Time for an update?
One of the best things about Squarespace is how easy it is to change or update a website.
Whether it is a new colour scheme to match a rebrand, or a complete change of layout to better reflect the new products and services on offer, Squarespace makes it easier.
Along with new features that are released on a regular basis, e.g. integrated email campaigns and subscription options for e-commerce, users can switch templates and then move their existing pages into that template.
Of course, there is additional design elements that need to be carried out to get everything looking ‘just right’, but that’s the basic concept.
There’s no need to tear everything down and start from scratch. Another helpful feature is that if you’ve uploaded images to your site, you can still access them and reuse them - without having to search through your computer files or old USB stick.
Planning for change
Although it might be tempting to change for change’s sake, there should be a plan of action to make your updated website more effective. Ask yourself the following questions to get a better idea of what you would like:
how are my customers using my website?
what are the most popular pages and why?
what isn’t working on my site - do I still need it?
do I want to incorporate a new feature or page, e.g. blog or scrolling banner images?
how will I make updates in the future?
does my website look old-fashioned / outdated?
The last one may be a matter of taste (or a specific design choice!), although it is worth considering the impression you give when a visitor lands on your website for the first time.
Mobile friendly?
A lot of websites that I come across look good on desktop, but then everything changes once it’s displayed on mobile view. Depending on the platform used, the mobile options may not have been considered or the design hasn’t been a priority. Since 2009 the rise of mobile online searches has increased, and in 2018 mobile overtook desktop in terms of internet access. (view report here)
But it isn’t just a case of looking good for your visitors. Google has also taken the mobile first approach, and is indexing websites based on how mobile friendly / responsive they are. This has been on the cards since 2015 with Google pushing mobile friendly sites further up the Google search rankings, and last year Google announced that it would be adopting a mobile first indexing policy - ranking sites based on their mobile version, not the desktop version.
The good news is that all of Squarespace designs are mobile responsive, with some templates allowing you to customise your mobile version further. If your website isn’t mobile friendly, now is the time to update!
Case Study 1 - Manufacturer
Their original website was from a VistaPrint package that offered a simple website design. At the time this suited their needs in terms of having a basic online presence, but as their business grew, they wanted a more professional image.
The switch to Squarespace gave them more of a modern, professional image and did well on Google searches with the in-built SEO. Two years later and the business has gone from strength to strength, and the company wanted to update their site to highlight their workmanship.
During that time, they had made an conscious effort to collect images from various projects to showcase what they could do. For their updated website this meant changing the layout and design of the site using the same content, and incorporating a gallery with tabs for visitors to easily switch between categories to view all of the new images in one place.
Case Study 2
An online training provider last updated their website four years ago. In that time they were getting more online enquiries and enrolments, and knew what the common questions and enquiries were from phone calls to the main office.
As part of the redesign, a new e-commerce template was chosen, courses were updated with common FAQ sections, and the enrolment process was further streamlined to encourage more bookings.
Change is good - when it’s done for the right reasons.
Both clients above had a better idea of what they wanted, and how their websites were to function to meet their online business objectives as part of their update.
If you’re thinking about a website redesign, and not sure which direction you want to take, why not get in touch for a friendly chat to discuss your options?