As design standards change, so too should your website...

Website Redesign

Websites, unlike printed newspapers or magazines, are living dynamic creatures. Users may not expect cutting edge technology but they do expect something close to the industry standard when they visit your website.

Websites which looked great 5 or 10 years ago, today resemble something trapped in an internet time warp. Aside from looking a bit dated, they frequently send a powerful and unintended message to consumers that the company behind the site ‘just isn’t with it.’

A Kingston Creative we call this age factor the "National Geographic Effect", named after our attic filled with years of National Geographic magazines. If you’ve ever thumbed through a stack of old magazines you know what we are talking about. Each issue, in its day, was designed and published to the highest standards. But as time passed the standards changed and the wow factor faded. Often to the point where magazines even a few years old look and feel like antique artifacts.

Effective and working websites need continuous updating and improvement. Site upgrades and redesigns do not have to be expensive or time consuming – but they do need to be well thought out.

The first and foremost question to ask is, “does my website capture the attention of my visitors and deliver the message that I want to deliver?” If the answer is yes to both questions, than chances are your site is not a candidate for redesign. However, if the answer to either question is no or ‘I don’t know’ – then you should consider a site tune-up or redesign. If your site isn’t engaging your visitors and providing your customers with new information, they are a mouse click away from a competitor’s site.

Website Assessment:

Your website, like our website, is judged against the competition. How does your site measure up? One quick and effective way to get a reading of where you are in the pack is to take a long hard look hard at a dozen or more competing websites. Think like a customer and not a competitor. What do they have that your site does not have? Is critical information about products and services easier or harder to find? Is the primary value of the site quickly apparent in 5 seconds or less?