In this ever changing world, a website design has a limited life, and it is for that reason that from time to time you may need to go through the process of having your web design redesigned.

But before you embark upon this momentous and challenging event you need to first pause and think about the whole process. Planning is essential if you are going to work closely with your web designer to create a smooth transition from what you currently have as a design for your company to what you are about to create.

In his article ‘Things to ask before you redo your website’, Seth Godin provides a list of difficult and important questions you have to answer before you spend a nickel with  a web designer. Use these questions to guide you through the whole process.

It’s a well known fact that if you can ask yourself better questions, you’re going to come up with better answers – and in this case a much better performing website.

• What is the goal of the site?
• In other words, when it’s working great, what specific outcomes will occur?
• Who are we trying to please? If it’s the boss, what does she want? Is impressing a certain kind of person important? Which kind?
• How many people on your team have to be involved? At what level?
• Who are we trying to reach? Is it everyone? Our customers? A certain kind of prospect?
• What are the sites that this group has demonstrated they enjoy interacting with?
• Are we trying to close sales?
• Are we telling a story?
• Are we earning permission to follow up?
• Are we hoping that people will watch or learn?
• Do we need people to spread the word using various social media tools?
• Are we building a tribe of people who will use the site to connect with each other?
• Do people find the site via word of mouth? Are they looking to answer a specific question?
• Is there ongoing news and updates that need to be presented to people?
• Is the site part of a larger suite of places online where people can find out about us, or is this our one sign post?
• Is that information high in bandwidth or just little bits of data?
• Do we want people to call us?
• How many times a month would we like people to come by? For how long?
• Who needs to update this site? How often?
• How often can we afford to overhaul this site?
• Does showing up in the search engines matter? If so, for what terms? At what cost? Will we be willing to compromise any of the things above in order to achieve this goal?
• Will the site need to be universally accessible? Do issues of disability or language or browser come into it?
• How much money do we have to spend? How much time?

And finally,

• Does the organization understand that ‘everything’ is not an option?

Source: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/