Website Redesign Checklist: Keep Your Google Visibility

Before you build

• List every page on your current site, and note which ones get visits or calls
• Keep existing URLs wherever you can
• Save your current page titles, descriptions, and headings
• Note which pages Google Search Console shows people finding

While you build

• Carry over useful content, rather than starting from nothing
• Give every page a unique title, description, and H1
• Keep links between your pages working
• Block the test version from search while you build

At launch

• Redirect every old address that is changing to the most relevant new page, using permanent redirects
• Remove any noindex setting that was on the test version. Forgetting this is a common and costly mistake.
• Submit your updated sitemap in Google Search Console
• Click through your key pages, forms, and links

After launch

• Check Search Console for crawl errors and missing pages
• Watch your calls and form requests for several weeks
• Fix any broken links you find

Even careful redesigns can see temporary movement in search results. We cannot promise traffic will stay the same. Learn about our redesign service. A full redirect map is part of our Growth package.

Related reading

• Website redesign
• Website launch checklist for home service businesses
• 7 website mistakes that cost home service businesses calls