A redesign is a chance to fix what isn't working, but it's also the easiest time to accidentally break what is. This checklist covers the things that most often get missed.
Before you touch the design
Start with what you have. List every page on the current site and note which ones bring in traffic, leads, or links. Those pages carry your search visibility, so each one needs a plan: keep it, improve it, or redirect it on purpose.
Then write down what the new site has to do. More enquiries? Easier bookings? A better first impression? Every design decision gets easier when there's a clear goal to measure it against.
During the build
Map every old address to its new home and set up 301 redirects before launch. Check that titles, descriptions, and headings carry over, and that every form delivers to a real inbox. Test on a phone first, since that's how most visitors will see it.
Cover the accessibility basics too: readable contrast, clear link text, descriptive image alt text, and pages that work with a keyboard. They help everyone, and they help search engines understand your content.
Launch day and after
Connect analytics, submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console, and walk through the live site clicking every button. Keep a backup of the old site somewhere safe for a few weeks.
Watch Search Console over the next month for crawl errors and pages that dropped out. Small fixes in the first weeks protect the rankings you've already earned.
Planning a redesign and want a second pair of eyes? We're happy to review your current site and tell you what's worth keeping.
