Website redesign checklist for a small business

2 min read · Updated

The short answer

A website redesign checklist starts before any design: record which pages bring visitors and calls, keep their content and addresses or redirect each one, and carry over your name, address, phone and hours exactly. After launch, test every form and phone link, update your Google profile link, and watch Search Console for errors.

Before

  1. Export your top pages from Search Console and your analytics.
  2. List every URL on the current site.
  3. Note what's working: which pages bring calls and form fills.

During

  • Keep every URL that matters, or plan a 301 redirect for it.
  • Keep the text on pages that rank, even if the design changes around it.
  • Tap-to-call phone numbers on every page.
  • Name, address, phone and hours identical to your Google profile.
  • Analytics and call tracking in place before launch, not after.

After

  1. Submit a test through every form.
  2. Update the website link on your Google Business Profile and other listings.
  3. Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.
  4. Check Search Console for 404 errors weekly for the first month.

Questions

Will a redesign hurt my SEO?

It can, if URLs change without redirects or pages that ranked lose their text. Both are avoidable.

What's a 301 redirect?

A permanent forward from an old address to a new one, so visitors and search engines land on the right page.

Do I need a redesign, or just fixes?

Often just fixes.

Want to discuss Websites?

Book a time with Lehvel and we’ll go through what your business actually needs.