Drupal web development can present challenges, which may vary depending on the developer's level of expertise. However, this widely-used content management system offers numerous benefits, such as the ability to tailor websites to meet brand-specific requirements and enhance online visibility and reputation.
Drupal web development requires proficient developers and site builders who possess expertise in managing Drupal projects. At Optasy, we understand the complexities of Drupal web development and have created this article to provide assistance to those who require it.
This post provides guidance on avoiding five common mistakes during the redesign of a Drupal website. It offers insights into technical, creative, operational, financial, and strategic considerations that are important for Drupal web development. It is important to analyze and learn from the mistakes of others.
Before proceeding with a website redesign, what indicators should be taken into consideration?
- It is recommended that your website be optimized for various devices, including mobile, in order to maintain credibility and value. With over half of all website traffic coming from mobile devices, it is essential to optimize your Drupal website for mobile use.
- Efficient website navigation is expected by online visitors who crave seamless digital experiences. A website that functions poorly can drive them away and negatively impact your brand's credibility.
- Due to the rapidly changing digital landscape, it is necessary to revamp your Drupal website every few years, especially if it has been in operation for over five years.
After determining whether a redesign project for a Drupal website is necessary, it is important to identify actions to avoid during the process.
Don't skip your current website analysis
Effective problem-solving involves recognizing and analyzing challenges in workflows, and successful companies are skilled at identifying and proactively addressing them.
To achieve personal growth, it's important to identify your weaknesses and areas that need improvement. Doing so will give you a clearer understanding of your goals.
When analyzing a Drupal website, it is important to consider certain key questions:
- What is the number of visitors that my website is attracting?
- Can you provide information on the average loading speed of my website?
- What is the current bounce rate?
- What is the current ranking of my website on search engine result pages (SERPs)?
Don't redesign without a defined objective
Before creating a redesign strategy, it's important to establish clear goals. Defining the primary purposes of the plan is essential for long-term success. To do so, consider the following questions:
- What are your goals for your Drupal website in the next six months?
- What benefits will the updated versions of my pages provide in achieving my objectives?
- Which digital tools are necessary to achieve my goals?
In order to successfully execute a website redesign, it is important to have a clear understanding of the purpose behind it and ensure that the updates made align with the marketing objectives.
Not establishing analytics benchmarks
After gaining a clearer perspective on the Drupal redesign plan and goals, it is recommended to focus on setting performance metrics for the old website version. Google Analytics can assist with this by providing reliable benchmarks:
- Visits that result in successful sales transactions.
- The metrics being measured include the amount of time spent on the site by users, the total number of visits, and the click-through rates of banners.
- Lead generation
When assessing SEO, it is recommended to utilize these metrics as benchmarks:
- Website traffic
- Organic traffic-generating pages
- Inbound links
- Conversion rates
Insufficient allocation of resources toward a comprehensive content strategy
Many companies prioritize content marketing, with around 70% actively investing in this strategy. The reason for its importance is still up for discussion.
Providing information through content can address audience inquiries and support businesses in establishing credibility and acquiring valuable leads.
When redesigning your Drupal website, it is important to focus on content and take into account the challenges faced by your audience when developing a content strategy, which should include:
- Defined goals and target audience
- Analytics & SEO review
- Content inventory & audit
- Style guidelines and publishing strategy
- Omnichannel/cross-platform considerations
- SEO strategy and metadata standards
Don't ignore your competition
Competitive intelligence is a process that involves collecting and analyzing information about competitors, with the goal of gaining insights into the market and improving strategic decision-making.
What are the initial steps for implementing competitive intelligence?
Identify your top five direct competitors, as well as indirect, aspirational, and perceived rivals to gain a better understanding of the market.
During the competitive intelligence process, it is important to thoroughly examine your competitors' online presence, products, websites, social media posts, teams, content, and other relevant information.
After collecting information, it is important to analyze the data and identify trends or key insights for easy communication within the company.
Transform competitive intelligence into tangible outcomes and utilize it to enhance your overall business strategies.
Conclusion
Being aware of these important considerations will facilitate the Drupal redesign process.
Optasy provides Drupal web development, design, maintenance, and support services to help you enhance your Drupal website's performance and functionality, whether you need to create a new site or update an existing one.
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