Planning a website redesign sounds exciting at first. A fresh look, better layout, and maybe quicker load times can really improve how your site feels. But jumping in without a clear plan can lead to some real problems. Tasks like moving pages around or changing how your site works might cause you to lose visitors if you aren’t careful. And when that traffic drops, so do leads and business.
A smart redesign keeps all the good stuff, your content, your traffic, your customers, while improving what needs fixing. It’s not just about colors or photos, it’s about how the whole site performs when people actually visit. Let’s go through the steps that help keep things running smoothly from start to finish.
At Surdej Web Solutions, we redesign websites for Buffalo businesses using modern responsive layouts, updated content and graphics, and current site features so the new version supports both your design and usability goals.
What to Think About Before You Start
Before anything changes on your site, take time to look at what works today. New designs are great, but not if they replace pieces your visitors actually use. You don’t want to lose the pages people count on just to make things look cleaner. Starting with a little planning makes a big difference.
Here’s how to begin:
• Check which pages get the most traffic and where visitors spend the most time
• Keep a list of top content you don’t want to lose, like blog posts, product or service pages, and contact info
• Think about your goals, is the new design about speed, appearance, or helping people find things more easily?
Having clear goals helps the process feel focused, and knowing what to keep makes sure you don’t take away something customers rely on. A redesign should feel like an upgrade, not a total restart.
Keep the Same Web Addresses When You Can
One thing we’ve seen go wrong during site updates is URL changes. If a popular page gets a new address, it can disappear from search results or show up as an error when someone clicks an old link. Even if that page is still there, visitors won’t find it if search engines or saved bookmarks point to the wrong place.
To avoid that, try to keep as many web addresses the same as possible. If something really does need to move, that’s okay, but make sure it gets mapped to the new version. Redirects can help search engines and people land on the new page without getting lost.
Here’s what helps keep everything on track:
• Make a simple outline of your current page structure so you know what’s already out there
• Label which pages are most important so they stay where they are, if possible
• Use clean redirects for any pages that move so people don’t run into dead ends
Your website redesign should make things easier, not harder. Keeping links working helps you keep your existing traffic while building for the future.
When we rebuild a site, we often use WordPress as the content management system, which makes it easier for you to update pages and keep your URLs and menus organized over time.
Don’t Launch Without Testing
Once your new design is ready, it’s easy to want to show it off right away. But before hitting that launch button, give the site a full test drive. What looks good on a laptop might act differently on a phone or tablet. And nobody wants to be the one who finds out a page is broken because a customer mentioned it.
Testing helps catch small issues before they turn into big complaints. It’s the best way to avoid hurting your traffic or frustrating visitors who are just trying to find your phone number or send a message.
As you prepare to launch, go step by step:
• Open your website on different devices to check how it looks and loads
• Click every link to make sure nothing goes to an error or blank page
• Ask a few people to try the site and let you know what felt confusing or incomplete
Feedback from fresh eyes can reveal little things that are easy to miss when you’ve been looking at the same designs for weeks. A smooth launch builds confidence and makes the update feel like a win.
Remember Local Needs, Especially in Winter
In a place like Buffalo, winter hits hard and early. People here rely on websites to help them make quick decisions without having to step outside in the cold. That means your site should be easy to use and full of helpful details, especially during these months.
If someone’s checking your site in January, they might only have a minute before heading out into the snow. Make that visit count by putting key info front and center.
Here’s what you want to focus on:
• Make hours of operation and phone numbers easy to see right on the homepage
• Add click-to-call buttons or links to maps that work fast on a phone
• Include winter-specific updates, like changes in schedule or weather-related notices
Buffalo winters are no joke. If people can’t find what they need on your site quickly, they’ll move on. Local visitors expect convenience, and your website should deliver it no matter how cold it gets.
Positive Results Come From Careful Planning
Redesigning a website isn’t just about making something look nice. It’s about being smart with what stays, what changes, and how everything works once it’s live. With the right plan, you can give your site a fresh design while keeping your customers happy, your pages connected, and your traffic right where it should be.
Careful planning, steady testing, and thinking about when and how people use your site can make a big difference. Visitors like websites that work. When you make it easy for them to stick around and find what they came for, the look and layout become part of a better total experience. Keep what works, fix what doesn’t, and stay focused on serving the people who click through every day.
Our website projects are built with SEO in mind, including page titles, descriptions, and other on-page details, so redesign changes support your search visibility instead of working against it.
Updating your site doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With our guidance, you can keep your visitors engaged and maintain steady search traffic. We have helped many businesses stay on track during a website redesign and focus on what matters most. Whether you are refreshing outdated content or improving how your site works in the winter months, we’re here to help. Contact Surdej Web Solutions to start a smarter redesign process today.