Redesigning a WordPress website can greatly improve how people see you online, but it also has some challenges. To make sure your redesign works well, it’s crucial to avoid the mistakes that can hurt your efforts.
Mistakes in this process can include ignoring how users feel about the site, not thinking about SEO, forgetting to migrate content properly, and not paying attention to security issues. Any mistake can cause problems like fewer visitors, unhappy users, and security risks.
By knowing about these possible problems and dealing with them beforehand, you can make a website that looks good and works well and safely. This post will show you common WordPress website redesigning mistakes to avoid, making your website redesign easier and helping you create a better site.
Check What Plugins You Need
A redesign can also lead to changes in the plugins you use. For example, you may choose to change your SEO plugins. Or maybe you need to add membership options. Sometimes, you might not need a certain plugin anymore.
Think about an old product that isn’t getting any updates anymore, or a plugin that won’t work on your website in the future. WordPress websites grow and change with you or your client’s business. So, it’s a good idea to check the plugins you have installed.
A redesign is a great chance to make changes. Look closely and find out which plugins are still helpful and which ones can be taken away. Also, write down any new plugins you want to add.
It’s important to think about how anything you add or take away will affect things. If you’re not sure, testing in a practice environment can really help. Your website might need different plugins when you redesign it.
How Will the Content Be Different?
When a website gets redesigned, a lot can change, and it’s not just the words. Some changes are easy to make, but other parts need careful planning.
Structure and Organization
WordPress lets you easily arrange your content in many different ways. You can organize pages in different levels, and posts and custom types can fit into different categories. Changing things around when redesigning is a pretty simple task.
However, it can be an issue if menus and internal links are not updated. WordPress can usually find content that has moved, but it’s a good idea to check that the links still work properly.
Custom Templates and Layouts
There are many ways to create your own page layouts using WordPress. You might need to make some changes based on what you want to achieve with your redesign. If your website was made using the Classic Editor, now is a good chance to consider switching to a new design.
Changing old content to use the Gutenberg block editor usually goes pretty well. Just change what you want to change. Everything else should work just fine. Layouts that were made in the block editor will remain the same.
One thing to remember is any custom blocks that were part of your old theme. The same applies to any block plugins you want to take out of your setup. Changes made there might lead to unexpected results.
If you use Elementor or other page builder plugins to create layouts, they should still work as long as you keep the plugin. If you want to start using the block editor, you will need to do some extra work.
Lastly, you need to consider layouts that use custom templates or fields. Custom field information often needs to be included in a theme template. If that’s the case, you’ll need to transfer the necessary code to the new theme or use the options in a custom block.
Content Additions and Edits
Websites that are updated frequently can be a reason for problems. If you are working on a different WordPress site for your redesign, there might be a difference in the content compared to the live site.
The risk is losing any new or recently changed content on the updated site. This could lead to a lot more work after the site goes live, when you notice what’s missing. It’s something to remember when you’re working on a website with a lot of content.
Fortunately, there are many ways to keep content updated between different places. Think about database exports, plugins, and version control tools like Git. Consider how your current content will be different and what new content your website will require.
Also Read: Outsourcing Web Design In 2024: Is It The Best Option?
WordPress Website Redesigning Mistakes to be Aware of
User Experience
Ignoring user experience (UX) when redesigning a WordPress website can greatly affect how well the site works and how happy users are. If you only make a website look nice without thinking about how easy it is to use, people may find it pretty but hard to get around.
This can upset users and make them leave the site quickly. To prevent this, focus on easy-to-use design things like simple navigation, flexible layouts, and features that everyone can use. Talk to users and test how they use your product to learn what they need and like.
Using these ideas makes sure that the new website looks good, works well, and is easy to use. This will help keep visitors interested and reach the goals for your site. A good UX design makes using a product easier and more enjoyable.
SEO
SEO is important when redesigning a WordPress website, it can cause a big drop in the number of visitors coming from search engines. A redesign that doesn’t consider SEO elements like meta tags, keywords, and URL structures can hurt how visible your site is and how well it performs in search results.
Also, if redirects or changes to the content are not done correctly, it can lead to broken links and lost search rankings. Include good SEO practices during the redesign. Make sure to keep the current SEO features in place and improve new content by using the right keywords.
Set up correct 301 redirects for any URLs that have changed and use tools to check and improve your website’s SEO performance after it goes live. This method helps keep or boost how well your website shows up in search results.
Content Migration
If you ignore the process of migrating content when redesigning a WordPress website, you might end up losing some of that content. This can frustrate users and cause you to lose important information. It’s important to manage this process well so that all the current content, like text, images, videos, and documents, is correctly moved to the new site.
If you don’t have a complete plan for migrating your website, you could run into problems like links that don’t work, old information, or losing your search engine ranking. To prevent these issues, make a clear plan for migrating your content.
This should include a list of everything you currently have and a straightforward way to transfer and organize it. Test the new site carefully to make sure everything looks right and works properly. This careful method helps make the change easy and keeps your site’s information safe.
Security
Ignoring the importance of security when redesigning your WordPress website can make it easy for hackers to attack and cause damage. If you don’t have strong security measures, you might expose private information, get infected by harmful software, or have people accessing your system without permission.
When redesigning a website, it’s important to follow modern security measures. This includes using safe themes and plugins, regularly updating them, and setting up SSL certificates to protect data. Make sure to use a good way to verify users and think about adding security tools that include things like firewalls and malware scanning.
When you focus on security, you keep your website safe from dangers, build trust with users, and protect important information, which helps make sure your visitors have a safe and dependable experience.
Branding Consistency
Maintaining the consistency of your brand when redesigning your WordPress website can strengthen your brand’s identity and help your audience. Changing a brand’s design too much, like using different colors, fonts, or logos, can make it hard for people to recognize the brand and weaken its overall identity.
Using the same branding helps to strengthen your company’s identity and create trust with your audience. To do this, make sure the new design matches your brand rules and shows your company’s values and character.
Keep a consistent look throughout all pages and parts of the site, which can make it easier for customers to recognize your brand and have a smooth experience. Using the same brand style all the time helps make your brand more noticeable and makes it look more professional and reliable.
Also Read: Unlock Success: Top 10 Responsive Website Design Frameworks for Website Development
Those Disconnected Pieces of Data
Good or bad, many WordPress themes have their theme-based data. They make things easier for people who aren’t tech-savvy, but they aren’t easy to move around. That makes them easy to overlook when updating your website.
Themes that use the WordPress Customizer or have their own settings menu are good examples. Write down anything you want to copy or information you need to look at. After that, make a plan to move it to the new site.
This also applies to any special code pieces in your old theme’s “functions.php” file. There might be some important features hidden inside. It’s simple to copy and paste into the new theme, but adding this code to a custom plugin is a better choice for the future.
When making custom themes, it’s normal to include CSS for plugins in the theme’s stylesheet. For instance, you could design styles that help a calendar plugin look like your brand. You will need to copy them into your new theme if you want to keep using them.
To Conclude
It’s important to steer clear of common mistakes when redesigning your WordPress website to ensure a good and successful result. By improving user experience, search engine optimization, keeping it secure, and maintaining a consistent brand image, you make sure that your new website looks great, works well, and fits your brand’s identity.
Each of these parts is important for making a website that will aid you in reaching your goal and gives users a wonderful experience. Planning carefully, testing properly, and keeping an eye on things will reduce risks and result in a better, working, and safe website.
Keeping these things in mind, you can feel good about starting your redesign. We hope this post will aid you in your redesigning endeavors. You are now ready to optimize your online presence and give your audience a great experience.
FAQs
What should I think about for an easy content migration?
Begin by making a complete list of everything you have, including text, pictures, and videos. Create a straightforward plan for migrating content to the new site and explaining how it will be arranged. Check the new website carefully to make sure everything looks good and works properly. Look for any broken links or missing parts. It’s important to check that SEO features like alt tags for images and meta descriptions are kept or changed when needed. Moving your content correctly makes sure that your new website keeps your current content and search engine ranking safe.
How can I keep track of my redesign budget?
To manage a redesign budget well, you need to plan carefully and decide how to use your money. First, set a clear budget that includes all parts of the redesign, like design work, building, testing, and future maintenance. Think about possible extra costs for unexpected problems or improvements. Make a clear project plan that includes important steps and estimated costs to help you keep track of your spending and stay within your budget. Focus on the most important features and functions first, and think about doing the project in stages if needed to keep costs down.
What should I do to check the new website before it goes live?
To fully check the new website before it goes live, use a detailed testing plan. First, check that all the features, forms, and interactive parts work properly. Test the website on different types of devices and browsers to make sure it works well everywhere. Test how the site looks on different screen sizes to make sure it works well on mobile devices. Test how well the system works to find and fix any problems with speed or loading time. Also, do user acceptance testing (UAT) to get opinions from real users and make changes based on what they think.
How can I get the stakeholders involved in the redesign process?
Involving stakeholders in the redesign process means talking openly and working together during the whole project. Begin by figuring out who the important people are and getting their ideas early in the planning process to know what they want and expect. Keep them updated on how things are going and give them chances to share their thoughts during different parts of the redesign. Take their ideas into account to make sure the redesign matches what they want and need. Involving everyone interested helps make sure the final product meets their needs and makes them feel proud and happy with the finished site.