Website redesign - HCMi, LLC.

Revamping the brand experience for a global player in the human capital management industry

PROJECT ROLES

Web Design / User Interface Design (Online) // Copywriting // Branding + Marketing

TOOLS

Web Design / User Interface Design (Online) // Copywriting // Branding + Marketing

Background

A leading global provider of human capital management (HCM) solutions recognized the need to modernize their online presence. With an expanding client base and increasing competition, the brand aimed to enhance its website to better showcase its services and value proposition. The existing website, while functional, had grown outdated. It lacked an intuitive user experience (UX), was not optimized for mobile, and didn’t clearly communicate the company’s offerings in a way that resonated with the needs of modern HR professionals and business leaders.

The goal of this website redesign was to create a user-friendly, visually engaging, and conversion-optimized platform that aligned with the company’s growth and future ambitions. As the lead designer, I was responsible for overseeing the redesign process and ensuring the new site effectively communicated the brand’s value while providing a seamless experience for prospective clients, partners, and employees.

The Challenge

The main challenges of the website redesign were:

  1. Outdated Design and Navigation: The original website’s design was not aligned with the modern, sleek, and professional image the brand wanted to project. The navigation was clunky, and the information was hard to digest for users who were looking for specific HCM solutions.

  2. Lack of Mobile Optimization: A significant portion of traffic came from mobile devices, but the website was not fully responsive, creating a poor experience for users accessing the site from smartphones and tablets.

  3. Complex User Journey: The user journey, from discovering services to engaging with content or contacting sales, was not optimized. Prospective clients often found it difficult to quickly understand what the brand offered or how to engage with the company.

  4. Low Conversion Rates: The site had high bounce rates and low conversion rates, meaning visitors weren’t taking key actions, such as requesting demos, downloading case studies, or contacting the sales team.

The Strategy

To address these challenges, we developed a strategy focused on three core pillars:

  1. Clear, Engaging Content Strategy: The content needed to speak directly to HR leaders, business executives, and talent managers by clearly articulating the company’s HCM solutions and their benefits.

  2. Enhanced User Experience (UX): The website should be easy to navigate, with a seamless flow from information discovery to lead conversion.

  3. Mobile-First, Responsive Design: Given the increasing use of mobile devices by business professionals, the new website needed to be fully optimized for smartphones and tablets.

  4. Conversion Optimization: The design had to encourage users to engage with the content and move through the conversion funnel, whether that meant signing up for a demo, downloading a white paper, or contacting the sales team.

Execution

Research and Discovery

The redesign process started with a deep dive into user behavior and an audit of the current website. We analyzed analytics data, gathered insights from user surveys, and conducted interviews with stakeholders within the organization to better understand the needs of target users. This information helped identify key areas of improvement, such as streamlining the navigation, optimizing content for clarity, and improving the design's visual appeal.

Wireframing and Prototyping

With a clear understanding of user needs, we moved forward with wireframing and prototyping. The wireframes focused on improving the site's layout and information architecture, ensuring users could easily find relevant content. We designed clear, actionable calls-to-action (CTAs) that guided visitors toward important conversion points like demo requests, case studies, and product overviews. The prototypes were then tested with internal stakeholders to gather feedback and iterate before moving into full design.

Visual Design

The visual design overhaul included a modern, sleek look that conveyed the brand’s expertise in the HCM space. We updated the color palette, typography, and imagery to create a more polished, professional aesthetic. Custom icons and interactive design elements were added to make key information stand out, such as highlighting service offerings or benefits of partnering with the brand.

We also ensured that the website’s design was responsive, meaning that it would adapt seamlessly across all devices, from desktop to mobile. Given that HR professionals and business leaders frequently access websites from their phones, ensuring an optimal mobile experience was a top priority.

Content Strategy

We worked closely with the content team to optimize the site’s messaging, ensuring that each page clearly conveyed the brand's value proposition in a way that resonated with target audiences. For example, we emphasized the ease of use and scalability of the company’s HCM platform, as well as its ability to integrate with existing business systems.

We also restructured the site’s content to focus on customer pain points, offering solutions through case studies, client testimonials, and product overviews. The goal was to make it clear that the brand could solve real business challenges for HR departments and organizational leaders.

Conversion Optimization

One of the key focuses of the redesign was improving the conversion funnel. We simplified the process for users to take action by adding more prominent CTAs on every page. We created optimized landing pages for each service offering, with clear, compelling copy that outlined the benefits and next steps.

Additionally, we made sure the contact forms were easy to find, simple to fill out, and offered multiple ways for users to engage, including scheduling a demo, requesting more information, or speaking with a sales representative.

Testing and Launch

Before launching the new website, we conducted extensive usability testing and A/B testing on key pages, particularly those focused on conversion. We tested different CTAs, landing page designs, and content layouts to identify which variations led to the highest engagement and conversion rates. After refining the site based on test results, we launched the new website.

Results

The website redesign had a significant impact on the brand’s digital presence and performance metrics. Key results included:

  • Increased Traffic: Organic traffic to the website increased by 35% in the first six months following the launch, driven by improved SEO practices and enhanced content targeting.

  • Improved Mobile Conversions: Mobile conversion rates saw a 40% increase, thanks to the fully responsive design and mobile-optimized user experience.

  • Reduced Bounce Rates: Bounce rates dropped by 15%, indicating that users were more engaged with the content and stayed longer on the site.

  • Higher Engagement: Time spent on site increased by 20%, with users interacting more with resources such as case studies, service pages, and client testimonials.

  • Increased Conversions: Overall conversion rates grew by 50%, with more visitors requesting demos, downloading resources, and contacting the sales team.

Key Takeaways

User-Centered Design: A deep understanding of user needs, backed by data and stakeholder input, is critical for delivering an effective redesign. By addressing pain points and creating a seamless user experience, we were able to better engage HR professionals and business leaders.

  • Mobile Optimization: With a large portion of business decision-makers accessing websites from mobile devices, a mobile-first design approach is essential for driving engagement and conversions.

  • Conversion-Focused Approach: By strategically designing clear CTAs and streamlining the user journey, we were able to significantly improve conversion rates, making it easier for potential clients to take action.

  • Continuous Testing and Iteration: Ongoing testing and optimization are crucial for ensuring that the site meets user expectations and business goals. This iterative approach helped refine the final product and maximize results.

This website redesign not only improved the user experience but also played a key role in driving business growth by increasing traffic, engagement, and conversions for the human capital management brand.

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