Steps of a redesign

Overview
Goals
Time estimate and team
Content review
Site structure and navigation
Finalize timeline and content
Visual design development
Production and proofing
Launch and maintenance

Launch, tracking, maintenance, and Phase 2

Launch

You've triple-checked for typos and accuracy. You've tested for cross-browser, platform, and ADA issues. You upload your files to the server.

For no discernible reason, something will go wrong. Give yourself time to take care of it by launching your site at the lowest-possible traffic times.

Then be sure to publicize your launch. Send a note to e-week, listserv your audience if possible, update the link in your print publications, and contact Public Affairs about the possibility of featuring your new page in other ways.

Tracking

Feedback

Each page of your site should have a contact link. This can go to the site administrator or to the person responsible for maintaining the content on that page. Keep a list of the feedback your site generates. Plan for regularly scheduled updates and be sure to tag items with a priority level.

Keep a copy of your style guides, content planner, HTML specs, etc. They'll come in handy for Phase 2.

Site statistics

Find out who is accessing your site, how they're finding you, and what they're doing on your site by using web-analytics software such as clicktracks, Deep Metrix, Urchin, and WebTrends.

Track against the goals you originally set. Use the results to prove your site's value and potential.

You can find more information about this topic on the analyis section of our web FAQs page.

Maintenance

Content is never really done. Check in regularly with your unit or department, and the folks who wrote the content, to see what's changing in your organization and to make sure content is updated on a regular basis. This is especially important if you've date-stamped your pages.

Phase 2

Prioritize all the great Phase 2 ideas you've had to put on the shelf in order to finish the site. Start putting together a new schedule for writing, design, and production. Before you go too far, double-check them against the traffic your site is receiving, or do an audience survey to ensure they're the features your audience is most interested in.

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