6 Essential Content Questions for Your Website Redesign

Heading into a website redesign? Content can often be one of the most daunting tasks of the project. But don't fret! With a bit of organized planning and some help from a content specialist, you will conquor getting content up on your new site.

Complete these six essential tasks and ideas and you'll be well on your way to content success.

Who on your team will be heading up content production and gathering?

Pick one individual as the go-to for content. Yes, a team can work on content together. However, one individual must be responsible for heading up and organizing content production! Without that one responsible party, it’ll be like you’re in a circular canoe, paddling away and getting nowhere.

How much content do you already have that’s salvageable for your new site?

Even if you hate the content on your current site, chances are pieces of it are usable on your redesigned site. It might serve as inspiration at least for key points and messages. However, beware of using all your previous content! Just plunking content from one design to the other is almost like not redesigning at all. You’re going through a redesign for a reason, right? Take this opportunity to refresh your content.

Make a one-sentence statement for each of your audience personas about how your company or product will help them. Does your current content address everything you just wrote?

If someone in your audience visits your site and doesn’t see messaging about how you can help him, do you think he’ll stick around and convert? Unlikely! Your messaging should be clear, easy to follow, and easy to navigate. It should tell your story, and it should speak to your audience.

How do you plan on creating the initial content for your new site? Who will write it?

Will you be writing content internally, or will you hire a copywriter? If you're writing it internally, who is going to write what, and how will you make it sound unified? Making this decision at the outset will save you headaches later.

Do your new sitemap and design feature the content that’s most important to your audience?

Before finalizing your new sitemap, take a good hard look at:
1. Which pages your audience visits the most on your current site
2. Which content you think is the most important to your audience
Your new site should feature important content! Your designer will look to you for guidance on content that's important to your audience to keep in mind during the design process.

How much content did you file under “we’ll do this later”? Do you have a set plan for it?

There’s no problem with adding to content at a later date, if you think you’ve got enough for now. However, if you do not assign content tasks to specific individuals, it just won’t get done. Dole out tasks now with hard deadlines.