A safer checklist for your website redesign

Take stock before changing everything

A redesign should begin with an inventory of the current website. Record the pages, their URLs, the booking connections, and the information your practice still uses.

Use your own Search Console data to identify pages already appearing in search. Impressions show that a page was displayed in results; they do not by themselves show that the page is ranking prominently or converting visitors. Keep the distinction in mind when choosing priorities.

Preserve useful URLs

Where an existing page still serves the same purpose, keep its address when practical. If you need to move a page, create a specific redirect from the old address to its closest relevant replacement.

Avoid sending every removed page to the homepage. A visitor following a procedure link should reach the corresponding procedure or service information.

• Export or record the current page list
• Mark pages to keep, improve, merge, or retire
• Prepare a one-to-one redirect plan
• Check internal links against the new addresses
• Preserve useful page titles and improve vague descriptions

Review the content with your team

Confirm opening hours, addresses, provider names, credentials, fees, and service availability. A redesign is a good opportunity to remove information that no longer reflects the practice.

Ask the clinical team to approve medical content and any patient-facing claims. Assign an owner for future updates so the new website stays accurate.

Test the complete enquiry journey

Open the new site on a phone and desktop. Follow the main routes to booking or enquiry and test actual form submission, error messages, and confirmation states.

Check that the practice can retrieve enquiries. A visually polished form that does not reach anyone is a launch problem, not a minor detail. Confirm who reviews submissions and how often.

Check search basics after launch

Make sure important pages are accessible, the sitemap reflects the new URLs, and the site is allowed to be indexed when it becomes public. Recheck redirects and submit the sitemap through your Search Console account.

Monitor changes over time. Search visibility can fluctuate during a migration; compare actual queries, pages, clicks, and enquiry quality rather than relying on a single headline number.