Webserv red logo
logo red black
12 min read

Website Redesign Checklist: 10 Steps to Success

Maximize your redesign with our 10-step website redesign checklist. Learn the essential steps for a user-friendly website that drives conversions.
website redesign checklist
Primary Item (H2)
Book Intro

Having a modern, up-to-date website is crucial for any business, especially for small businesses. Think about your own web browsing experiences: when was the last time you clicked on an outdated website? Most of us press the back button as soon as we see an outdated site, and it’s no wonder that a website from 2009 may not be doing your business any favors.

An updated website design looks nice and fresh and helps establish a better connection between you and your audience. A positive user experience on your website leads to increased chances of sales and repeat customers. Additionally, an updated website can help with on-page SEO, which can greatly improve your online visibility.

As a business that recently revamped our own website, we understand how daunting a full-fledged update can be. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive website redesign checklist to make the process easier for you. Follow our guide to updating your website design without the headache.

Step 1: Define your goals.

When defining your goals, you must consider both business and user needs. For example, a business goal may be to increase online sales, while a user goal may be to make it easier to find products on the website. By aligning business and user goals, you can ensure that the redesign will not only meet the needs of the business but also provide a positive user experience.

Consider these potential goals provided by Hubspot’s Article, “Guide to Building a Website Redesign Strategy.”: 

  • To increase the number of visits and visitors (both are important as one visitor could visit more than once)
  • To reduce the bounce rate
  • To increase time on site
  • To improve domain authority
  • To increase the total new leads and form submissions
  • To increase the total sales generated
  • To enhance current SEO rankings for important keywords

When redesigning your website, it is important to establish specific, measurable, and achievable goals for the redesign.

Step 2: Conduct an audit.

One of the first steps of our website redesign checklist is to conduct a comprehensive audit. The audit should focus on user experience, content, and technical issues. It’s important to note any issues with the website’s usability, content, and technical infrastructure and prioritize them based on their impact on the user experience and the goals of the redesign. This will help to focus on the most important issues and ensure that the web design addresses the most critical areas.

During the audit, it’s important to evaluate the following aspects of the website:

  • Navigation structure and organization of the website
  • Website layout and design
  • Content quality, relevance, and accuracy
  • Website performance and load times
  • Technical infrastructure such as hosting, security, and SEO

We recommend Ahref’s article, “How to Complete a Technical SEO Audit in 8 Steps,” to learn more about doing a technical audit on your website. Once the audit is complete, it’s important to compile a list of all issues and prioritize them based on their impact on the user experience and the goals of the redesign.

Step 3: Research your audience.

Understanding your target audience and their needs are important to create a website that meets their expectations and goals.

To research your target audience, you can use various methods, such as:

  • Surveys and questionnaires
  • Interviews
  • Analytics and data analysis
  • Social media listening

By understanding your target audience; you can create a website that meets their needs and provides a positive user experience.

Step 4: Gather inspiration.

Gathering inspiration and examples of similar websites can give you an idea of what works well and what doesn’t in your industry. It can also help you identify design trends and best practices. Awwwards is a great website that showcases some of the most beautiful and innovative websites.

Here are some of our healthcare favorites from Awwwards:

During this step, you can gather inspiration by:

  • Researching and studying competitors’ websites in your industry
  • Searching for websites in similar industries or niches
  • Visiting design and inspiration galleries such as Behance, Dribbble, or Pinterest
  • Keeping up to date with design trends and best practices

By gathering inspiration and examples, you can gain insight into what works well in your industry and how to create a website that stands out.

Step 5: Create a sitemap.

A crucial step in any website redesign checklist is to create a sitemap. A sitemap and wireframes are essential for planning the structure and layout of the new website. They help to ensure that the website content is organized and easy to navigate.

A sitemap visually represents the website’s structure and organization; it shows the relationships between pages and the information hierarchy. On the other hand, a wireframe is a low-fidelity representation of the website’s layout; it shows the positioning of elements on a page and the relationships between them.

Creating a sitemap and wireframes will help you to:

  • Plan the website’s structure and hierarchy
  • Ensure that the website is easy to navigate
  • Identify any potential usability issues
  • Communicate the design to the team and stakeholders

Gloomaps is a great free tool for creating in-depth sitemaps.

creating a sitemap with gloomaps

Step 6: Develop a consistent visual design language.

A consistent visual design language helps to create a cohesive and professional look for the website. It includes the use of consistent typography, colors, and imagery.

During this step, you can establish a consistent visual design language by:

  • Defining a color palette and typography
  • Creating a style guide
  • Establishing a consistent layout and grid system
  • Using consistent imagery and icons

By developing a consistent visual design language; you can create a cohesive and professional look for the website that reflects your brand identity.

Step 7: Optimize the website.

Optimizing the website for all devices and screen sizes is essential with the increasing use of mobile devices. This includes ensuring that the website is responsive and mobile-friendly. 

During this step, you can optimize the website for all devices and screen sizes by:

  • Ensuring that the website content is responsive and adapts to different screen sizes
  • Optimizing images and videos for mobile devices
  • Testing the website on various devices and browsers
  • Implementing a mobile-first design approach

By optimizing the website for all devices and screen sizes, you can provide a positive user experience for all visitors, regardless of the device they are using.

Step 8: Test the website.

User testing is an essential step in the redesign process. It helps to identify any usability issues and gather feedback on the new design. (Nielsen Norman Group)

During this step, you can conduct user testing by:

  • Recruiting a small group of users that represent your target audience
  • Conducting usability testing sessions with the users
  • Gathering feedback and observations from the users
  • Analyzing the results, and identifying any issues

By conducting user testing, you can ensure that the website is easy to use and meets the needs of your target audience before launch.

Step 9: Redirects and content migration.

It’s important to have a plan to migrate content and redirect visitors from the old website to the new one. This helps to ensure that existing customers can find the information they need and that search engine ranking are not affected. (MOZ)

During this step, you can create a plan for migration and redirects by:

  • Identifying all pages and content from the old website
  • Mapping out the new website structure and organization
  • Creating redirects for all old pages to the new pages
  • Updating any internal or external links to the new website
  • Communicating the plan to stakeholders and teams

By creating a plan for migration and redirects; you can ensure a smooth transition for your visitors and maintain your search engine rankings.

Step 10: Launch and monitor performance.

The last step of our website redesign checklist is to launch your new website! After launch, it’s important to monitor the website’s performance and make any necessary adjustments. This includes monitoring website traffic, user engagement, and conversion rates.

During this step, you can monitor the website’s performance by:

  • Setting up website analytics such as Google Analytics
  • Tracking website traffic and user engagement
  • Measuring conversion rates and goals
  • Conducting surveys and gathering feedback from users
  • Continuously testing and improving the website

By monitoring the website’s performance, you can identify any issues and make adjustments to improve the user experience and achieve your goals.

best marketing agencies in orange county

Elevate your brand with Webserv

Don’t let an outdated website hold your business back. At Webserv, we understand the importance of a modern, user-friendly website. As a healthcare digital marketing agency, we have the expertise and experience to help you create a website that will elevate your brand and drive conversions. Book an Intro Meeting, and let’s start your website redesign journey. Take the first step towards a better online presence and increased revenue for your business.

Looking for the top healthcare marketing agencies of 2023? Check out our list of the 35 best healthcare marketing agencies. From digital marketing to branding and creative campaigns, these agencies have the expertise and experience to help you succeed in the competitive healthcare industry.

[Updated on June 26th, 2023]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is a website redesign important?

Website redesign is crucial to enhance user experience, improve functionality, and stay aligned with the latest design trends, ultimately increasing conversion rates and attracting more visitors.

2. How often should I consider redesigning my website?

The frequency of website redesign depends on various factors like industry trends, changes in your business, and evolving user needs. Typically, a redesign every 2-3 years is recommended to ensure your website remains fresh and up to date.

3. What steps should I follow for a successful website redesign?

The key steps for a successful website redesign include defining your goals, conducting a thorough website audit, creating a user-centric design, optimizing for mobile responsiveness, and testing extensively before launching the new site.

4. How can I maintain my SEO rankings during a website redesign?

To preserve your SEO rankings during a redesign, ensure you map out 301 redirects for all changed URLs, maintain keyword-rich content, optimize page titles and meta descriptions, and submit an updated sitemap to search engines.

5. What are some common pitfalls to avoid during a website redesign?

Common pitfalls to avoid during a website redesign include neglecting to backup your existing site, not considering SEO implications, overlooking mobile optimization, ignoring user feedback, and not thoroughly testing the new site before going live.

Latest Posts

Related Blogs

Interviews, tips, guides, industry best practices, and news.
healthcare professional conducting a survey. Healthcare Brand Research
Brand research is a critical component of any successful branding strategy, as it enables providers to understand how patients perceive their brand, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective branding initiatives that improve patient satisfaction and loyalty.
Doctor showing a patient a brochure to highlight the importance of healthcare brand management.
Healthcare Brand Management plays a vital role in building trust, enhancing reputation, and achieving business goals. By following the best practices and guidelines, healthcare organizations can create a strong and effective brand identity.
happy patient at a hospital displaying healthcare brand experience
Creating a successful healthcare brand experience (HBE) is essential for healthcare organizations looking to differentiate themselves from their competitors and improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
View all posts

Healthcare Marketing Case Studies

Witness firsthand the results our Healthcare SEO, Advertising, and Web Design services have brought to clients, from Medical Device companies to Plastic Surgery Centers and even Rehabs and Treatment Centers.
All
Strategy
Paid Media
Earned and Owned
Brand Development
View all Healthcare Case Studies
arrow-right