Why a Kitchen Renovation is like Replatforming Your Website: 5 Tips for Survival
It is said that there is no greater stress on a relationship than a kitchen renovation.
And it may feel equally stressful during a website migration/replatform.
Both projects begin in the honeymoon phase with daydreams of color schemes and both can be equally trying when unforeseen challenges arise.
For instance, you move a wall and find a rat’s nest of wiring appears that needs to brought up to code. which isn’t in the original scope…
Next, rot is detected in the subfloor and you grumble about the cost while the repairs are done.
Finally, your lead time on the finishing touches moves from 2 weeks to 6 months and things boil over! You’re behind schedule. The budget is being eaten alive and you and your team are now disagreeing about everything. We’ve all been there. Unfortunately, there are times when a project can feel like a zombie apocalypse.
Sometimes, even the best laid plans can go arwry.
At DeCort Interactive, we provide in-depth strategy consulting, detailed web development and scalable hosting environments to minimize the frustration and complexity of a replatform. However, we’ve collected a few tips over the years on how to navigate a challenging project.
So, here are our top 5 tips that we hope you find helpful.
TIP #1- PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
The devil is in the details and it’s important to spend time upfront documenting requirements to effectively minimize the back-and-forth when the project is further downstream. Site audits, initial discovery, market research and consulting will establish a detailed roadmap that will anchor your project and provide measurable milestones for success.
TIP #2- ON-GOING CONSULTATION
Initial strategies for development, UX/UI or SEO may alter course as new information arises. Additional meetings, phone calls, and emails may feel inconvenient, but thoroughness is critical to the success of your project.
TIP #3- BE PREPARED TO TEAR IT DOWN TO THE STUDS
In other words, hope for the best but plan for the worst. Replatforming may peel away some unforeseen and critical areas for improvement that were not able to be addressed in the original scope of work. Although painful at the time, your website (and business) will be grateful to have a site that performs as it is truly intended, which leads us to the next point…
TIP #4- MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROJECT BUT BE FLEXIBLE
Define the mission of your project up front and accept that the path to success is seldom a straight line. For instance, if want to increase sales by providing an E-commerce solution, an overhaul to the UX/UI may be required so users are encouraged to navigate to the cart and make a purchase.
Defining a clear vision and maintaining flexibility of mind will give you the freedom to make quick, informed decisions about your website.
TIP #5- DUE DATES ARE IMPORTANT BUT THE REAL WORK IS NEVER DONE
Homeowners know that there is an evolving and organic list of on-going projects. The same is true for your website. Sites with basic functionality require less management. However, most will continue to need monthly attention long after the scope of work is complete. Updates, security patches, troubleshooting, and tinkering are all part of the on-going maintenance for a healthy site.
We hope these tips help with your next renovation!
Remember, the key is to plan, plan, plan, be flexible, know what you are willing to live with or without, and incorporate maintenance and care for the final product. Now high five your team members like your the Maverick to their Goose.
Add your comments below on how you survived a website or house renovation.
We hope these tips help with your next renovation!
Remember, the key is to plan, plan, plan, be flexible, know what you are willing to live with or without, and incorporate maintenance and care for the final product. Now high five your team members like your the Maverick to their Goose.
Add your comments below on how you survived a website or house renovation.
