Starting a website redesign can be quite an undertaking. At my interactive agency, we like to think of building a website like building a house. You need architects, general contractors, and interior designers. If building a site is analogous to building a house, then let’s think of a redesign as moving your house. You’re going to need to get some things in order before the movers come.
Whether you’re moving up to get better and newer space, support your growing organization or moving cross country, you will most likely need to start thinking about what items are currently in your house, what is getting packed and what is getting tossed, and who you might need help from. Getting your website ready for a redesign is no different.
Open up the closet door – I know, it’s been a while, but you need to look at what is in that box back in the very back corner. Do you need to keep it? Really? Photos of your high school boyfriend? And why on earth do you have perfume in your old shoe boxes?
Make your piles to organize and prioritize:
-This item is going to the trash/donation
-I’m not sure why this is in the kitchen cabinet, but it’s valuable and needs a new home
- Where else would I put my shoes other than in my bedroom closet? These items are perfect as is!
Bring in your family or friends to help you out – Going through your closet with your best friend can be a lot less daunting. And figuring out what on earth to keep from the attic or garage can be a lot easier if the original owner (ah-hem…Mr. Fix-it) lends a hand in reviewing what’s been stowed away with the thought of one day improving it.
Be Ready on Move Date –There’s nothing a moving crew (and you and your final bill) likes less than a client who’s not ready to go on the scheduled date. No moving crew wants to walk into a house with the residents still packing – or not even packed at all! Your boxes should be filled, sealed, organized by room or numbered. And, while the movers will haul out all the boxes, load up the truck, and unload everything at the next location, you’ll feel a lot better if you have one list of all your items. Put a list inside each box, keep a master list, number all the boxes, note what you threw out or donated.
What does this mean for your website? It means you should have your content ready to go. Save old content in a place you can find it later. It also means you need to be open to reorganizing your site and renaming sections. Overall, if you’re open and prepared, you’ll have a successful website move!
