Considering a redesign to spark activity?

Cedric

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1723795762752.pngSo, your website is up and running, you've built a solid community, and your users are generally satisfied. But now, you're thinking it might be time for a redesign. This seems like a natural step forward, right? Well... maybe.

Time and again, I've seen websites launch a new design that turns out to be a disaster. Often, the site owner is convinced that the new look is amazing, even if the users strongly disagree. After all, you’ve likely spent countless hours, days, or even months working on the redesign – and when your visitors don’t appreciate the new look, it can be frustrating.

First and foremost, always remember – your visitors are the cornerstone of your success. If they’re unhappy, they’ll move on to other sites. It’s natural for there to be some initial resistance if a site undergoes a significant redesign – users often need time to adjust. However, if dissatisfaction lingers for weeks and complaints persist, it's a clear sign that something needs to change.

Ideally, you want to avoid reaching that point. It’s crucial to carefully plan and reconsider a redesign multiple times before you start implementing it. Ask yourself these key questions:

Why are you redesigning the site? How will the redesign enhance the user experience?

A redesign should be focused on the users, not on boosting your own ego. Sure, your site might not be the most visually stunning, but if users love it and traffic continues to grow, maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Additionally, consider how a redesign might impact your current search engine rankings. You might be doing well now, but how will those rankings hold up after the redesign?

If you’re managing a community website, it could be beneficial to involve your users in the redesign process. For example, you could share mock-ups and invite feedback. This not only makes your members feel more connected to the community, but also provides valuable insights from a user perspective.

In conclusion, redesigns can certainly be positive – if they’re done for the right reasons and in the right way. Your site’s design reflects your online brand, so make changes only after careful thought and planning. Always keep in mind – your site should serve your users, not your ego. It’s pointless to have a website that looks fantastic but is a nightmare for your users to navigate.

So, go ahead and pursue that redesign, but ensure you're doing it for the right reasons, try something unique and make sure you do it right! 😉
 
I've been on both sides where a redesign was well-received and got poor reviews for another one.

The first time around it was needed and the community agreed that it was time for changes. Second time around was to introduce new features, but it didn't go well so we rolled it back.
 
A good rule of thumb is, if you're wanting to redesign your website is to share previews with your members before you decide to pick a new theme and layout. You want to make sure your members will like these changes, and that it's still easy for them to navigate your site after all.
 
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