Like any good business, you should constantly review your web site and what is on offer to the outside world. You need to move with the times, take a lead sometimes and throw in the odd calculated risk to really push your business ahead, but do major design changes work? Or are they counter productive?

If you site is low in traffic and low in the rankings then a major design change would not necessarily have a negative effect – it may just get you noticed and jump start the business. However, if you have a well established site with good traffic and good income, there is more risk associated with a complete overhaul of the design. Customers get used to seeing the same layouts, they get used to where each option is and they do actually begin to associate with your branding.

If you are looking to introduce major changes to your web site, it may well be an idea to get your customers involved and flag potential changes well in advance. Ask them what they think, ask them for ideas and bring them into the fold – they will appreciate it. If possible it is always an idea to stagger any major changes rather than someone opening the site one day and thinking they have typed in the wrong URL!

The internet is a very fickle market, if a customer is not happy with your new design or has to look a little harder for that menu option they always use, there is a chance that they may look elsewhere. Treat you customers well and they will keep coming back, treat them with contempt or take them for granted and you may be in trouble!