Start with the reason for the redesign
A redesign should solve real problems. Perhaps the site looks dated, is difficult to use on mobile, fails to explain services clearly or generates too few enquiries. Write down the main problems first so the new design can be judged against them.
Review pages and performance before changing them
List your existing URLs and identify pages that attract search impressions, visits, enquiries or useful links. Search Console can reveal which pages and queries already have visibility. Do not remove a page simply because it looks old; it may still serve a valuable search purpose.
Plan the structure before designing every page
Decide which pages should exist, what each page is for and how visitors will move between them. Keep local and national service pages distinct when they serve different intent. Avoid publishing multiple pages with substantially identical copy and competing titles.
Protect technical SEO
Check page titles, meta descriptions, H1s, canonical URLs, robots directives, sitemap entries and internal links. If a URL must change, map the old address to the most relevant new destination and test any redirect. Keep staging protected from indexing, but make sure the production site is configured correctly at launch.
Design for real visitors
Use a consistent visual system, readable type, accessible contrast, useful buttons and clear calls to action. Make forms short enough to complete comfortably and ensure the mobile menu, telephone links and WhatsApp links work. Animations should support the experience, not delay or distract from it.
Test before launch
Check representative pages on desktop and mobile. Test every menu, form, CTA, image and key link. Review page speed, broken links, form delivery, canonical tags and indexability. Keep a backup and a rollback plan before replacing the live site.
Make the redesign measurable
Record a baseline before launch, then monitor indexing, search clicks, relevant queries, enquiries and technical errors after release. Rankings can change during a migration; careful URL mapping and testing reduce avoidable risk. See our website redesign service or talk to Tidy Designs .
Tell us what you want to achieve and we'll discuss a practical next step for your business.
