“Your website is like your digital storefront,” says Neil Patel, a well-known digital marketing expert. He advises, “If your website doesn’t look good or isn’t easy to use, customers will leave.“
Let’s say… you walk into a store with cluttered shelves, confusing signs, and no clear way to find what you need.
Would you stay? Probably not. Your website works the same way. A poor design can turn visitors away.
So, when was the last time you updated your site?
Websites get outdated fast, and that can affect your business. Visitors want a fresh, easy-to-use experience.
We know this, which is why we conducted thorough research and gathered advice from web professionals to create this website redesign checklist. This checklist will guide you through each step of the website redesign process.
Follow it, and your new site will not only look good but also keep visitors coming back.
Table of Contents
The Ultimate Website Redesign Checklist
If you’re reading this, you might want to fix your website.
Maybe it’s slow, looks old, or you want to improve your online presence. Changing your website is a big deal. But it’s okay! You can do it step-by-step.
Below is a website redesign checklist to guide you through the process.
1. Discover the Gaps with a Website Audit
Before jumping into the redesign process, take a moment to evaluate where your current website stands. This helps you understand what needs improvement and what’s already working.
a. Review Your Traffic
Use Google Analytics to check your site’s traffic for the last 3-6 months. Pay attention to:
- Total traffic each month
- Bounce rate on the home page and key pages
- Most visited pages
- Conversions (This includes contact form submissions, live chat, and phone calls.)
Also Read: SEO Audit Checklist (With Templates & Examples)
b. Check the Site’s Speed & Security
- Run multiple speed tests to see how fast your pages load.
- Ensure you have an SSL certificate and HTTPS protocol activated. This is critical for security and trust.
- Look for any bugs on your major pages. A website audit should catch issues like broken links or outdated content.
c. Competitive Research
Check out your competitors’ websites. See what they do well and how you can do even better. No need to overthink it.
You can always make more changes during the redesign!
Partnering with a web design company makes sure your website isn’t just good-looking but also high-performing.
Also Read: Why Is My Website Traffic Going Down?
2. Define Goals & Choose the Perfect Web Team
Once you’ve audited your current website, it’s time to define what you want to achieve with your redesign.
Ask Yourself –
- Do you want to improve user experience or conversions?
- Are you aiming to speed up the site or add new features?
- Do you need a better mobile experience?
Choose the Right Web Team
Selecting the right team is crucial. You’ll need a mix of skills to build a successful site:
- Web strategy: To plan out your site’s structure and user experience.
- Web design: To create an attractive, user-friendly design.
- Web development: To bring the design to life with clean code.
75% of credibility comes from design. We craft websites that users trust and engage with.
3. Build a Website That Speaks to Your Visitors
Here’s a common mistake most business owners make – designing websites for themselves instead of their visitors.
Think about walking into a store where everything is arranged for the store owner’s convenience rather than the shoppers’.
Doesn’t make much sense, right?
Your website redesign should focus on your visitors’ needs.
For instance, if you’re a dental practice, your visitors probably want to:
- Quickly find your contact information
- Book appointments easily
- Learn about your services
- See patient testimonials
Therefore, conduct a proper visitor analysis by keeping these things in mind…
- Create visitor personas (Example: “Tech-savvy Tom” who needs quick access to technical specs)
- Map user journeys (How does a visitor get from your homepage to a conversion?)
- Design for user intent (If 80% of visitors want to check pricing, make it super accessible)
4. Map Content That Drives Engagement
Now that you’re clear on your goals, let’s talk about how to organize your website’s content. A website’s structure is just as important as its design.
a. Create an Information Architecture
This is like a map of your website’s pages and sections. Decide which pages are most important based on your visitor’s needs.
Keep your navigation simple – long drop-down menus can confuse mobile users.
b. Content Mapping
Look at your most visited pages and think about what content to keep. Try reducing unnecessary pages.
Consider moving some content to blog posts or a resource section for better SEO.
5. Turn Ideas into Reality with the Design Process
Once the content plan is set, the design phase begins. This is when the visual elements of your site come to life.
a. Custom Web Design
If you’re going for a custom design, your web designer will create mockups for the homepage, key internal pages, and any templates needed.
b. User Experience (UX)
A skilled designer will focus on the layout, colors, fonts, and interactive elements that guide visitors through the site smoothly. UX is about making the experience pleasant and intuitive.
Struggling with user experience? Leading UI/UX agencies know how to create intuitive designs that keep users engaged and boost conversions.
c. Mobile-Friendly Design
Make sure your design is mobile-wise, meaning it adjusts and looks great on all devices.
For example…
If you run a creative business, your website should stand out. A visually striking design can show off your work. But it should also be simple, mobile-friendly, and easy to use.
A redesign isn’t just about looks – it’s about results. See how the right strategy can improve website revenue and turn visitors into loyal customers.
6. Turn Designs into a Fully Functional Website
Now that the design is approved, it’s time to start coding and developing the website.
This step brings your vision to life by converting layouts into clean, responsive code. Design to code conversion makes sure every detail looks and works perfectly.
a. Choose the Right Platform
If you’re using WordPress, make sure your development team:
- Uses a robust framework
- Follows security best practices
- Optimizes for performance
As of January 2025, nearly 43.6% of all websites worldwide use WordPress, according to W3Techs.
b. Add Complex Features
If your website requires interactive elements like dynamic forms, custom dashboards, or third-party API integrations, now is the time to develop them.
c. Content Migration
The development team will move your content from the old site to the new one. If you have a blog, they will transfer the articles to the new platform.
d. Content Creation
If you haven’t already, make sure to gather or write the content for your site. Content creation can be one of the slowest parts of the process, so be prepared!
A modern, high-performing website is just a conversation away. Let’s talk about how we can make yours better.
7. Launch Smoothly & Keep Improving
It’s almost time to launch!
But before you do, here are some last-minute checks to make sure everything goes smoothly.
a. Final Review
- Test every page to make sure everything works.
- Check for broken links, typos, and anything that’s not functioning as expected.
b. Prepare for Launch
- Gather logins to your existing site, domain registrar, hosting, and email setup.
- Make sure analytics tracking codes are installed and forms are working correctly.
c. Timing the Launch
- Planning a marketing campaign? Launch your website a few days early.
- This way, you can fix any bugs before the big rush of visitors.
Also Read: How Do You Launch an Online Store from Scratch?
Why Redesign Your Website?
Your website is not just a place online. It’s the face of your business. If it’s not working well, you could be losing big opportunities.
Let’s look at some clear signs that show it’s time for a website redesign.
a. Your Website Isn’t Attracting Enough Leads
Is your website attracting leads like it should?
If not, you’re leaving money on the table. A website that doesn’t bring in potential customers won’t help your business grow.
- Does your site capture contact information easily?
- Are your calls to action (CTAs) clear and compelling?
- Is the layout user-friendly?
Businesses that optimize their websites by publishing blogs four times a week see 3.5x more leads than those who don’t.
So, if your website isn’t working as a lead magnet, it’s time for a change.
b. Your Website Looks Old
Does your website look old and outdated, as if it was designed in the early 2000s? A dull design can make your business look untrustworthy and hurt your brand image.
Ask yourself…
- Is your website using old design elements like clunky fonts or busy layouts?
- Does your site feel stuck in the past?
38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive. Outdated design might be costing you customers.
c. Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
More than half of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re ignoring a huge chunk of potential customers.
A site that looks good only on a desktop is limiting your reach.
Ask yourself…
- Can visitors easily navigate your site on a mobile device?
- Does the design adjust well to different screen sizes?
57% of users won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site.
With the rise of mobile-first browsing, not having a mobile-friendly site is a big miss.
d. Your Site Loading Speed is Slow
How fast is your website?
Loading speed directly impacts user experience and conversion rates.
Research by BigCommerce shows that a 1-second delay in website loading time can reduce conversions by 7%. Imagine losing 7% of your leads just because your site is slow.
Ask yourself…
- Does your website take longer than 3 seconds to load?
- Are you losing visitors due to slow performance?
53% of mobile visitors leave a website if it doesn’t load within 3 seconds.
We design fast, engaging sites that keep visitors hooked and convert more leads.
How Much Does a Site Redesign Cost?
Website redesign costs can range from $3,000 to $75,000 depending on factors like:
1. Website Size: More pages mean more work, which can increase the cost.
2. Design Complexity: Fancy designs with custom graphics or animations will cost more.
3. Functionality: Features like online shopping, databases, or special coding can raise the price.
4. Agency vs. Freelancer: Agencies charge more for their team’s expertise, while freelancers are cheaper.
Here’s an overview –
| Provider Type | Cost Range | Features |
| Agency | $5,000 to $75,000+ | Comprehensive redesign, including strategy, design, and development. |
| Freelancer | $3,000 to $10,000 | Focused on design and basic development tasks. |
| DIY / In-house | $800 to $5,000 | Suitable for simple redesigns with limited features. |
Don’t Let Your SEO Drop During Website Updates
Afraid of losing your Google rankings while redesigning your website?
Don’t worry!
We’ll help you keep your SEO strong while giving your site a brand-new look.
a. Start with a Website Map
Before you make any changes, create a sitemap of your current website. This will show you how many pages you have and how they are organized.
Use tools like SEO Spider Tool to get a list of all your pages. This helps you:
- See how many pages you have
- Know which pages to keep
- Plan your new site better
b. Guard Your Top Pages
Which pages bring you the most visitors from Google? These are your VIP pages!
For example, if you’re a dentist and your “teeth whitening” page brings in lots of visitors, you’ll want to be extra careful with it during the website redesign.
Common VIP pages include:
- Your homepage
- About page
- Service pages
- Popular blog posts
Keep these pages safe during your website redesign!
Also Read: What is SEO Management?
c. Keep Your Web Addresses Simple
Here’s something important – Try to keep your page addresses (URLs) the same.
URLs (web addresses) are like your home address. If you change them, people get lost! Here’s what to do:
- Keep old URLs if they work well
- Only change URLs that perform poorly
- Fix broken links right away
For example –
- Old URL – yoursite.com/chocolate-cake
- Keep it instead of changing to – yoursite.com/products/cakes/chocolate
What Happens If You Must Change URLs?
Sometimes, you need to change URLs during a website redesign. If you do:
- Tell Google about the change
- Send visitors to the new page
- Don’t just leave them at a dead-end
d. Make Content Better, Not Different
While you’re working on how to redesign a website, look at your writing too. But be careful! Don’t change everything at once.
It’s like updating your recipe – change too many ingredients, and you might lose the taste people love.
Quick Content Tips…
- Keep your good title tags
- Keep meta descriptions that work well
- Add new, helpful information
- Don’t delete content that ranks well
Check out Workstatus’ website for a great example of how content can be improved, not just changed. It’s a perfect blend of clarity and simplicity.
e. Speed & Safety Matter
Google likes fast, safe websites. During your website redesign:
- Make pages load quickly
- Add security (SSL) – it’s like a lock on your front door
- Test everything before going live
Notice an organic traffic drop after your last update? A well-planned website redesign can fix SEO mistakes and get your rankings back on track.
We’ve helped thousands of businesses improve their websites, boost conversions, and stay ahead.
Let PixelCrayons Help You Redesign with Confidence
Redesigning your website can feel overwhelming. You need the right plan, team, and tools to make it work. That’s why having a partner like PixelCrayons is crucial.
Trusted by startups and Fortune 500 companies like Infosys, Hitachi, Kia, Orange Business Services, and many more, we make website redesigns simple and effective.
Our website development services follow a clear website redesign checklist to deliver the best results. With us, you can:
- Build a website that connects with your audience.
- Improve SEO while giving your design a fresh look.
- Keep the redesign process smooth and hassle-free.
Partner with PixelCrayons for a seamless website redesign process. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
