The Website Redesign Process: What to Expect When Updating Your Site

Your website has been faithfully serving your business for years, but now it’s starting to show its age. Maybe the design looks dated, the mobile experience is clunky, or you’re losing potential customers because visitors can’t find what they need. Sound familiar? You’re not alone – most businesses need a website redesign every 3-5 years to stay competitive and effective.

But here’s the thing: a website redesign isn’t just about making things look prettier. It’s a strategic overhaul that can transform how your business connects with customers online. The process might seem overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been through it before. What exactly happens during a redesign? How long does it take? What will you need to provide?

This guide walks you through the entire website redesign process, from that first “we need a new website” conversation to the moment your shiny new site goes live. You’ll learn what to expect at each stage, how to prepare for success, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can derail projects.

Understanding the Website Redesign Timeline

Most business owners underestimate how long a website redesign takes. A typical small to medium business website redesign spans 8-16 weeks, depending on complexity. Here’s why it takes longer than you might expect:

A redesign isn’t just moving your existing content to a new template. It involves strategic planning, custom design work, content creation, development, testing, and optimization. Each phase builds on the previous one, and rushing through any stage usually creates problems later.

For example, a local restaurant chain recently wanted to rush their redesign to launch before their busy season. They skipped proper content planning and ended up with a beautiful site that didn’t clearly explain their catering services – their most profitable offering. They had to go back and restructure major sections, adding weeks to the timeline.

The timeline also depends on your involvement. Projects move faster when business owners can provide feedback promptly and have content ready when needed. Plan to dedicate 2-4 hours per week to the project, with heavier involvement during the planning and feedback phases.

Phase 1: Discovery and Planning

The discovery phase sets the foundation for everything that follows. This is where your web design team becomes detectives, gathering clues about your business, customers, and goals.

Business Analysis and Goal Setting

Your designer will want to understand your business inside and out. They’ll ask questions like: What makes you different from competitors? Who are your ideal customers? What actions do you want visitors to take on your site? What’s working (or not working) with your current website?

Be prepared to discuss your business goals honestly. If you want to increase online sales by 30%, say so. If you’re struggling with customer service calls because people can’t find information on your site, mention that too. The more context you provide, the better your designer can create solutions.

Competitor Research and Market Analysis

Your design team will analyze competitor websites to understand industry standards and identify opportunities to stand out. They’re not looking to copy – they’re identifying what works in your market and where you can differentiate.

For instance, if every competitor has a dark, serious website, maybe a bright, friendly approach would help you stand out. Or if everyone’s hiding their pricing, being transparent about costs could be your competitive advantage.

Technical Audit and Requirements

The team will examine your current website’s technical foundation. What’s the current traffic volume? Which pages perform best? Are there technical issues affecting search rankings? What integrations do you need (payment processing, booking systems, email marketing tools)?

This audit reveals what can be improved and what must be preserved. Maybe your blog drives significant traffic but your product pages don’t convert well. Understanding these patterns helps prioritize the redesign efforts.

Phase 2: Strategy and Site Architecture

With discovery complete, it’s time to create the blueprint for your new website. This phase determines how your site will be organized and what features it will include.

Information Architecture Development

Information architecture is fancy talk for organizing your website’s content logically. Your designer will create a sitemap showing every page and how they connect. This isn’t just about navigation menus – it’s about creating intuitive pathways for visitors to find what they need.

A good information architecture considers your visitors’ mental models. For example, a law firm might organize services by practice area (divorce, personal injury, business law) rather than by attorney, because that’s how potential clients think about their needs.

User Experience (UX) Planning

UX planning focuses on how visitors will interact with your site. Your designer will map out user journeys – the paths people take to accomplish their goals on your website.

Consider a home services company. A visitor might follow this journey: land on homepage → read about services → check service areas → read reviews → contact for quote. The UX plan ensures each step is clear and compelling, removing friction that might cause visitors to leave.

Content Strategy Development

Content strategy determines what information goes where and how it’s presented. This includes deciding which pages you need, what content each page should contain, and how to organize information for maximum impact.

Your designer might recommend combining several weak pages into one strong page, or splitting a dense page into multiple focused pages. They’ll also identify content gaps – information visitors need but your current site doesn’t provide.

Phase 3: Design and Visual Development

Now comes the part most people think of as “web design” – creating the visual look and feel of your new website.

Wireframing and Mockups

Before creating pixel-perfect designs, your designer will create wireframes – basic sketches showing where elements will be placed on each page. Think of wireframes as the blueprint for your house before you choose paint colors and furniture.

Wireframes focus on functionality and layout without getting distracted by colors or fonts. They help you understand how the site will work before investing time in detailed design. This is your chance to request changes to the structure without affecting the visual design timeline.

Visual Design Creation

With wireframes approved, your designer creates the actual visual design. They’ll choose colors, fonts, imagery styles, and create the overall aesthetic that represents your brand.

Expect to see designs for key page types first – homepage, service pages, contact page – rather than every single page. These template designs will be applied to similar pages throughout the site.

Design Feedback and Revisions

Most projects include 2-3 rounds of design revisions. The first round often involves bigger changes – adjusting layouts, trying different color schemes, or reorganizing sections. Later rounds focus on fine-tuning – adjusting spacing, tweaking fonts, or perfecting button styles.

Provide specific, actionable feedback rather than vague comments. Instead of “I don’t like it,” try “The header feels too cramped – can we increase the spacing around the logo?” This helps your designer make targeted improvements quickly.

Phase 4: Development and Programming

With designs approved, developers begin building the functional website. This phase transforms static designs into a working website.

Front-end Development

Front-end development creates what visitors see and interact with. Developers write code that displays your content, handles user interactions, and ensures everything works smoothly across different devices and browsers.

This includes responsive design implementation – making sure your site looks and works great on phones, tablets, and desktop computers. Developers also add interactive elements like contact forms, image galleries, and navigation menus.

Back-end Development and CMS Setup

Back-end development creates the systems that power your website behind the scenes. This includes setting up your content management system (CMS), integrating with third-party services, and building any custom functionality you need.

For most business websites, this means configuring WordPress, Shopify, or another CMS so you can easily update content after launch. Developers also set up hosting, security measures, and backup systems.

Content Integration

Once the technical framework is ready, your content gets integrated into the new design. This includes adding text, images, videos, and other media to create the complete website experience.

Content integration often reveals areas where content needs adjustment. Maybe a paragraph is too long for the designed space, or an image doesn’t work well with the new layout. These refinements ensure content and design work together seamlessly.

Phase 5: Testing and Quality Assurance

Before your new website goes live, it undergoes thorough testing to catch and fix any issues.

Functionality Testing

Every feature gets tested to ensure it works correctly. Forms need to submit properly, links should go to the right places, and interactive elements must function as designed. This includes testing on different devices and browsers to ensure consistent performance.

Testing also verifies integrations with external services. If your site connects to a booking system, payment processor, or email marketing platform, these connections need to work flawlessly.

Performance Optimization

A beautiful website that loads slowly will frustrate visitors and hurt your search rankings. During this phase, developers optimize images, minimize code, and configure caching to ensure fast loading times.

Performance optimization is especially important for mobile users, who often have slower internet connections and less patience for slow-loading sites.

SEO Implementation

Search engine optimization (SEO) elements get implemented during this phase. This includes optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, heading structures, and ensuring the site follows SEO best practices.

If you’re changing your website’s structure significantly, developers will also set up redirects from old pages to new ones, preserving your search rankings and ensuring visitors don’t encounter broken links.

Phase 6: Launch and Post-Launch Support

The launch phase involves making your new website live and ensuring everything continues working smoothly.

Pre-Launch Checklist

Before going live, your team will run through a comprehensive checklist. This includes final content reviews, testing all forms and integrations, verifying contact information, and ensuring analytics tracking is properly configured.

You’ll also receive training on how to update your new website, including adding new content, updating existing pages, and using any new features or tools.

Going Live

The actual launch involves pointing your domain name to the new website and monitoring for any issues. This is typically done during off-peak hours to minimize disruption to your business.

Immediately after launch, your team will monitor the site closely, checking for broken links, form submissions, and any unexpected issues that might arise in the live environment.

Post-Launch Monitoring and Support

The first few weeks after launch are crucial for identifying and resolving any issues that weren’t caught during testing. Your web design team should provide support during this period, addressing any problems quickly.

This is also when you’ll start seeing real user behavior on your new site, which might reveal opportunities for further optimization.

Preparing for Your Website Redesign

Success depends largely on how well you prepare for the process. Here’s what you can do to ensure a smooth redesign:

Gather Your Assets

Collect all the materials your design team will need: current website login credentials, brand guidelines, high-quality logos, professional photos, and any existing marketing materials. Having these ready prevents delays later in the process.

Audit Your Current Content

Review your existing website content and identify what should be kept, updated, or removed. This saves time during the content strategy phase and ensures important information doesn’t get overlooked.

Define Success Metrics

Determine how you’ll measure the redesign’s success. This might include increased contact form submissions, longer time spent on site, improved search rankings, or higher conversion rates. Clear metrics help guide design decisions and prove the project’s value.

Plan for Ongoing Maintenance

A website redesign isn’t a one-time project – it’s the beginning of ongoing website management. Plan for regular updates, security maintenance, and future improvements. Consider who will handle these tasks and budget accordingly.

Common Redesign Challenges and How to Avoid Them

Even well-planned redesigns can encounter obstacles. Here are the most common challenges and how to prevent them:

Scope Creep

Scope creep happens when the project expands beyond the original plan. You might see a competitor’s cool feature and want to add it, or realize you need functionality that wasn’t discussed initially.

Prevent scope creep by thoroughly planning the project upfront and documenting all requirements. If you want to add features later, discuss the timeline and budget implications with your design team.

Content Delays

Content creation often becomes a bottleneck. Business owners underestimate how long it takes to write effective website copy, and delays cascade through the entire project.

Start working on content early in the process. If writing isn’t your strength, consider hiring a professional copywriter or ask your design team about content creation services.

Perfectionism Paralysis

Some business owners get stuck trying to make every detail perfect, causing endless revision cycles. Remember that websites can be updated after launch – it’s better to launch a good website on time than to delay indefinitely pursuing perfection.

Technical Complications

Unexpected technical issues can arise, especially when integrating with existing systems or migrating from old platforms. Work with experienced developers who can anticipate and handle these challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a website redesign cost?

Website redesign costs vary widely based on complexity, features, and the design team you choose. A basic small business redesign might cost $3,000-$10,000, while complex sites with custom functionality can cost $15,000-$50,000 or more. Get detailed quotes from multiple providers and understand what’s included in each proposal.

Can I update my website myself after the redesign?

Most modern websites are built with user-friendly content management systems that allow you to update text, images, and basic content without technical knowledge. Your design team should provide training on how to use these tools. However, major changes or technical updates typically require professional help.

What happens to my search rankings during a redesign?

A properly executed redesign should maintain or improve your search rankings. This requires careful planning, including setting up redirects from old pages to new ones and maintaining SEO best practices. Temporary fluctuations are normal, but rankings should stabilize within a few weeks.

How often should I redesign my website?

Most business websites benefit from a redesign every 3-5 years, though this depends on your industry and how quickly technology changes. Signs you need a redesign include declining performance, outdated design, poor mobile experience, or significant changes to your business model.

What if I don’t like the final design?

This is why the design process includes multiple feedback rounds and approval stages. Communicate concerns early and specifically – don’t wait until the end to voice major objections. Reputable design teams will work with you to address legitimate concerns, though extensive changes late in the process may affect timeline and budget.

Can I keep my current domain name?

Yes, website redesigns typically keep your existing domain name. The new website is built separately and then connected to your domain when it’s ready to launch. This preserves your brand recognition and any SEO value associated with your domain.

Making Your Redesign Investment Pay Off

A website redesign is a significant investment, but it can deliver substantial returns when done right. The key is approaching it as a strategic business project rather than just a design exercise.

Start by clearly defining your goals and measuring current performance, so you can track improvements after launch. Work with a team that understands your business, not just web design. Be prepared to invest time in the process – your involvement and feedback are crucial for success.

Remember that the redesign is just the beginning. The most successful websites are continuously optimized based on user behavior and business needs. Plan for ongoing maintenance, content updates, and future improvements.

At Peregrine Pixels, we’ve guided hundreds of businesses through successful website redesigns. We understand that every business is unique, and we tailor our process to your specific needs and goals. If you’re considering a website redesign, we’d love to discuss your project and help you understand what’s possible for your business online.