A redesign goes much more smoothly when the planning is done first. Use this checklist to get ready before you talk to a developer or open a single design file.
1. Define your goals
Decide what the new site must achieve: more leads, online sales, bookings, or a stronger brand. Clear goals guide every design decision.
2. Record your current numbers
Save your current traffic, top pages, conversion rate, and page speed. These benchmarks let you measure success after launch.
3. Audit your existing content
List every page and mark it as keep, update, merge, or delete. Many sites carry years of outdated pages that no longer help anyone.
4. Identify your top-ranking pages
Use Google Search Console to find the pages that bring in traffic. These need special protection during the redesign.
5. Know your audience
Write down who your ideal customers are and what they look for on your site. Design for them, not for your own taste.
6. Review competitors
Look at three to five competitors. Note what works well and where you can stand out.
7. Gather brand assets
Collect your logo, colors, fonts, photos, and testimonials so nothing slows the project down later.
8. Set a realistic budget and timeline
Website projects typically take several weeks to a few months. Decide who approves content and design so feedback doesn’t stall.
9. Plan your site structure
Sketch a simple sitemap showing your main pages and how they connect. Good navigation helps visitors and search engines.
10. Back up your current site
Create a full backup of your files and database before any work begins, so you can recover quickly if anything goes wrong.
Key takeaways
Planning prevents delays and surprise costs.
Benchmarks prove whether the redesign worked
Protect high-traffic pages and always keep a backup.
Want help planning your redesign? Srivex Studio offers a free consultation
