Preserve the pages that do real work
Export a list of current URLs, page titles and any search queries that lead visitors to the site. Keep copies of genuine reviews, strong project stories and existing contact details. Check which service pages customers mention when they enquire; those pages may be more valuable than their design suggests.
Record the existing domain, DNS provider, hosting account and business email configuration. A web designer can rebuild a site, but a careless domain change or email interruption can stop customers reaching you at precisely the wrong time.
Decide what needs improving
Look at the homepage on a phone and ask whether it clearly identifies your services and actual coverage area. Check whether wallpaper hanging, exterior painting or commercial decorating deserve dedicated descriptions. Remove outdated claims and replace thin galleries with a few projects that have meaningful context.
Test forms from start to finish, including spam handling and confirmation messages. For decorators, optional project photos and a postcode can be useful, but a compulsory ten-field form may reduce completion. Make the next step easy without promising a fixed quotation before seeing the work.
Protect search visibility during migration
If you change a page address, arrange a relevant permanent redirect from the old URL to the closest equivalent, not automatically to the homepage. Update internal links and the sitemap to use the final canonical addresses. Keep important descriptions and locally relevant information rather than replacing every page with generic copy.
After launch, inspect a sample of old and new URLs, check for missing pages, and review Search Console for crawling or indexing issues. A new website can take time to settle in search results; avoid interpreting normal fluctuations as proof that the redesign failed.
Run a real launch acceptance test
On desktop and mobile, submit a test enquiry, click the telephone number, open the navigation, browse several projects and read the legal/privacy information associated with the form. Confirm messages reach the intended inbox and the owner knows how to request content changes.
Ask your designer for the final URL list, hosting and support details, update process and a record of any recurring charges. LLTT Media can help plan a managed redesign, but whichever provider you choose, insist on a clear handover.
A safe before-and-after launch comparison
Before redesigning, make a simple table containing each important current URL, its purpose and the new destination. For example, `/exterior-painting/` may become `/services/exterior-painting/`; note that the old address needs a permanent redirect, not a dead end. Record the current page title, core services described and any genuine project evidence you intend to keep. Export relevant Search Console data so you have a baseline.
After launch, open the old URLs and confirm that they reach the correct new pages. Send a test decorating enquiry, tap the telephone number on a phone, inspect canonical URLs and check that the sitemap contains the current public pages. Monitor crawl and indexing reports over the following weeks. A redesign is not complete when the new colours go live; it is complete when visitors and search engines can still find the information they came for.
- Map old important URLs to relevant destinations.
- Record a baseline before changing pages.
- Test redirects, forms, mobile navigation and canonicals.
- Monitor Search Console after launch rather than assuming success.
Further reading
Related guide: When Should a Painting and Decorating Business Redesign Its Website?