line. Either of those events might call for a new website in the near future, so it could be smarter to simply clean up some loose ends today. Or, you might be leaning heavily into SEO and online lead generation. If that were the case then rebuilding your website from the ground up could help you speed up that process.
Let Us Help You Create a Common-Sense Web Strategy
There is a lot to consider when you’re thinking about making changes to your company’s website, and not all of the considerations are obvious. However, our team of web design, online marketing, and business growth experts can help you reach the right conclusions. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation so we can put our experience to work for you!