Need a new website?
Move from old to new website without a hitch.
Switching from an old website to a new one is often a big decision for many. Needs change over time, and it is important to ensure that the new website becomes an asset that supports the business. While exciting, the process can also be challenging, and it is important to get the foundations in place.
Approach it strategically and consider whether needs have changed – both your own and your customers’ needs, what customers should encounter, how the new website should be structured, what platform the website should be built in, etc. What content provides value and should be included in the move? Is there any missing content or functionality that needs to be developed and added? Good planning is essential for a smooth transition.
Read on in the next sections for tips on how to achieve a smooth transition – without losing your search engine rankings.
Focus on an engaging front page.
Your website’s homepage is the first thing your visitors see, so getting it right is crucial. Clearly present your business and the purpose of your site through short text and perhaps images or illustrations, so that visitors quickly understand the message – before they flee to a competitor with a more straightforward website. Do you have a recognisable and unique brand? Then make sure this is reflected on the homepage and welcome visitors with a beautiful design that is both in line with today’s trend towards minimalism and your company’s visual identity.
Think of the front page as a landing page that should welcome and effectively guide visitors onwards on your website. An easy-to-understand interface and user-friendly navigation is therefore essential to provide a good user experience – and thus make visitors stay a little longer. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to use familiar website standards such as underlined links, contact information at the bottom of the page in the footer, and the logo at the top in the header linking back to the front page. These things automatically create a sense of security for visitors as it makes for a more intuitive experience. If they understand your website, they will trust your business.
Repurpose with value.
The transition to a new website is a great time to go through all the old content. What content is outdated, what can be updated or reused, and where are there gaps that need to be covered with new content? Even though it is time for renewal, there may be text, images, or other content that can still create value and match your business going forward.
Make the evaluation process easier by analysing page traffic, for valuable insights into which pages currently attract the most visitors, have high conversion rates, or create high engagement, and map out which keywords your site is ranking and being found through. Do the results match your brand and what you want to be visible on? If not, the upcoming move to a new website can be the perfect opportunity to create new content on important topics and words. You can use tools such as Google Search Console and Google Analytics – or we can help you.
Identify the content that provides the most value and should be transferred to the new website. Make sure all content on the new website aligns with your brand strategy and has a purpose – it should be relevant, accurate, and valuable to your target audience.
Redirects.
Once the new website is fully in place, the last and most important step in transferring link value is redirects. These are instructions that automatically send users and search engines from one URL to another. Implement redirects from the old website’s URLs to the corresponding pages on the new website to ensure that users and search engines are directed to the correct content instead of hitting a 404 page. Good redirect management is essential to prevent broken links and maintain a good user experience.
Do you need help?
Do you need a new website? Are you unsure which approach to take to ensure you get the right solution developed? And how to maintain your earned visibility on Google? At design concern, we have extensive experience in developing websites, where design and content match the brand, and in helping clients transfer link value from old to new websites. In other words, you are in safe hands if you choose us as your business partner. We are ready to help make your new website a success.