A redesign changes more than how a site looks. URLs, page content, navigation and templates can all change. Record what you have before replacing it.
Before design: inventory the current site
Export your live URLs, sitemap and internal links. If available, use Search Console to identify pages that receive search clicks and impressions, and analytics or enquiry records to find pages that lead to real conversations. Include important PDF files and product categories in the inventory.
For each existing URL, decide whether it will stay, move to a close equivalent or be removed. Do not send every old page to the homepage. If a page has a relevant new replacement, map a permanent redirect to that replacement. If the content genuinely has no equivalent, a normal 404 or 410 may be appropriate.
During the build: preserve meaning
Keep the useful information from valuable pages. Rewrite thin sections when needed, but check that the new service page still answers the searcher’s question. Use one clear main heading, descriptive titles, sensible internal links and self-referencing canonical URLs on indexable pages.
Build the new navigation around the way customers explore the offer. A catalogue may need stable category pages even when individual stock changes frequently. Keep a staging site out of search results and make sure any staging restrictions are removed from the public launch.
Before launch: test the mapping
Crawl the old and new URL lists. Check each redirect for a valid destination, avoid long redirect chains, and confirm important pages return the expected status. Test the enquiry form, phone links, mobile menu and important images. Generate a sitemap containing only the new canonical URLs.
After launch: monitor and fix
Verify the correct domain in Search Console and submit the new sitemap. Inspect a sample of high value URLs, watch indexing and performance by page, and fix missed redirects or broken links. Keep redirects in place long enough for users and search engines to discover the new locations.
Expect temporary movement while search systems recrawl. Look at relevant enquiries and page level search data over time rather than one day of rankings. A domain move needs extra planning, including ownership verification and the appropriate change of address process when applicable.
A practical handover
Ask for the URL mapping, redirect rules, new sitemap, launch checks and a record of unresolved issues. They make the work reviewable and help the next person maintain the site.