Users have certain expectations when they arrive to your site. They may have visited lots of website before also to fulfill the particular need. It is quite natural to imbibe some habits on the way. It is essential to incorporate these patterns into your design. By learning psychological concept that is also known as mental models, you can be easily benefitted while designing a website.
Mental Models

Mental model is not a factual concept. It is created on the basis of predictions and beliefs. Dependence on the previous experience is observed on the occasion. Therefore, it may vary from a person to person. Similar experiences may be encountered. However, it cannot be completely same ever.
Now, let’s see how mental model can impact your web design
How mental model can impact your web design

Similar to the kids, adults are prone to follow same pattern also. Certain beliefs can be observed with the web pages also.
• Different color must be utilized for the links
• Company logo must be placed at the left hand side.
• Top right corner is the best for sign-up button.

Scanning of the website begins from the logo by the users. Later on, they may look at the navigation bar and CTA. Certain elements are expected to be found in certain places. In case there is a deviation from the tried and tested design then confusion can be seen which may lead to the lower conversion rate.
Redesign Process with Mental Model
Some risks can be observed with the redesigning of the website. On the occasion, ultimate goal is to enhance user experience. However, change also challenges the user’s mental model. It is possible to obtain great results with mental model. Chances are also there that you have gone completely wrong with the website.
Sometime, user may be annoyed by new information architecture. Mix up of private message and public stories can be observed also. Due to lack of chronological display, further confusion can be encountered. Therefore, reviews may be negative. On the occasion, users have to go through a dramatically change of mental model.
In case the older version is good enough to fulfill the requirement of the users then you should not redesign a website for just creating something new.