In short: A good relaunch has six steps: set one goal, review the old site, gather content, design the key pages, build with redirects for every old URL, then launch with testing and a close eye on Search Console.
1. One goal
More inquiries, more applications, more bookings? One main goal to measure every decision against.
2. Review the old site
Which pages bring visitors from Google? Their content has to survive. Search Console shows you which ones.
3. Content first
Copy and images before design. Build the design first and squeeze the copy in later, and you get pretty empty spaces.
4. Design the homepage and one subpage
That’s where the style gets decided. All other pages follow the pattern.
5. Build with redirects
Every old URL that brings visitors gets a permanent redirect (301) to the matching new page. Otherwise you lose rankings that took years to grow.
6. Launch and the first weeks
- Test the forms yourself, on mobile and desktop.
- Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.
- Watch for error pages and drops for two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a website relaunch take?
A small company site is often done in a few weeks. The pace depends mostly on when copy and images are ready.
Will I lose my Google rankings in a relaunch?
Not if old URLs are redirected properly and the content of your strong pages is kept.
More about websites and landing pages