Are you looking to redo your website but unsure about the difference between a web redesign & upgrade? Here, we share the difference between a redesign & upgrade of a website and how should you choose the right one.
What is a website redesign?
The technical description of a website design is to change the design of a website. However, a website redesign may also include upgrades, changes, or additions of new features.
What is a website upgrade?
A website upgrade is different from a website redesign. In a website upgrade, only the plugins, theme, or software version of the website are upgraded. There is no need to change the design of the site.
Following are the circumstances when you may need a website redesign:
#1 Website design is outdated
When your design is out of fashion or no longer looks good, or when you simply want to change the design of your website, you need a website redesign. Under a website redesign, your developer will design and implement a new layout/structure. Every 2-3 years or so, you must redesign your website because it allows you to give it a new look and enhance the user experience and conversions.
#2 Website’s CMS needs to be changed
You must redesign your website to switch to a new CMS (content management system). For instance, if you have a Joomla CMS or no CMS and wish to have a WordPress CMS, you must hire a web developer.
#3 Business model is changed
Website redesign is often required when businesses change their services or products. In these situations, website redesign is essential for users to see the updated information.
#4 Rebranding
Rebranding happens when a company changes its brand colors, logo, name, or entire line of business. In this case, website redesign also becomes mandatory. The new website must carry the updated brand attributes.
#5 Poor Mobile Responsiveness
If your website doesn’t look good on mobiles and other smart devices such as tablets, you must redesign it to make it compatible with all the devices.
Below are some of the situations when you may need a website ugprade:
#1 Website’s plugins are outdated
If you have a CMS website that runs on several plugins, it’s likely that over some time, some of those plugins may get outdated or, even worse, become obsolete. In these situations of outdated plugins, your website may malfunction or even stop working. If so, you must consider updating your website with the newest versions of outdated/obsolete plugins.
#2 The Website’s core software or theme is outdated
Like the plugins, your website’s theme or CMS version may also become outdated. This could lead to several serious consequences, such as malfunctioning web pages or security vulnerabilities. Therefore, it’s crucial to update the theme or CMS version of the website in these cases.
#3 Website is loading slowly
The slowness of your website can be attributed to many possible factors, such as the following:
- Some of the plugin(s) could be incompatible with the theme or other plugins
- There is no cache plugin used on the website
- The images aren’t optimized
- Some pages/links are being redirected
- The PHP version of your server may be outdated
You will need a web developer who can troubleshoot and fix bugs to enhance your website’s performance and optimize its loading time.
#4 Website needs more features
There is another situation when you may want to upgrade your website. That is when you want to add new features to your website. For instance, if you wish to add a shop to your website that will allow you to sell online, you need to update your website. Or, let’s say you want to add a blog to your existing website; you’ll have to hire a web developer to update your website with a blog section.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right option between a website redesign & upgrade can help you save your time and money. Consult a professional website agency or a developer in the UAE for assistance. We offer most affordable website design packages in the UAE!
