A website redesign can significantly increase the success of your business by improving the user experience and modernizing your brand. But be careful: a flawed redesign can negatively impact your SEO results. Let’s discuss how you can go about a website redesign.
Before the redesign: SEO evaluation
Before you tackle a website redesign, you should evaluate the current SEO status of your website. You should check aspects such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, the performance of individual pages and the number of indexed pages using tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console. This data will give you important reference points to evaluate the impact of the redesign on your SEO performance. You can also use this as a basis for deciding which pages and elements need a redesign and which are already working well.
During the redesign: URL structure and 301 redirects
If you change the structure of your website and modify URL addresses in the process, it is important to set up 301 redirects. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that takes visitors and search engines from the old URL to the new one. This way, you maintain the traffic flow and prevent your visitors from landing on error pages (“404 not found”). In addition, 301 redirects help to transfer the SEO ranking of your old page to the new one so that you don’t lose any SEO performance.
After the redesign: SEO audit and monitoring
As soon as your website redesign is live, you should carry out a comprehensive SEO audit. Check all important on-page SEO elements such as title tags, meta descriptions and alt tags for images. Make sure these elements are updated and optimized. It is also important to check your website for technical errors and test the performance of your site, for example loading times. Tools such as Google Search Console or specialized SEO software can help you with this.
Conclusion: Website redesign without compromising SEO
A website redesign without compromising SEO isn’t rocket science, but it does require careful planning and execution. By following these tips, you can ensure that your redesign not only improves the appearance and user experience of your website, but also maintains your hard-earned SEO rankings.
Are you planning a redesign? Together with us you will reach your goal efficiently and safely!
