HOW TO MAINTAIN SEO DURING A WEBSITE REDESIGN

How to Maintain SEO During a Website Redesign

How to Maintain SEO During a Website Redesign

Blog Article

Redesigning your website is an exciting opportunity to enhance user experience, refresh your brand, and improve performance. But if you're not careful, a redesign can unintentionally destroy your hard-earned SEO — leading to lost traffic, lower rankings, and fewer leads.


So, how do you modernize your site without hurting your search visibility?


Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you maintain (and even improve) your SEO during a website redesign.






Step 1: Benchmark Your Current SEO Performance


Before touching your current site, take note of how it’s performing:





  • List your top-performing pages (traffic, conversions, backlinks)




  • Record your main keywords and rankings




  • Export data from Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and SEMrush/Ahrefs




This helps you compare post-launch performance and avoid accidentally removing SEO-rich pages.



Step 2: Preserve URL Structure — or Redirect Carefully


If you’re changing any URLs (which often happens in a redesign), you must set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones.





  • This tells Google the content has moved permanently




  • Preserves your link equity (backlinks, authority)




  • Prevents 404 errors that hurt UX and rankings




Use a proper redirect map — match each old page with its most relevant new version.






Step 3: Retain or Improve On-Page SEO Elements


As you update your content and design, don’t neglect your SEO basics:





  • Title tags and meta descriptions




  • Header tags (H1, H2...)




  • Keyword-optimized content




  • Image alt text




  • Internal linking




Redesigns are the perfect time to optimize content for target keywords and readability.



Step 4: Ensure Mobile-Friendliness and Fast Load Times


Google uses mobile-first indexing — so your mobile design must be flawless.


During redesign:





  • Use responsive design across all devices




  • Optimize image sizes and scripts




  • Aim for a Core Web Vitals score in the green (especially LCP, FID, and CLS)




Tools to test:







Step 5: Keep Your Sitemap and Robots.txt Updated


Once the new site is live:





  • Update your XML sitemap and resubmit it to Google Search Console




  • Check your robots.txt file to ensure no key pages are blocked




  • Remove outdated or broken pages from indexing if needed







Step 6: Monitor Everything Post-Launch


The work doesn’t stop after launch. Monitor:





  • Rankings and traffic (daily for 2 weeks, weekly after that)




  • Crawl errors in Google Search Console




  • Indexation issues




  • Speed and mobile usability




If you notice a drop, act quickly — revisit redirects, check technical SEO, and restore any lost elements.



Pro Tip: Involve an SEO Expert from the Start


Many businesses make the mistake of redesigning first and fixing SEO later. Involving an SEO specialist during the planning and development phase ensures your design not only looks great but also retains traffic, authority, and conversions.






Need Help Redesigning Without Losing SEO?


We combine stunning website design with solid SEO foundations. Whether you're rebranding, switching platforms, or just modernizing your look — we ensure your visibility doesn't drop in the process.


Hire a Web Designer Who Understands SEO






Final Thoughts


A website redesign should elevate your brand — not sabotage your SEO. With the right plan, tools, and team, you can have the best of both worlds: a modern site and strong search rankings.


Redesign smart. Protect your SEO. Grow your business.


Read More: KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING A WEB DESIGNER

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