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Website Redesign Checklist for Established Sydney Businesses

March 23, 2026

Pre-Redesign Planning Phase

Strategy and Goals

[ ] Define specific business goals for redesign
Increase lead volume by X%?
Improve conversion rate?
Rank for specific keywords?
Better reflect evolved brand?
Support new service offerings?
[ ] Identify target audience
Who are your ideal customers?
What do they need to see to convert?
What concerns must you address?
[ ] Define success metrics
How will you measure success?
What specific KPIs matter?
What’s current baseline performance?
[ ] Set realistic timeline
When do you need site launched?
Are there seasonal considerations?
Any events or deadlines to consider?
[ ] Establish budget
What can you realistically invest?
What’s the ROI requirement?
Budget for ongoing maintenance?

Current Website Audit

[ ] Analyze current traffic and performance
Google Analytics review (last 12 months)
Traffic sources and volumes
Top performing pages
Conversion rates by source and page
Bounce rates and engagement metrics
[ ] Document what’s working
Which pages generate leads?
Which content ranks well?
What messaging resonates?
What should be preserved?
[ ] Document what’s not working
High bounce rate pages
Pages with zero traffic
Technical problems
User experience issues
Conversion barriers
[ ] Review Google Search Console
Which keywords rank?
Which pages get impressions/clicks?
Any errors or issues?
Mobile usability problems?
[ ] Inventory all existing content
What content exists?
What’s worth keeping/updating?
What should be removed?
What gaps exist?

Competitive Research

[ ] Identify top 5-10 competitors
Who ranks for your target keywords?
Who do prospects compare you to?
Who represents quality in your industry?
[ ] Analyze competitor websites
How many pages do they have?
What content depth?
What messaging and positioning?
What features and functionality?
What works well on their sites?
[ ] Identify competitive advantages
What can you do better?
What can you emphasize that they don’t?
Where are gaps you can fill?

Keyword Research

[ ] Research what prospects search
Use keyword research tools
Analyze search volume for terms
Identify long-tail opportunities
Focus on Sydney-specific terms
[ ] Map keywords to pages
Which page targets which keyword?
Primary and secondary keywords per page
Ensure no keyword cannibalization
[ ] Prioritize keywords
Based on search volume
Based on competition level
Based on business value
Based on conversion potential

Vendor Selection (If Not DIY)

[ ] Research potential web design partners
Request portfolios
Review case studies
Check reviews and testimonials
Verify experience with your industry
[ ] Compare proposals
What’s included in scope?
What’s the process?
What’s the timeline?
What’s included vs. additional?
What ongoing support?
[ ] Verify cultural fit
Communication style match?
Understanding of your business?
Shared values and approach?
Responsive and professional?
[ ] Check references
Contact past clients
Ask about experience
Would they work with them again?
Any issues or concerns?

Design and Development Phase

Information Architecture

[ ] Define sitemap
List all pages needed
Organize hierarchy logically
Plan navigation structure
Ensure user journey is intuitive
[ ] Plan URL structure
SEO-friendly URLs
Logical organization
Map old URLs to new (if changing)
Plan 301 redirects
[ ] Design navigation
Primary navigation items (5-7 max)
Mobile menu structure
Footer navigation
Ensure critical pages accessible in 3 clicks

Content Strategy

[ ] Plan content for every page
Homepage messaging
Service page content
About/team content
Blog content plan
Supporting pages
[ ] Create/optimize key pages
Homepage (1,000-1,500 words)
Service pages (1,500-2,500 words each)
About/team page
Contact page
Location pages for Sydney suburbs
[ ] Plan ongoing content
Blog publishing schedule
Content topics and keywords
Who creates content?
What’s the approval process?
[ ] Gather necessary assets
Team photos
Business photos
Product/service images
Client logos (with permission)
Testimonials
Case study information

Design

[ ] Establish visual direction
Brand guidelines or development
Color palette
Typography
Photography style
Design aesthetics
[ ] Wireframe key templates
Homepage layout
Service page layout
Blog post layout
Landing page layout
Mobile layouts
[ ] Design homepage and templates
Homepage design
Key page templates
Mobile responsive design
Design system/style guide
[ ] Design with conversion in mind
Clear calls-to-action
Trust signal placement
Form design
Visual hierarchy
Strategic whitespace
[ ] Review and approve design
Provide clear feedback
Approve before development
Sign off on design direction

Development

[ ] Set up development environment
Development server
Staging server
Version control (Git)
Backup systems
[ ] Build core functionality
CMS implementation
Forms and validation
Contact methods
Search functionality
Any custom features
[ ] Implement SEO elements
Title tags and meta descriptions
Heading hierarchy
Schema markup
XML sitemap
Robots.txt
Canonical tags
[ ] Optimize performance
Image optimization
Code minification
Caching implementation
CDN setup if needed
Target under 3 second load time
[ ] Ensure mobile responsiveness
Test all breakpoints
Touch-optimized interactions
Mobile-specific features
Performance on mobile networks
[ ] Implement analytics
Google Analytics
Google Search Console
Goal tracking
Event tracking
Heat mapping tools
Call tracking (if applicable)

Testing Phase

[ ] Functional testing
All forms submit correctly
All links work
All images load
Search works
No console errors
[ ] Cross-browser testing
Chrome
Safari
Firefox
Edge
Mobile browsers
[ ] Device testing
Desktop (various sizes)
Laptop
Tablet (iPad, Android)
Mobile (iPhone, Android various sizes)
[ ] Performance testing
Google PageSpeed Insights
Load time testing
Mobile performance
Core Web Vitals
[ ] SEO audit
All meta tags present
Schema markup working
Sitemap generated
Redirects tested
No broken links
[ ] Content review
Proofread all content
Check spelling and grammar
Verify accuracy
Ensure consistency
Check formatting
[ ] User experience testing
Can you find information easily?
Is conversion process clear?
Are CTAs obvious?
Is mobile experience good?
Get feedback from actual users

Pre-Launch Preparation

Technical Preparation

[ ] Set up hosting
Production hosting ready
DNS configuration planned
SSL certificate installed
Backups configured
[ ] Create 301 redirects
Map all old URLs to new
Test redirect logic
Ensure no redirect chains
Prepare redirect file
[ ] Back up old website
Full site backup
Database backup
Save all content
Download all files
[ ] Prepare launch plan
Launch timing decided
Rollback plan if issues
Who does what during launch
Communication plan

Content and Data

[ ] Finalize all content
All pages complete
All images optimized
All forms configured
All links verified
[ ] Test third-party integrations
Email marketing
CRM connections
Payment processing
Analytics tracking
Social media links
[ ] Verify contact information
Email addresses working
Phone numbers correct
Address accurate
Contact form sends correctly

SEO Preparation

[ ] Submit new sitemap
Generate XML sitemap
Submit to Google Search Console
Submit to Bing Webmaster Tools
[ ] Verify Search Console
Ownership verified
New domain added if changed
All properties configured
[ ] Monitor rankings pre-launch
Document current keyword rankings
Track key pages
Baseline for comparison

Launch Day

[ ] Final pre-launch checks
Test on staging one more time
Verify all content final
Confirm backups complete
Team ready for launch
[ ] Execute launch
Deploy site to production
Update DNS if needed
Implement 301 redirects
Monitor for errors
[ ] Immediate post-launch verification
Site loads correctly
Forms work
Analytics tracking
Mobile works
Major pages functional
[ ] Monitor closely
Check for errors
Monitor traffic
Watch for issues
Be ready to fix quickly

Post-Launch (Week 1-4)

Monitoring

[ ] Monitor analytics daily
Traffic levels
Bounce rates
Conversion tracking working
Goal completions
[ ] Check Search Console
Indexing status
Crawl errors
Mobile usability
Search performance
[ ] Monitor user feedback
Client feedback
Team feedback
Form submissions
Support requests
[ ] Fix issues quickly
Address any bugs found
Resolve user complaints
Fix broken elements
Optimize problem areas

Optimization

[ ] Review performance
Page speed acceptable?
Any slow pages?
Images optimized?
Mobile performance good?
[ ] Check conversions
Forms converting?
Calls coming in?
CTAs effective?
Any friction points?
[ ] SEO monitoring
Pages being indexed?
Rankings maintained?
Any ranking drops to address?
Redirects working?
[ ] Make initial improvements
Fix obvious issues
Optimize underperforming elements
A/B test key pages
Refine based on data

Ongoing (Months 2-12)

[ ] Publish content regularly
Follow content calendar
2-4 blog posts monthly
Update service pages
Add case studies
[ ] Monitor and optimize
Review analytics monthly
Identify opportunities
Test improvements
Track ROI
[ ] Update content
Refresh old content
Update information
Expand top performers
Remove/consolidate thin content
[ ] Build on success
Double down on what works
Expand successful strategies
Add new features as needed
Continue optimization

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a website redesign take?

8-12 weeks typically for established businesses, from kickoff to launch. This includes strategy, design, development, content, and testing. Rushed projects compromise quality; extended projects waste time.

What if we can’t provide content?

Professional copywriting services should be included in redesign budget. Budget 2-4 weeks and $3,000-$8,000+ for professional content depending on page count.

Should we redesign while current site is live?

Yes. Build new site on staging server while current site remains live. Only switch over when new site is complete and tested.

What if rankings drop after launch?

Some fluctuation is normal as Google re-evaluates new site. Proper 301 redirects, maintained URL structures where possible, and improved content usually result in equal or better rankings within 2-3 months.

How do we maintain SEO during redesign?

Maintain URL structures where possible, implement 301 redirects for changed URLs, preserve or improve content, ensure technical SEO is excellent, submit updated sitemap immediately.

Should we notify customers about redesign?

Optional. Some businesses announce it (“New website launching soon!”), others simply switch over. If significant functionality changes, consider notification.

What’s the most common reason redesigns fail?

Skipping strategy and jumping to design. Without clear goals, audience understanding, and strategic planning, even beautiful designs fail to deliver results.

Hi, I’m Scott Nailon. I built my first website using notepad on my buggy Osbourne Pentium 133 (Windows 98) computer back in 1998. I have been running my own business since 2006 with a specialty in web since 2008. Most of these blogs are my own, if they are written by someone else I will have attributed that person at the end of the article. Thanks for reading!