How to Prepare for a Website Redesign: A Guide for Small Business Owners

Your website is often the first impression people have of your business — so if it feels outdated, difficult to use, or doesn't reflect your brand, it might be time for a redesign. But where do you start?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to prepare for a successful website redesign that aligns with your goals, brand, and audience.

1. Identify Why You Need a Redesign

Start by understanding what’s not working:

• Is your website outdated in design or functionality?
• Does it lack mobile responsiveness?
• Are visitors not converting into customers?
• Has your business outgrown your current site?

Clarity on the “why” will shape the strategy behind the redesign.

2. Set Clear Goals for the New Website

What do you want your new website to achieve? Common goals include:

• Improving user experience
• Generating more leads or sales
• Reflecting a refreshed brand identity
• Ranking better on Google through improved SEO

Knowing your goals will help guide design decisions and measure success.

3. Audit Your Current Website

Before you throw everything out, review what’s working:

• Which pages get the most traffic?
• What content performs well?
• Are there SEO rankings you want to maintain?

Tools like Google Analytics and heatmaps can provide helpful data.

4. Refresh or Rebuild Your Brand Identity

A website redesign is a great time to evaluate your brand:

• Does your logo still reflect your business?
• Are your colours and typography consistent and modern?
• Is your messaging clear and aligned with your audience?

If your brand needs an update, consider working with a designer to build a strong, cohesive identity before redesigning your site.

5. Gather Your Content and Assets

You’ll need:

• Updated copy for pages and calls to action
• High-quality images or video
• Testimonials or case studies
• Any downloadable content (PDFs, guides, etc.)

Preparing this content early helps speed up the design and development process.

6. Choose the Right Platform and Team

If you’re working with a designer or agency, share your goals and brand guidelines early. For modern, fast, and flexible websites, Webflow is an excellent platform — especially for small businesses wanting a custom, user-friendly experience.

7. Plan for SEO and Launch

SEO should be built into your redesign, not added later. Make sure to:

• Maintain strong-performing URLs when possible
• Optimise metadata and on-page content
• Create a 301 redirect plan for old URLs

Also plan for a soft or full launch, test across devices, and be ready to promote the new site.

Final Thoughts

A website redesign is an exciting opportunity to level up your business. With the right preparation, clear goals, and a strong design partner, you can create a website that not only looks great but also drives results.

Ready to refresh your website and brand? Let’s talk about how we can bring your vision to life.

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