Do you want a new website? If you’re like most marketers and project managers, you do. A website redesign can improve conversion. A redesign can save you time as you work to update and make administrative changes. The improvement of conversion and sales along with cost savings is what makes business work. Business leaders are looking to maximize profit. Yet most project managers can struggle to get a website redesign approved with their boss. I’ve been there. I’ve been on the other side of the boss’s desk trying to convince the head honcho that it’s time to make a change. Here are a few tips for convincing your boss that a website design is a must-do situation for your company.
How to Get Your Boss to Approve a New Website
It’s difficult to get the boss to approve a new project. It’s especially difficult to get approval for something that changes the business model even a little bit. Most businesses have a certain way of operating and any change throws a wrench in the entire process. People don’t like change. We mentioned this in a previous article about web design series.
Bosses don’t like change either. There are certain ways of doing things and change brings about risk. Bosses struggle with change on occasion because they have to worry about the livelihoods of no only themselves but everyone at the company. That’s a lot of stress and each decision needs to be made with great care and consideration.
All that said, it is possible to convince your boss that it’s time for a website redesign. You just have to speak in his or her terms. Here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years from my experience in the boss’s office.
Speak In Terms of Profit
Your boss cares about one thing: profit. Profit is not a bad word. Profit means there is money to pay salaries, benefits and other expenses. And if there is enough left over at the end of the day the boss can stock some cash away for a rainy day and maybe even take a day or two off. Every decision your boss makes revolves around profit. He or she certainly considers other factors like the well being of employees, but profit is what allows there to be jobs. And if having happy employees leads to more profit you can bet the boss will want happy employees.
When you bring your pitch into the boss’s office for a new website, you have to speak in terms of profit. You won’t be able to convince your boss to implement the new website by talking about how good something looks or how all the competitors have a new website. Show your boss examples of how website redesigns have improved the performance of similar businesses. Find examples of how website can increase leads or increase conversions. This is what your boss cares about. Show him or her the data that won’t allow them to turn you down.
Think About the Business
The business comes before any individual in a business. You can’t go into a pitch discussing how a new website is good for any single person at the company. The website redesign project needs to be about benefitting the business. Focus your pitch or presentation around the business. Focus on how the business will improve profits or brand awareness. Focus on how the website will improve efficiency for employees. A focus on the business shows you care about the well being of the company just like your boss.
Think About the Customers
Your boss understands that without customers there is no business. When discussing reasons why you want a website redesign, include points on how the design will benefit the customer. If you can show that a website redesign improves a customer experience you will have a winning presentation. The boss is concerned about pleasing the customer and making profit.
Discussion
There are a few simple items to remember when pitching your boss on a new website redesign. Focus on profit, the business and the customer and you will be ready for that pitch to your boss. Your boss is smart. They didn’t get to their level of success by making poor decisions. Think like your boss, focus on what drives their decisions and you’ll be ready to present that website redesign. What else would you suggest for a site redesign pitch? Share your experiences in the comments.
About the Author: Dayne Shuda
Dayne Shuda is a content strategist and blogger. He is the founder of Ghost Blog Writers. Website: http://www.dayneshuda.com Twitter: @DayneShuda
