Old website update

Started by roslanovmax, Jul 13, 2022, 06:27 AM

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roslanovmaxTopic starter

What are the step-by-step methods to update my long-running site, which has been operational for over 8 years, both in terms of design and engine?
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    The following users thanked this post: Enot

adm.1.n

First, ensure that everything on your site is working properly. Then you should clean up all the badlinks, core web vitals and check media usage, structure all your data and update seo. After this steps try to do an A/B test of desired content or updated versions of your site (easier if your site is on WordPress platform).
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Enot

To modernize and update your site, you must follow a specific set of criteria. First, determine what changes need to be made by analyzing the site's problems and popular pages. Second, create a prototype to visualize project goals and understand the client-contractor relationship.

Third, use a design system to develop the visual design that complements the prototype. Fourth, test the site's functionality thoroughly from both user and management perspectives across various devices and platforms. Finally, consider site support services to ensure ongoing maintenance and updates are completed monthly.
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span4bob

The first step in updating a website is research. This includes identifying problems and areas for improvement, understanding the goals of the business and clients, and analyzing site activity to identify popular pages and products. This is done by communicating with managers, current clients, and new customers, and using end-to-end analytics systems like Google Data Studio to visualize data from various sources. Additionally, analyzing the site's current position on search engines is important in improving its overall performance.

The second step is prototyping, where a future site and structure are developed based on the collected data. User behavior is taken into account, and key pages and blocks are designed with multiple options for clients to choose from. The prototype is important for both the client and contractor as it reflects the functions and scenarios of the site.

The third step is visual design, where a design system is used to develop a high-quality design for all web elements. The design system includes rules for colors, typography, icons, grids, indents, and animations. This allows for faster design using past experience, while still creating unique designs that match the DNA of the client's company. It is important for designers and programmers to work together to lay a strong foundation for future functionality.
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AmitVermaSPS

Updating a long-running site, both in terms of design and engine, can be a complex process. Here is a step-by-step method that you can consider:

1. Assess your current website: Evaluate your existing site's design, features, and functionalities. Identify what is working well and what needs improvement. Consider collecting user feedback to understand their pain points and expectations.

2. Set goals and objectives: Define clear goals for your website update. Determine what you want to achieve with the redesign, such as improving user experience, increasing traffic, or integrating new technologies. These goals will help guide your decision-making process.

3. Research and gather inspiration: Explore websites that inspire you and align with your vision for the updated site. Look for design trends, user interface elements, and innovative features that you can incorporate into your own redesign.

4. Plan your redesigned website's information architecture: Create a sitemap to outline the structure and hierarchy of your website's pages. Consider how users will navigate the site and organize the content in a logical and intuitive manner.

5. Wireframe and prototype: Create wireframes or mockups that visually represent the layout and structure of key pages on your new site. Use prototyping tools or graphic design software to bring your ideas to life. This will help you refine the design before implementation.

6. Choose the right website engine: Evaluate different website engines or content management systems (CMS) based on your requirements, scalability, security, and ease of use. Research popular options such as WordPress, Drupal, or custom-built solutions to determine the best fit for your needs.

7. Migrate or rebuild your website: Depending on the complexity of the update, you may choose to either migrate your existing website onto the new engine or rebuild it from scratch. Consider factors such as content migration, data integrity, and SEO implications when making this decision.

8. Implement the new design: Work with designers and developers to implement the new design into the chosen website engine. Ensure that the updated site is visually appealing, responsive (mobile-friendly), and optimized for speed and performance.

9. Test and iterate: Thoroughly test your new website across different browsers, devices, and user scenarios. Identify any bugs, usability issues, or performance bottlenecks, and make necessary improvements in an iterative manner.

10. Launch and monitor: Once you are confident in the updated site's functionality and design, launch it to the public. Monitor user feedback, analytics, and performance metrics to identify areas for further refinement and optimization.

11. Content Audit: Evaluate your existing content and identify what needs to be updated, removed, or added. Take this opportunity to improve the quality, relevance, and SEO optimization of your content.

12. SEO Optimization: Ensure that your updated site follows current best practices for search engine optimization (SEO). Perform keyword research, optimize meta tags, headers, and URLs, and incorporate relevant internal and external links.

13. Accessibility Compliance: Prioritize making your website accessible to users with disabilities. Adhere to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards, which can include providing alt text for images, using proper heading structure, and offering keyboard navigation options.

14. Responsive Design: Make sure your site is optimized for mobile devices by employing responsive design techniques. Test the layout and functionality across various screen sizes to ensure a seamless experience for all users.

15. Performance Optimization: Optimize your website's loading speed by compressing images, minifying code, and leveraging caching techniques. A faster website improves user experience and search engine rankings.

16. Security Enhancements: Strengthen your site's security measures by implementing SSL encryption, ensuring regular backup solutions, and integrating security plugins or software to protect against cyber threats.

17. User Testing and Feedback: Conduct user testing sessions with a diverse group of users to gather feedback on the usability and functionality of your updated site. Use this feedback to make necessary adjustments.

18. Continuous Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly monitor your website's performance, security, and analytics even after the update is complete. Apply updates, patches, and security fixes as required to keep your site running smoothly.

19. Training and Support: If you have a team managing the website, provide training and support to ensure they understand how to maintain and update the site effectively.

20. Marketing and Promotion: Develop a marketing strategy to promote your updated website. Utilize various channels such as social media, email marketing, and SEO techniques to drive traffic and increase awareness.

21. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Before making any significant changes, back up your existing website data and files. This ensures that you have a restore point in case anything goes wrong during the update process.

22. Redirect Strategy: If you're reorganizing your site's structure or changing URLs, create a redirect strategy to ensure that users and search engines can find the new pages. Implement 301 redirects to redirect old URLs to their corresponding new URLs, preserving SEO value and minimizing broken links.

23. Branding and Visual Identity: Review and update your branding elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, to reflect any changes in your brand or business. Ensure consistent branding across your website to reinforce your identity.

24. Content Management System (CMS) Training: If you're migrating to a new CMS, provide training sessions or documentation for your team to familiarize themselves with the new system. This will empower them to manage and update the site effectively.

25. User Experience (UX) Design: Focus on improving the overall user experience by analyzing user journeys, optimizing navigation menus, and simplifying complex processes. Consider user feedback and conduct usability testing to identify pain points and areas for improvement.

26. Integration and Third-Party Services: Assess your site's integration needs, such as CRM systems, payment gateways, or marketing automation tools. Evaluate whether any new integrations or third-party services are needed and make the necessary updates.

27. Analytics and Tracking: Implement robust analytics tracking to gather insights into user behavior and site performance. Utilize tools like Google Analytics to measure traffic, conversion rates, and user engagement before and after the update.

28. Compliance and Legal Requirements: Ensure that your updated website complies with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, CCPA, or industry-specific regulations. Review privacy policies, cookie consent mechanisms, and data handling practices to ensure compliance.

29. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media sharing buttons and widgets into your updated site to encourage social engagement and amplify your online presence. This allows users to easily share your content on their preferred platforms.

30. Ongoing Maintenance and Support: Establish a plan for ongoing maintenance and support of your updated site. Regularly update plugins, themes, and CMS versions to ensure security and functionality. Consider implementing a support system or working with a website maintenance team to address any issues that arise.
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