10 Tips From A Designer For Efficient Website Redesign

So, you’re ready to redesign your website, but you aren’t sure how to get the process rolling?

This is an exciting time, and surely you are eager to get working with your web design team to get the project started. With that in mind, we asked our designers here at Foremost Media for a list of 10 things that can prevent hangups and help have your new site rolling out as fast as possible.

We know not every client can provide all of these things for their project. After all, that is why you hired a web designer in the first place. But cross even just a few of the items off this list, and your redesign will be off and running.

1. Vector or layered logo files - So many clients do not have proper logo files or do not provide them. Why is it important? They will be scalable for responsive websites, they look crisper, and the colors will be correct.
2. Declaration of intent - What is the intent and purpose of your redesign or project? Do you want to drive more traffic to contact you through calls to action? Do you just not like the way your website looks, or is your website still not on a responsive grid for mobile devices? This will help your designer solve the overall problem you are trying to fix with your redesign.
3. Other branding materials - Do you have advertisements, brochures, business cards, fonts, or color schemes? Provide anything that will help convey a consistent brand and look with the rest of your company. A design style guide is the cream of the crop!
4. Well-crafted content - Nobody knows your products and services better than you, so if you have ideas on how to gather your content to simplify your website, that leaves much more time for your designers to organize and come up with an effectively optimized design. The more content you can provide beforehand or basic content ideas the better. After all, content is king.
5. A general call to action - What wording do you prefer when it comes to leading users to complete conversions on your website? Do you want people to contact you, buy products, request quotes, or sign up for something? These details can greatly impact what types of elements are designed for your website.
6. High-resolution photos - If you want a custom look, you need the photography to support it. Not having good photography limits the designers options.Nothing sells you like your own personal images that are crisp, clear, and on brand—or at the very least, use high-quality stock photography.
7. Any special functions your website needs to perform - Do you need special forms? Do you want your website to have certain pop-ups or backend functionality to be laid out for your admin users? We can develop ideas and designs for almost anything.
8. Examples of design that you like - It doesn’t even have to be websites. Any design you find appealing—websites, imagery, or just a general style or image examples to help convey your new direction.
9. A solid checklist - At the beginning of your project journey, your designer should provide a list of questions to narrow down the general scope of the project. We provide a word document that does just that. That document also touches on many of the items from this list. The answers to any number, if not all, of these questions greatly improves our ability to see your vision for your website.
10. Trust in the process - We have a specific process, from research and client brainstorming sessions to the day your website launches, with a proven record of success. If you would like to view a more detailed breakdown of a redesign process check out our step-by-step workbook on redesigning a website..

Sound like a lot? Don’t stress out about it! This should be a fun and exciting time. Our website redesign RFP template can help as well.

Get in touch with us, and our Foremost design team can help you start crossing some items off this checklist.