Website Redesign Checklist: Insights From a Real-World Example

Before we dive into this article, let me ask you a simple question:

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Would you still use an iPhone 6 in 2024, knowing it can't be updated beyond iOS 12.5.7, while the latest version is iOS 17?

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I doubt it. 

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So why would you expect your current site, that was probably designed five years ago, to still resonate with your target audience?

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A volatile market and ever-evolving user preferences have made website redesign extremely important. And it isn’t a simple one-time gig.

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Your team and you need to get your hands dirty every two to six years to keep up with the trends. 

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This blog discusses a specific website redesign process of myMetaSoftware by team Amply. Through it, we’ll guide you on the exact website redesign checklist for a conversion-oriented website.

Brief Overview of myMetaSoftware.com

myMeta Software is a tool that helps businesses get used to and effectively use new software systems. Think of it like a coach for your company's software, guiding employees on using complex programs such as SAP, Workday, Oracle, Salesforce, and Microsoft.

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Here’s how myMeta Software helps:

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• Onboarding: Simplifies training for new employees, so they can start working productively sooner.
• Training: Provides ongoing guidance for all employees, whether they work remotely, in-office, or both, making it easy to learn new features.
• Support: Offers clear instructions within the software, reducing the need for constant IT help.
• Productivity: Makes software easier to use, so employees spend less time struggling and more time being productive.

Identifying Issues with the Existing Website

myMetaSoftware’s WordPress website was facing several issues before its website redesign. Let’s visit each issue one by one. 

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  (myMetaSoftware website before redesign)

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Technical inefficiencies

Technical inefficiencies in web design and development can significantly impact a website's performance. Below are the issues myMetaSoftware website faced. 

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• WordPress limitation: WordPress, though popular, restricts advanced customization, limiting the website's potential.
• Maintenance and scalability challenges: As the existing site grew, maintaining and scaling it became increasingly difficult due to external plugins. This led to performance issues and higher upkeep costs.
• Bloat and security issues from unreliable plugins: Over-reliance on plugins, especially those which were poorly coded or outdated, slowed down the website and welcomed security vulnerabilities. 
• Slow loading speeds: Again, too many plugins and code bloat slowed down the website. This frustrated users and increased bounce rates, negatively affected their ranking on search engines.
• Risk of accidental website deletion: The lack of robust backup and recovery solutions led to accidental deletion of the existing site. This gave way to significant downtime and data loss, disrupting business operations.

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These inefficiencies highlighted the need for a more robust, scalable, and secure solution. This meant that they needed a website redesign.

Web design issues

Web design issues can severely impact user experience and overall site effectiveness. Here are the specific challenges faced by the myMetaSoftware website:

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• Unclear value proposition: The website struggled to clearly communicate what myMeta Software offers, making it hard for visitors to quickly understand the benefits and features of the product.

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As you can see, the hero banner on their existing site before the redesign, ‘Simplify Digital Transformation’, doesn’t really tell much about their product. No wonder the users found it confusing!

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• Overuse of generic stock images: The site relied heavily on generic stock images, making it look unoriginal and less engaging. This lack of unique, relevant visuals failed to capture the attention of potential customers and affected their search engine optimization ranking. 

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• Convoluted navigation and hidden pages: The website's navigation was complex and unintuitive, making it difficult for users to find important information. The web page for different sections was buried deep within the site, frustrating visitors and leading to a poor user experience, and reducing organic traffic.

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• User assumptions and resulting confusion: The site’s existing content was designed with assumptions about user knowledge and behavior, leading to confusion. There was no content strategy. Important features and instructions were either unclear or missing, causing users to struggle with understanding and using the site effectively.

Amply’s Redesign Process 

With all these issues piling up, myMetaSoftware knew something had to change. That’s when they called in Amply, ready to bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions. 

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Let’s take a closer look at Amply’s website redesign checklist and how they approach the site redesign project and transform the website.

Understanding the brand story

Amply didn’t just jump into the redesign project; they immersed themselves in myMetaSoftware's journey. 

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myMetaSoftware started in Italy as a hub for innovative Digital Transformation solutions and quickly grew into a global leader with offices on five continents. With over three decades of experience in Digital Innovation and UX design, myMetaSoftware developed a Digital Adoption Platform to enhance user experiences and ensure the ROI of technology investments. 

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Amply’s web development team made sure to grasp this rich history and mission, allowing them to create a new site that truly reflected myMetaSoftware's commitment to empowering business leaders in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Identifying customer pain points

myMeta’s Digital Adoption Platform is designed to make technology intuitive and beneficial, but the old website wasn’t conveying that message effectively. 

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Amply believes in a user-first approach. When you think of users first it positively affects your rankings on search engines. 

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Analyzing the issues before the website redesign, they revealed specific challenges users faced like slow loading speed and confusing navigation. They used these insights to guide the website redesign project. This empathetic approach ensured that the new site would meet users' needs and boost their website experience.

Conducting in-depth research

Amply knew that a successful website redesign couldn’t rely on assumptions like the old WordPress website of myMetaSoftware. They wanted to build a website that could convey the company’s value proposition clearly and be easily navigable for visitors to find what they're looking for. 

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Through these steps, Amply didn't just redesign a website; they transformed it into a powerful tool that better served myMetaSoftware and its customers.

Key Redesign Actions for myMeta Software

Here’s how Amply worked out their website redesign process.

Migration to Webflow

Amply knew that Webflow was a more promising platform than WordPress for myMeta’s marketing team. It would help them better manage and maintain their website, requiring less technical support. 

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Amply’s designers and developers collaborated closely to plan the transition from the previous WordPress to Webflow development. This handoff covered all aspects, from interactions to collection templates, ensuring myMeta didn’t lose precious data or their brand identity in the process.

Improving site navigation

Amply worked closely with myMeta Software to create a user-friendly site map and implement an effective navigation system. 

This involved simplifying menus, making key pages more accessible, and ensuring all content was moved to the correct collections and templates during the migration from WordPress to Webflow. 

These changes improved navigation, making it easier for users to find information quickly and move through the site effortlessly.

Establishing coherent page flows

The Amply team ensured a logical flow from one page to another by carefully planning the layout and site structure.  

This process involved a detailed handoff from designers to developers, covering all aspects from interactions to collection templates. Thus, myMeta Software's website became more intuitive, with improved page layout and structure.

Crafting content that resonates with the audience

Engaging and relevant content captures visitors' attention, keeps them on your site, and clearly conveys your value proposition. That's exactly what we did as you can see below: 

Amply’s content team gave myMeta Software’s website a new voice by creating content that resonated with their audience. 

They provided clearer explanations of services that would help them gain more leads and conversions. 

Integrating custom graphics

Amply integrated unique, high-quality graphics that align with myMeta Software's brand message and aesthetic. 

These custom graphics improved user engagement by making the site visually appealing and helping to illustrate complex concepts more clearly.  

Quality assurance and launch

Before launching, myMeta Software's website underwent a rigorous quality assurance process conducted by Amply to ensure it performs well and provides an excellent user experience. This involved thorough testing to identify and resolve any issues, ensuring a smooth and successful launch.

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By addressing these key areas, Amply ensured that myMeta Software's transition from WordPress to Webflow resulted in a more efficient, user-friendly, and visually appealing website.

Measuring the ReDesign Results

After the launch of myMeta Software’s new redesigned website, the results were nothing short of impressive. 

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In just four months, the site experienced a 10x increase in on-site conversions. 

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Here’s how it was achieved:

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1. Improved loading speed: The tenfold increase in conversions within four months was no accident. Using clean, semantic code in the Webflow builds ensured the site was fast and efficient, leading to improved loading speeds. A faster site resulted in happier visitors and fewer bounces, directly impacting conversion rates.

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2. Improved user experience: Beyond conversions, other metrics showed significant improvement. Bounce rates dropped as users found the site more intuitive and engaging. 

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Time spent on the site increased, as did the number of pages viewed per session. These metrics indicated a better user experience and a more engaging website.

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3. Aligning with audience needs: One of the biggest changes was the new, user-friendly interface. Simplified navigation and a clear site map make it easy for visitors to find what they need, reducing confusion and frustration. 

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This led to higher engagement rates, as users can now effortlessly explore the site, naturally leading to more conversions.

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4. Accurate brand portrayal: The new design was both functional and effectively told myMeta Software’s story. The site now speaks directly to the needs and interests of its audience, fostering a stronger connection with visitors. This keeps visitors on the site longer and increases their likelihood of converting.

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Pro tip: Google Analytics and similar tools can help you understand how people use your website and how well it's performing. Start by reviewing and noting down your current metrics. This will give you a clear picture of where you are now and help you set practical and specific goals for your redesign.

Website Redesign Checklist for Your Website Redesign

Based on Amply’s strategic website redesign example, here’s a website redesign checklist for you:

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• Understand your brand and audience

• Identify and address technical inefficiencies

• Create a user-friendly site map and navigation

• Develop coherent page flows

• Focus on compelling content and custom graphics

• Regularly measure and analyze performance metrics

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Why Do You Need Professional Assistance for Website Redesign?

From what we have gathered from this redesign by Amply, it is really important to get the help of a professional web development and design agency for website redesign. 

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Like myMetaSoftware, your website too might be facing issues that only a professional can pinpoint. They were able to 10x their conversions, imagine the missed opportunity all these years (it was found in 2019!)

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Moreover, if your redesign includes a migration from one platform to another, there’s a risk of you losing the site (myMetaSoftware did face this, remember?). Consequently, you might have to start from scratch, wasting time and effort. 

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A professional agency like Amply knows exactly what they’re doing when they say they can help you build (or rebuild) a CRO-focused website that drives conversion.

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Trust them.

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They’ve got your back.