When replacing an old website, many businesses focus on the new design but overlook the preparation work before the redesign. As a result, after launch, they encounter issues like broken links, missing old content, and lost keyword rankings. In fact, the most critical things to prepare in a redesign plan are not design mockups but the following items.
1. Compile a Complete URL List of the Old Website
Every page on your old website has a unique URL, which may be indexed by search engines, bookmarked by users, or linked from external sites. If URLs change after the redesign without proper redirects, visitors will see 404 pages, and search engines will re-evaluate your pages.
How to prepare: Export a complete list of all page URLs from your old site's backend or using a crawler tool, including at least the URL, page title, and last modified date. For smaller sites, manual compilation is also fine. This list serves as the foundation for subsequent 301 redirects and content migration.
2. Audit Your Old Website's Content Assets
Not all old content is worth keeping. Before the redesign, categorize your old content into "Keep," "Merge," and "Delete."
Keep: Product introductions, service descriptions, FAQs, and other content that still has traffic, rankings, and relevance. Merge: Similar or duplicate pages, such as multiple similar product pages, can be consolidated into one more comprehensive page. Delete: Outdated news, discontinued products, and low-value temporary pages.
Evaluation criteria: Refer to backend traffic data if available; otherwise, judge based on business relevance. Record where each piece of content will go in the new site to avoid missing content after launch.
3. Plan the New Website's Information Architecture
The old site's structure may no longer fit your current business, but a redesign doesn't mean starting from scratch. First, sketch out the new site's navigation tree, from the homepage to first-level categories, second-level categories, and down to specific pages. This step should align with user needs and your business priorities.
Planning notes: Keep category names clear, avoid deep hierarchies—ideally, users should reach any page within three clicks. Also, balance the number of pages under each category to prevent some sections from being sparse while others are overloaded. After planning, cross-reference the old URL list to determine where each old page maps to in the new structure.
4. Organize Images and File Assets
The new website will need fresh images, product photos, case studies, and more. Collect and organize these in advance to avoid scrambling for assets during development. Name images by category or purpose, for example, "product-a-main.jpg," to make it easy for developers. Also, check image dimensions and resolution to prevent blurriness or distortion.
For images from the old site that you still need, download and back them up locally, because once the old site goes offline, those files may become inaccessible.
5. Prepare a Test Environment and Data
Before the redesign goes live, you need a test environment to check the new site's functionality and display. When setting up the test environment, include a backup of the old site's data, especially the database and files. This allows you to simulate real data during testing, verify page rendering, and ensure forms submit correctly.
Additionally, create a test checklist listing pages and functions to review, such as the homepage, product pages, contact forms, and search functionality. Test each item before launch and fix any issues promptly.
6. Develop a Launch and Rollback Plan
Going live isn't just about uploading new files. Plan the launch time carefully, preferably during low-traffic periods like late night or weekends. Prepare a rollback plan: if the new site encounters serious issues, you should be able to quickly revert to the old site.
Specific steps: Keep a full backup of the old site and record its configuration details. After launch, closely monitor access logs and error reports, and address any anomalies immediately.
The above are the core items to prepare in a redesign plan when replacing an old website. The more thorough your preparation, the lower the risk after launch. It's recommended to work through this checklist item by item before moving into the design and development phase.
