Redesign for 2014?

Now that the New Year has finally arrived, many online companies are wondering whether or not to do a website redesign. Design teams from a New Jersey Web Design firm suggests that, although it is not really necessary, it can be a crucial turning point for anyone looking for that big break. After all, there's no better way to celebrate a new year than with a new look.

Yay or Nay?

Just because it's a suggested move doesn't mean one should immediately jump on the bandwagon. Getting a redesign – no matter how cool – poses a risk to existing loyal customers and partners. When retail giant Target redesigned their main site target.com last year, it garnered howls of protests instead of praises. It just goes to show that not every change is deemed acceptable by the public.

When to Redesign

There are a couple of good reasons for a company to decide on a redesign. Contrary to what numerous blogs and experts say, it can be rather easy as well as fun.

Say 'yes' when...

• user experience needs to be seriously improved
• SEO tactics need to incorporated
• site content must be updated
• there's an addition of a mobile counterpart
• creating a more aesthetically-pleasing design in general
• re-branding
• improving navigation and overall display quality

Almost There

Giving the company website a makeover can be uncomplicated by keeping in mind three simple things:

• hire help
• no need for budget blow-outs
• obvious metric improvements

Nowadays, there are plenty of options when it comes to third party web design solutions. Private web design firms with specialized teams can even offer digital marketing as well as tailored SEO, depending on the client's needs. For those with tighter budgets but want to see a change of scenery for their online profiles, freelance web designers and developers provide similar services (albeit with different standards of quality).

Companies can even opt to do it on their own. About 40% of businesses admitted to taking more or less three months to finish their website redesigns. This proves that it's not that hard to accomplish – even with limited assets. There are free online resources for beautiful web templates and other web elements like typography, images, and source codes. By spending a bit of time and not losing patience, a web redesign is certainly achievable.

How About Going Mobile?

It's undeniable that there is a buzz about responsive design. Indeed, it can be an advantage since there are millions of mobile users worldwide. However, it's not a requirement. According to Google research, 90% of users switch from one platform to another when finishing a task. That means they might do a basic search on their smartphones; but log in to their PC's for a purchase when they get home.

Website redesign for the year 2014 would be an adventure for those willing to sink their teeth into it. With today's helpful technology and easy access to instant communication, finding ways to enhance features is sometimes just a click away.