AfriPower SA, a forward-thinking provider of rent-to-own solar solutions, approached Ballito Web Design with an online presence holding them back, they needed a complete website redesign. In the competitive South African solar energy market, their existing website was underwhelming and actively hindering their growth. They needed a site that not only looked the part but also performed flawlessly, driving leads and establishing them as a leader in the industry. Their existing site was slow, confusing, and didn’t represent their innovative rent-to-own model effectively. They needed a digital transformation, and we were ready to deliver.
AfriPower SA had Three key goals for the website redesign:
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An updated design, and eye-catching graphics to better align with their brand image
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Generate a significant increase in qualified leads from the website
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Create a seamless and intuitive user experience and simplified navigation structure.
These goals, while clear, presented a considerable challenge given the state of their existing website. We conducted a thorough audit and identified several critical issues:
Performance Problems: The website was incredibly slow, plagued by unnecessary WordPress plugins serving little additional functionality, and a lack of server-side optimization. Images were not optimized, further contributing to the sluggish loading times. This poor performance not only frustrated users but also negatively impacted their search engine rankings.
Confusing Navigation and User Experience: Visitors struggled to find the information they needed. The navigation was confusing, and the overall user experience was far from intuitive. This lack of clarity made it difficult for potential customers to understand AfriPower SA’s unique rent-to-own offering.
SEO Issues: The website had no existing SEO in place. Missing meta descriptions, improper use of header tags and a lack of alt text for images meant search engines were struggling to understand and rank their content. This limited their organic visibility.
Brand Mismatch: The website’s design was outdated and didn’t align with AfriPower SA’s brand identity. The visual language wasn’t conveying their forward-thinking approach and innovative solutions.
Our solution was a comprehensive, three-phase website redesign approach, starting with a complete overhaul of the existing website: We have recently completed phase 1, below are the steps we took to take Afripower SA from zero to hero.
Website Redesign: Phase 1
Visuals
The first step was to redesign the website’s visuals to align with AfriPower SA’s brand guidelines. We incorporated their brand colours, fonts, and imagery, creating a consistent and professional online presence that accurately reflected their innovative approach to solar energy solutions.
Navigation and UX
After redesign and visuals, we tackled the navigation and UX. We implemented a clear and intuitive pricing structure, making it easy for visitors to find the information they needed. We carefully considered the user journey, designing a layout that guided visitors towards key conversion points.
Call-To-Actions
We incorporated compelling calls to action, encouraging users to request quotes and learn more about AfriPower SA’s services.
Performance Issues.
We began by optimising hosting and on-page performance. This involved removing unnecessary plugins, and optimizing the remaining code for maximum efficiency. We compressed and resized images, ensuring they loaded quickly without compromising quality. On the server side, we implemented caching mechanisms and integrated a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to further enhance loading speeds. The result? A website that loads five times faster than the original, dramatically improving user experience and setting the stage for better search engine performance.
On-page SEO
The last step of phase 1 was implementing a robust on-page SEO strategy. We crafted compelling meta descriptions, optimized header tags, and added descriptive alt text to all images. This ensured that search engines could accurately understand and index the website’s content, improving their organic visibility and driving more qualified traffic.
Phase 1: Website Redesign Results
The improvements were immediate and significant. The website’s loading speed increased fivefold, user engagement metrics improved dramatically, and leads started coming in. The improved SEO also resulted in better search engine rankings, further increasing their online visibility.
Looking Ahead: Phases 2 & 3
Phase 2 will focus on content expansion, adding detailed product pages, pricing information, technical specifications, and a blog to share industry insights and establish AfriPower SA as a thought leader.
Phase 3 will focus on multilingual support and a deeper dive into digital marketing strategies.
The AfriPower SA Website Redesign project demonstrates the power of a well-executed website redesign. If your business in Ballito, Umhlanga, or Durban needs a website that performs as well as it looks, contact Ballito Web Design today. We specialize in WordPress website development, website redesign, and creating digital experiences that drive results. Let us help you transform your online presence and achieve your business goals.
