Redesigning a website offers an exciting opportunity to refresh your content, improve functionality, and give your online presence a new look. But it can also feel overwhelming, especially when you have to balance the needs of various stakeholders and audiences. If you're beginning a website redesign for the University of Iowa, the process may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We've put together some key recommendations to help guide you through the journey, stay on track, and create a site that speaks to your target audience.
Establish a project leader and strategic plan
A successful redesign starts with a solid plan. Begin by conducting a content inventory to evaluate what’s currently on your site—where content lives, and which pages are most important. You can use our content audit and content inventory templates to help organize the process. Understanding how your website functions today is essential for identifying what's working and where improvements are needed. With multiple stakeholders involved, it’s crucial to assign a project leader or a leadership team to steer the project. A designated leader ensures that all stakeholders stay focused on the plan, preventing the project from straying off course and ensuring the redesign meets its intended goals.
Identify your redesign goals and key outcomes
Before diving into the redesign, take time to define your primary goals and the outcomes you want to achieve. Are you aiming to boost user engagement, highlight your services, or enhance navigation? Setting clear goals at the start will help you stay focused and aligned throughout the process, even if challenges arise or new priorities come up during the redesign.
Define and understand your target audience
Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to shift focus to your audience. Review your Google Analytics to understand who is visiting your site, or consider conducting surveys to gather direct feedback. By understanding your users, you can create a website that better addresses their needs and provides a better user experience—rather than focusing solely on internal priorities. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal of any website should be to fully understand your users and their behavior, and most importantly, to serve them first.
Utilize user testing to enhance usability
User testing is an invaluable part of the redesign process. By collecting feedback from actual users, you can pinpoint problem areas and opportunities for improvement. Whether your budget allows for extensive testing or a more basic approach, the insights gathered from real users will help ensure that your website is easy to navigate and meets their expectations.
Engage stakeholders throughout the redesign process
Stakeholder involvement is key to the success of a website redesign. Depending on the size of your site, consider breaking it down into sections and assigning team members to manage specific areas of content. Regular meetings with stakeholders will keep everyone aligned on goals, objectives, and timelines. This collaborative approach also provides opportunities to address concerns and incorporate feedback along the way. While teamwork is essential, it’s important to have a clear project leader to maintain focus and avoid distractions.
Plan your website layout and content ownership
As you begin structuring the new website, ensure that content owners are assigned for each page. These individuals will be responsible for creating, updating, and maintaining content, ensuring consistency with the University of Iowa’s branding and messaging. Be sure to design your pages thoughtfully for a cohesive and intuitive user experience. If you’re using SiteNow, refer to our layout and design best practices for tips on creating an accessible, effective, and polished website.
Create a post-launch strategy
Once your website launches, congratulations! But the work doesn’t stop there. You’ll need a solid post-launch strategy to ensure the site continues to run smoothly. Use our governance template to develop a plan that includes scheduled updates, content ownership, and a strategy for addressing redirects or 404 errors that might pop up. This plan will help maintain your site’s performance and keep it aligned with your goals long after launch.
Final thoughts
Implementing these strategies will not only streamline the redesign process but also help you create a website that truly serves your users' needs. With a clear plan, defined goals, and regular stakeholder engagement, your website will be well-positioned for long-term success. As you move forward, always keep your audience’s experience at the forefront to ensure that the final product is both functional and engaging. By staying organized and focused, you’ll build a digital presence that truly reflects the University of Iowa story.