When a redesign is justified
When the site does not work properly on a phone, because that is where most visitors are now. When it is slow and that is measured rather than felt. When the business has changed so the structure no longer matches what you sell. When the system behind the site no longer receives security updates. And when you cannot change a price or opening hours yourself without calling the supplier.
When a refresh is enough
If the only problem is that you no longer like the look, while the site is fast, usable and bringing enquiries, a redesign is an expensive way to settle a question of taste. Often it is enough to refresh typography, colours, photography and the opening section. That costs considerably less and touches nothing that already works.
Technical steps that keep old addresses working
- List every existing URL before starting, from the sitemap.
- For every page whose address changes, create a permanent redirect to the closest new equivalent.
- Do not delete pages that bring visits merely because they do not fit the new design.
- Check the new version does not carry a noindex from the test server, the most common launch mistake.
We do redesigns with a URL inventory and redirects as part of the job, send us your site address.