Planning to give your website a fresh new look? Hold on just a second – before you dive into the design process, let me share some hard-earned wisdom with you. Trust me, I've been there – in the trenches of website redesigns where content strategy was an afterthought, and it was a mess. But I've also seen the transformative power of getting it right from the start.
You see, content strategy isn't just some buzzword thrown around by marketing folks – it's the backbone of your website. It's what ensures that every word, image, and video serves a purpose and aligns with your goals. And trust me, when you've been through a redesign where content strategy was an afterthought, you realize just how crucial it is.
Here's the thing: you need a clear content strategy to set yourself up for a world of pain. Your design team might create something flashy and cool, but if your content is all over the place, your visitors will be confused and frustrated. And let me tell you, dealing with the fallout from that is not fun.
Without a clear plan for your content, you might end up with:
Misalignment: Your design team and tech folks won't know what content goes where, leading to delays and headaches for everyone involved.
Wasted Time and Money: You'll spend hours and dollars on design and development, only to realize later that your content doesn't fit or isn't effective.
Missed Opportunities: Your website might look great, but if your content doesn't connect with your audience or reflect your brand, you're missing out on potential customers.
Maintenance Nightmares: Even after the redesign, you'll struggle to keep your content up to date and relevant without a clear plan in place.
But it's not all doom and gloom – far from it. When you have a solid content strategy in place, the benefits are immense. Here are just a few:
Clear Direction: With a well-defined content strategy, everyone knows exactly what needs to be done and when. UXers, Designers and Developers work becomes just smooth sailing from start to finish.
Efficiency: When your content strategy is locked in, production is more efficient. No more wasting time and resources on content that doesn't fit or isn't effective – everything is planned out in advance.
Consistency: A strong content strategy ensures your brand message is consistent across all channels. Everything looks and feels cohesive making your brand and marketing efforts shine.
Engagement: When your content speaks directly to your audience and addresses their needs and concerns, you'll see a noticeable increase in engagement. And let me tell you, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing those engagement metrics go up.
You might be thinking, "But how do I know if I have a solid content strategy?"
That's where my expertise comes in. I've been through the wringer with website redesigns, and I've learned a thing or two along the way. I know what works and what doesn't, and I can help you avoid the pitfalls many others fall into.
So trust me when I say this: think about starting your website redesign with a clear content strategy. Your sanity, pocket, and customers will thank you for it.
In addition, your digital agency and its creative teams will be eternally grateful if you provide them with a clear content strategy. When you've got all the answers about what your content needs to achieve and who it's for, you're giving them the green light to do what they do best – make your website experience memorable.
With a solid content strategy, your agency can focus on bringing your vision to life and creating a website that looks amazing and delivers results for your business. So do yourself – and your creative partners – a favour: get those answers sorted out, and then let them work their magic. You won't regret it.
If you want to know why digital agencies do not include Content Strategy on their budget - or if they do, why it's never done right - sign-up to receive our newsletters or reach out so we can discuss your needs and I will give you a good perspective on how to approach your case.