Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid in Your Website Redesign

When it comes to a website redesign, the excitement of giving your online presence a fresh look and enhanced functionality can sometimes overshadow the importance of preserving your hard-earned SEO rankings. Redesigning your website without considering SEO can lead to a significant loss of traffic and visibility. In this blog, we’ll highlight some common SEO mistakes to avoid during your website redesign.

1.Ignoring the research on keywords

Researching keywords is the cornerstone of SEO.  Failing to perform new keyword research for your redesigned site can result in content that doesn’t align with current search trends. Ensure that your content strategy incorporates relevant, high-ranking keywords to maintain or improve your search engine rankings.

2. Ignoring URL Structure

Changing URLs without proper redirection is a grave mistake. When you alter URLs during a redesign, you risk breaking existing links and confusing search engines. Implement 301 redirects to guide search engines and users to the new URLs seamlessly.

3. Skipping Mobile Optimization

Ignoring mobile optimization is wicked, as mobile devices make up a sizable amount of site traffic.  Make sure the updated version of your website works well on desktop and mobile platforms and is responsive. In its search results, Google gives preference to mobile-friendly websites.

4. Overlooking Page Speed

A slow-loading website can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Google ranks websites based on a statistic called page speed.    Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and utilize content delivery networks (CDNs) to improve loading times for your redesigned site.

5. Not Putting 301 Redirects in Place Correctly

Failing to implement 301 redirects for old URLs can result in “404 not found” errors, causing search engines to de-index your pages. Create a comprehensive redirect plan to ensure a seamless transition from the old to the new website.

6. Neglecting Content Migration

Content is king in SEO. During a redesign, ensure that all your valuable content, including blog posts, articles, and product descriptions, is properly migrated. Missing or broken information might annoy visitors and lower your SEO rankings.

7. Not Checking Broken Links

Broken links are detrimental to SEO and user experience. Perform regular checks to identify and fix broken links, both internal and external, on your redesigned website.

8. Forgetting to Update Meta Tags and Descriptions

Search engine rankings are heavily influenced by meta tags and descriptions.  Neglecting to update these elements for your new pages can lead to mismatched information and decreased click-through rates (CTR).

9. Disregarding Structured Data Markup

Search engines can better comprehend your material and provide rich snippets in search results when structured data markup, like that found in schema.org, is used. Make sure to include structured data markup in your redesigned website to enhance visibility.

10. Skipping SEO Audits and Monitoring

Don’t assume that your SEO work is done once the redesigned site is live. Conduct regular SEO audits and monitoring to identify issues, track rankings, and make necessary adjustments to maintain and improve your website’s SEO performance.

In conclusion, a website redesign can breathe new life into your online presence, but it must be approached with caution from an SEO perspective. Avoiding these common SEO mistakes ensures that your redesigned website not only looks great but also maintains or improves its search engine rankings, ultimately driving more organic traffic and achieving your online goals.