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Website redesign guide: how to upgrade without losing Google rankings

Updated 26 September 2026 · 8 min read

A redesign should make your website faster, clearer and better at winning enquiries. Done carelessly, it can also erase years of Google rankings overnight — usually because old URLs disappear without redirects.

This checklist covers what to do before, during and after a redesign so your rankings carry across and ideally improve.

1. Benchmark before you touch anything

You can't protect what you haven't measured. Record where you stand today so you can compare after launch.

  • Export your top pages and queries from Google Search Console
  • Note traffic and enquiries from Google Analytics
  • Crawl the current site to list every URL, title and meta description
  • Run key pages through PageSpeed Insights for a Core Web Vitals baseline

2. Audit your content

Sort every page into keep, improve, merge or remove. Pages that bring in traffic or links should be kept or improved, not quietly dropped.

  • Keep pages that rank, get traffic or earn links
  • Merge thin or overlapping pages into one stronger page
  • Rewrite outdated service descriptions and pricing
  • Remove pages with no traffic, links or purpose — and redirect them

3. Map every 301 redirect

This is the single most important step. Every old URL that changes needs a permanent 301 redirect to its closest new equivalent — not a blanket redirect to the homepage.

  • Build a spreadsheet: old URL → new URL
  • Redirect one-to-one wherever possible
  • Avoid redirect chains (A → B → C)
  • Update internal links to point at the new URLs directly

4. Fix speed and Core Web Vitals

A redesign is the best chance to fix performance properly. Compress and resize images, remove unused scripts, and make sure the page doesn't jump around as it loads.

5. Move off bloated WordPress page builders

Many small business sites run on page builders with dozens of plugins. They're slow, fragile and expensive to maintain. Rebuilding on a clean, modern setup usually delivers faster pages, fewer security issues and simpler updates.

6. Launch and monitor

On launch day, test redirects, submit the new sitemap in Search Console and check for crawl errors. Watch rankings and traffic weekly for the first couple of months — a small, temporary dip is normal; a steep drop usually means missing redirects.

How we handle redesigns

Our business redesign is $799 upfront + $79/month. We rebuild your site on a fast, modern setup, preserve your existing URLs or map redirects, and keep SEO foundations in place. The monthly care plan covers hosting, updates and ongoing support, so we're watching after launch too.

Frequently asked questions

Will a redesign hurt my Google rankings?

Not if it's done properly. Rankings usually drop only when URLs change without 301 redirects, content is removed, or the new site is slower. With redirects mapped and content preserved, most sites hold or improve their rankings.

What is a 301 redirect?

A 301 redirect permanently sends visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one, passing on most of the old page's ranking signals.

How much does a website redesign cost with you?

Our business redesign is $799 upfront plus $79/month. The upfront cost covers the rebuild; the monthly care plan covers hosting, updates and ongoing support.

Should I move off my WordPress page builder?

If your site is slow, relies on many plugins or breaks after updates, a clean rebuild is usually cheaper long-term than continuing to patch it.

Planning a redesign?

We'll rebuild your site for $799 upfront + $79/month and protect the rankings you've earned. Call 1300 131 280 or tell us about your current site.

Enquire about a redesign — $799 + $79/mo Enquire about ongoing support 1300 131 280

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