Find out how to Redesign a WordPress Web site (Newbie’s Information)

Is your WordPress web site underperforming? Dropping visitors, low conversion charges, poor cell expertise, or gradual loading occasions are clear indicators it’s time for a redesign. However tackling a redesign may be daunting, as you would possibly fear about dropping search engine optimization rankings.

At WPBeginner, we’ve redesigned our web site a number of occasions, studying what works and what doesn’t by means of trial and error. Alongside the way in which, we’ve developed methods to make the method smoother and simpler.

On this information, we’ll stroll you thru each step of redesigning your WordPress web site, from figuring out if you really want a redesign to selecting the most effective redesign methodology.

When Ought to You Redesign Your WordPress Web site?

You may be tempted to revamp your WordPress web site merely since you’re feeling uninterested in its present look. Nevertheless, a redesign may be time-consuming, so it’s vital to think about a number of components earlier than diving in.

Primarily, it would be best to make certain that redesigning your web site is definitely a worthwhile enterprise.

As an example, in case your current WordPress web site is dropping visitors, it may be time for a redesign. A drop in visitors usually signifies that your web site not meets consumer expectations.

Additionally, first impressions matter on-line. In case your web site appears to be like old school, it might not replicate properly in your model or enterprise.

A poor consumer expertise, like guests struggling to search out vital info, is one other clear signal {that a} WordPress web site redesign is required. We as soon as addressed this in a earlier redesign by enhancing content material discoverability with useful sidebar hyperlinks and mega menus.

Pace is one other vital issue if you’re contemplating a redesign of your WordPress web site. Possibly you’ve tried every thing to optimize your web site efficiency, but it surely’s nonetheless lower than par. This could possibly be an indication that your present WordPress web site design is simply too heavy and it’s worthwhile to make it extra light-weight.

The identical goes for mobile-friendliness. Maybe you’ve tried numerous responsive design suggestions, however your web site nonetheless doesn’t work properly on cell gadgets. This could possibly be as a result of your present theme is just too outdated, and it’s worthwhile to change to a extra mobile-friendly theme.

In case your web site not precisely represents your model or choices, take into account a redesign. We lately revamped the WPBeginner homepage to higher replicate our experience and authority within the WordPress house.

Final however actually not least, in case your web site isn’t turning guests into clients or subscribers as successfully because it ought to, then a redesign might assist enhance your backside line and strengthen your on-line presence.

In the event you examine some or all of those bins, don’t fear. The subsequent part will stroll you thru our go-to WordPress web site redesign guidelines. We’ll cowl what it’s worthwhile to do earlier than, throughout, and after the design course of.

Be happy to make use of the short hyperlinks beneath to navigate by means of the steps:

1. Accumulate Web site Efficiency Information

You may be pondering, ‘I already know I’m dropping visitors and conversions, so why do I would like to gather web site efficiency knowledge earlier than I redesign WordPress?’

Properly, it’s vital to verify these points with onerous knowledge. Plus, if you redesign your WordPress web site, you’ll wish to know in case your efforts are paying off.

By gathering efficiency knowledge out of your present web site, you create benchmarks to match in opposition to after the redesign. This fashion, you may measure whether or not your new design truly interprets to higher outcomes.

To make this course of simpler, we advocate utilizing the MonsterInsights plugin for Google Analytics. We’ve used the instrument extensively to assist enhance the efficiency of our web sites. We even wrote a full MonsterInsights evaluation.

This plugin lets you join your WordPress web site with Google Analytics, supplying you with entry to very important efficiency metrics proper in your WordPress dashboard.

For a WordPress web site redesign, we propose checking and utilizing these advertising and marketing knowledge factors as benchmarks:

General visitors – The entire variety of guests to your web site. It could possibly enable you to perceive your web site’s attain and whether or not the redesign improves general visibility.

Bounce price – The proportion of holiday makers who depart after viewing just one web page. It could possibly inform you whether or not your new design higher engages customers and improves your web site pace.

Conversion price – The proportion of holiday makers who full a desired motion (like making a purchase order or signing up). You possibly can decide if the redesign improves your web site’s effectiveness in attaining its objectives.

Prime performing pages – Which pages guests view most frequently, serving to you shield fashionable content material in the course of the redesign and perceive what your viewers likes.

Prime visitors sources – The place your guests are coming from (search engines like google, social media, and so forth.), serving to you design your new web site to higher cater to those channels and keep or enhance visitors move.

Common session period – How lengthy guests sometimes keep in your web site so as to see if the redesign makes your content material extra helpful to customers.

Web page views per session – What number of pages a customer sometimes views. It could possibly point out whether or not your new design improves navigation and encourages customers to discover extra content material.

Cell vs desktop visitors break up – The proportion of holiday makers utilizing cell gadgets versus desktop computer systems. You should utilize this info to information your redesign efforts and cater to essentially the most widely-used gadgets.

You possibly can be taught extra in our article on the most vital metrics you will need to observe in your WordPress web site.

With MonsterInsights, you may as well use the ‘Conversations AI’ function to get fast solutions about your knowledge.

For instance, you can ask, ‘What was my conversion price within the final month?’ This function makes it straightforward to entry the data you want with out diving deep into complicated analytics experiences.

2. Run a WordPress Web site Audit

Earlier than you begin to redesign WordPress, it’s worthwhile to perceive the actions and components that led to the efficiency metrics you collected within the earlier step. This fashion, you can also make knowledgeable choices about what to vary and what to maintain.

To achieve these insights, it’s worthwhile to conduct a web site audit, which is a sequence of actions you do to grasp the consumer expertise in your current web site.

We advocate asking to your customers’ opinions immediately so as to perceive their wants, preferences, and ache factors straight from the supply.

The UserFeedback plugin is a wonderful instrument for this, permitting you so as to add surveys to your web site and shortly acquire customer opinions. We use the plugin on our personal web sites, and you may be taught extra in our full UserFeedback evaluation.

You possibly can try our complete information to be taught extra about gathering web site design suggestions in WordPress. We’ve additionally compiled a listing of consumer expertise suggestions questions to ask your web site guests.

Additionally, you will wish to consider your consumer journey. Guests sometimes observe predictable steps earlier than making a purchase order or submitting a type, and there could also be obstacles of their journey.

In the event you’re utilizing MonsterInsights, the Consumer Journey addon can assist observe buyer journeys on fashionable WordPress eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Straightforward Digital Downloads, and MemberPress.

As an example, in WooCommerce, you may view a consumer’s whole journey, together with all interactions, occasions, and durations.

For extra particulars, see our guides enabling buyer monitoring in WooCommerce and monitoring the client journey utilizing MemberPress.

For web sites targeted on lead era, utilizing WPForms alongside the Consumer Journey addon is a good answer. It exhibits the referral supply that introduced customers to your web site and the trail they took earlier than submitting a type.

This info helps you perceive which content material engages customers most successfully. Study extra in our full information on monitoring consumer journey on WordPress lead types.

Heatmap instruments are one other important a part of your web site improvement audit. They visually symbolize how guests navigate your pages, offering insights that uncooked knowledge alone can’t supply.

We personally advocate Microsoft Readability, which we use throughout a lot of our model web sites. It’s a free instrument that gives heatmaps, scroll monitoring, and click on monitoring.

To get began with Readability, try our information on putting in Microsoft Readability analytics in WordPress.

3. Resolve to Hold Your Web site Dwell or Put It in Upkeep Mode

Probably the most vital choices to make if you redesign WordPress is whether or not to work in your dwell web site or put it in upkeep mode. This selection can considerably affect your consumer expertise and search engine rankings in the course of the redesign course of.

Listed below are some questions you may ask your self that can assist you make the correct choice:

How intensive is your redesign? For instance, are you simply altering the homepage or redoing the entire web site?

How lengthy will the redesign take? Is it a fast replace you are able to do in just a few days, or an enormous change that wants weeks?

Can your web site be offline for some time? Take into consideration if what you are promoting can deal with being down for a while.

What number of guests does your web site get? A heavy-traffic web site will endure extra from downtime than a smaller, private weblog.

Will you alter how your web site is ready up? Are you simply updating the way it appears to be like, or are you shifting issues round and altering internet addresses?

Does your web site run vital elements of what you are promoting? As an example, do you’ve got an on-line retailer that should keep open, or is your web site primarily for info?

Typically, we advocate maintaining your web site dwell in the course of the redesign, particularly if the method will take some time and/or if what you are promoting operations will probably be considerably impacted by downtime. It’s additionally a great choice when you don’t need your web site’s search engine optimization to get impacted.

On this case, you’ll must arrange a staging web site or native improvement atmosphere. This lets you experiment together with your redesign with out affecting your dwell web site.

A staging web site is basically a duplicate of your dwell web site the place you may safely make modifications. Lately, many internet hosting suppliers supply one-click staging options, together with SiteGround (the place we host WPBeginner).

For extra info, try our information on learn how to create a staging atmosphere for WordPress.

Alternatively, you would possibly take into account an area improvement web site. This feature includes creating a duplicate of your web site in your private pc, providing much more privateness and quicker improvement occasions.

We advocate utilizing the Native WP instrument for this function, which a lot of our workforce members use to check new options. You possibly can be taught extra about this in our article on learn how to set up WordPress domestically on Home windows and Mac.

In case your redesign is comparatively fast and received’t disrupt important enterprise features, placing your web site in upkeep mode for a brief interval may be acceptable. That being stated, you ought to be conscious of the dangers.

Placing your web site in upkeep mode can affect your search engine optimization and should require you to arrange some redirects. This isn’t an enormous downside for small, private web sites, however it may be tough for larger websites with a number of guests.

Our most popular methodology is to make use of the SeedProd web page builder. Apart from turning on upkeep mode to your WordPress web site, it helps you to make a nice-looking web page to inform guests about your upcoming modifications and even generate leads by making a waitlist touchdown web page.

What’s extra, it could actually inform search engines like google your web site is simply quickly down by sending a particular sign referred to as the 503 standing, which is what Google suggests doing.

In case you are on this choice, you might wish to try our full SeedProd evaluation.

4. Select a WordPress Redesign Methodology

Relating to redesigning your WordPress web site, you’ve got 3 foremost choices: customizing your current theme, selecting a brand new theme and customizing it, or hiring an expert WordPress design service.

Let’s discover every methodology’s execs and cons that can assist you resolve which is finest to your redesign course of.

Choice 1: Customise Present Theme

Greatest for: Web site homeowners who’re typically pleased with their present design however wish to refresh its look or add new options.

Professionals of customizing your current WordPress theme:

Conversant in the present setup

Doubtlessly faster, simpler, and extra inexpensive

Maintains consistency for normal guests

Cons of customizing your current WordPress theme:

 Restricted by current theme construction

If you wish to stick together with your present theme however wish to get extra customization choices, then we advocate utilizing plugins like CSS Hero and WPCode.

CSS Hero is a visible CSS editor plugin that allows you to customise your WordPress theme’s CSS visually. Meaning you don’t want to the touch any code to switch the theme, however any modifications you make will have an effect on its CSS.

You possibly can be taught extra in regards to the plugin in our CSS Hero evaluation.

However, WPCode is a code snippet plugin that allows you to add customized code snippets to your theme with out coping with the theme information immediately. Every time there’s an error within the code, the plugin will disable it, and your theme received’t get affected.

The perfect half is it could actually protect your code modifications even when your theme will get an replace, so that you received’t lose your customizations.

You possibly can learn our WPCode evaluation for extra particulars.

In the event you want some inspiration on what you are able to do to customise your present web site, listed here are some articles you may try:

Find out how to Model Particular person Classes In a different way in WordPress

Find out how to Model Every WordPress Submit In a different way

Find out how to Add Customized Types to WordPress Widgets

Find out how to Customise Colours on Your WordPress Web site

Choice 2: Select a New Theme and Customise It

Greatest for: These on the lookout for a major design change with out the price of a completely customized answer. Or individuals who wish to benefit from new theme options.

Professionals of utilizing a brand new WordPress theme:

Recent begin with fashionable design choices

Entry to new options and layouts

Potential for improved web site efficiency

Cons of utilizing a brand new WordPress theme:

Potential studying curve with a brand new theme

Cautious setup is required to keep away from compatibility points

When deciding on a brand new theme, ensure to select one that’s quick, responsive, appropriate together with your present plugins, and usually supported. You also needs to take into consideration its worth for cash and customization choices so as to edit your WordPress web site precisely the way you need it.

In the event you’re contemplating a premium theme, you may learn our information on free vs premium WordPress themes that can assist you make your choice. Additionally, ensure to observe our information on correctly altering a WordPress theme to keep away from frequent errors.

For a extra versatile answer, we advocate SeedProd, a drag-and-drop web page builder with dozens of theme kits and templates. That is additionally what we use to design customized touchdown pages for ourselves and our manufacturers.

In reality, our buddies at OptinMonster used SeedProd to revamp their touchdown web page and elevated their conversions by 340%.

With this drag-and-drop web page builder, you’re going to get a theme and a versatile instrument to customise it, so you can also make a singular design with none technical expertise. Plus, you’ll get entry to AI instruments to generate content material and customized pictures to your pages.

You possibly can be taught extra about SeedProd in these guides:

SeedProd Assessment: Is It the Proper WordPress Web page Builder For You?

Find out how to Simply Create a Customized WordPress Theme (With out Any Code)

Find out how to Add an Animated Background in WordPress

Find out how to Add Rotating Testimonials in WordPress

Alternatively, you may browse our record of the hottest WordPress themes.

Choice 3: Rent a Customized WordPress Web site Design Service

Greatest for: Enterprise homeowners or bloggers who need a distinctive, skilled design tailor-made to their particular wants and don’t have the time or expertise to create it themselves.

Professionals of hiring an expert WordPress design service:

Distinctive, skilled WordPress theme design

WordPress theme that’s tailor-made to your particular wants

No want for private design or coding expertise

Cons of hiring an expert WordPress design service:

Increased value (learn our article on the prices of a customized WordPress theme)

Depending on the designer’s timeline

In the event you’re uninterested in cookie-cutter designs, then this is a wonderful choice for you. After all, the problem is discovering the correct WordPress designers to work with. We’ve a listing of prime WordPress companies if you would like some hand-picked suggestions.

That being stated, you might wish to try our WPBeginner Professional Providers.

For designing a customized WordPress web site, we provide:

A devoted undertaking supervisor to supervise the redesign course of

A number of WordPress web site design revisions

Coaching so that you can learn to handle your new web site

Full WooCommerce setup for on-line shops

Search engine and efficiency optimization

Rebuilding an current web site begins at $599, which is able to get you a responsive web site design of as much as 5 pages, 2 rounds of revisions, and analytics setup.

Consider it as an funding to your on-line presence that may result in improved consumer expertise, higher search engine rankings, and, in the end, elevated conversions and income for what you are promoting.

In the event you’re unsure, you may guide a free session with our workforce at the moment.

5. Again Up Your WordPress Web site

Let’s say you’re already redesigning your web site. Earlier than you make it dwell, it’s worthwhile to do one step that you shouldn’t skip: again up your present WordPress web site.

Right here’s why backing up is so vital:

Safety in opposition to errors – If one thing goes incorrect in the course of the transition, you may simply restore your web site.

Safety in opposition to backlash – If customers react negatively to the brand new design, you may shortly revert to the outdated one.

Preserving vital knowledge – It ensures you don’t lose any helpful content material or settings in the course of the redesign.

Peace of thoughts – Understanding you’ve got a backup lets you launch your web site with confidence.

We advocate utilizing a backup plugin like Duplicator for this activity. Duplicator makes it straightforward to create and handle backups immediately in your web site.

As soon as created, you may retailer the backup file in your pc. Or, for added safety, add it to cloud storage companies like Dropbox.

Restoring your web site with Duplicator can also be easy – you may merely drag and drop the backup file. The plugin additionally lets you set a restoration level, enabling you to shortly restore your web site to a previous date if wanted.

6. Launch Your Web site and Run One other Audit

At this stage, you’re able to publish your newly redesigned web site and present it to your viewers.

In the event you’re placing your web site on upkeep mode with SeedProd, then you may simply deactivate that mode so that everybody can entry your web site. You possibly can consult with our information on WordPress upkeep mode for extra particulars.

In the event you’ve been growing your web site domestically, then you may learn our information on learn how to transfer WordPress from an area server to a dwell web site.

In the meantime, when you have been utilizing a staging web site in your WordPress internet hosting, then you may merely use its deploy function to make your web site dwell. For instance, with Bluehost, you should use the Bluehost WordPress plugin to deploy all of your modifications in just a few clicks.

You possibly can be taught extra about it in our information on WordPress staging environments.

As soon as your web site is dwell, you may’t loosen up simply but. You should ensure every thing works proper.

One factor it’s worthwhile to take note of is your search engine optimization settings. In the event you resolve to restructure your internet pages, then you will want to arrange redirects and replace your inner hyperlinks to replicate any URL modifications. In any other case, search engines like google received’t be capable to crawl your web site correctly.

This course of can take a very long time, so we advocate utilizing the All in One search engine optimization (AIOSEO) plugin for this. It’s additionally what we use for WPBeginner to verify our web site is all the time optimized for search engines like google. For extra particulars, try our full All in One search engine optimization evaluation.

You should utilize AIOSEO to simply discover damaged hyperlinks in your whole web site content material. If it does, you may shortly exchange the present URL with a brand new one in order that customers don’t find yourself seeing an error web page.

AIOSEO additionally helps you to arrange 301 redirections simply. This will probably be useful in case your redesign includes restructuring your web site hierarchy.

You possibly can learn our newbie’s information to creating 301 redirects in WordPress for extra info.

Aside from that, we additionally advocate doing an search engine optimization audit to examine for lacking search engine optimization titles, meta descriptions, canonical hyperlink tags, SSL certificates, pace points, and extra. These are vital components that may make or break your visibility on search engines like google.

Take a look at our WordPress search engine optimization audit guidelines for a step-by-step information.

Lastly, do the identical checks we talked about in step 2 after we stated to run a web site audit. Use heatmaps and take a look at your Google Analytics knowledge to verify nobody is having bother together with your new web site.

7. Repeatedly Preserve Your WordPress Web site

The job of a web site proprietor is rarely ending. Even after you launch your web site, you continue to must do some routine upkeep duties to be sure that your web site doesn’t develop into gradual, weak to assaults, or begin displaying errors.

Don’t be intimidated, although. We’ve a information that breaks down the most vital WordPress upkeep duties you need to do, from altering your passwords and updating your plugins to reviewing your safety logs.

However when you discover all this too onerous and you’ve got some price range to spare, then we advocate hiring our WordPress upkeep specialists at WPBeginner Professional Providers. You’ll get:

24/7 WordPress upkeep and help

Round-the-clock uptime monitoring

Constant WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates

Routine cloud backups and malware removing

On-demand emergency help

Our upkeep companies begin from $57.50 per thirty days. Whereas this prices some cash, you may consider it as much like getting a WordPress safety plugin, however this one is an actual individual sustaining your web site.

We will spot and clear up complicated points that automated instruments would possibly miss and make choices primarily based in your particular wants and web site objectives. If you wish to be taught extra, be happy to guide a free session with us at the moment.

Keep in mind, common upkeep is essential to maintaining your newly redesigned WordPress web site working easily and securely. Whether or not you select to do it your self or rent specialists, be sure to have a plan in place to maintain your web site in prime form.

We hope this text has helped you learn to redesign your WordPress web site. You may additionally wish to try our article on issues you will need to do earlier than beginning a WordPress design enterprise and our knowledgeable picks of the finest WordPress theme builder plugins.

In the event you preferred this text, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You may also discover us on Twitter and Fb.

The submit Find out how to Redesign a WordPress Web site (Newbie’s Information) first appeared on WPBeginner.