Guide
Website redesign checklist
Pre-launch website redesign checklist covering redirects, Core Web Vitals, accessibility, analytics, and Search Console verification.
Before design starts
Export indexed URLs from Search Console and crawl the live site.
Define conversion goals and primary KPIs with stakeholders.
Build a sitemap that reflects user intent and search intent together.
Assign owners for content, legal review, and analytics.
Before launch
Validate every 301 redirect and eliminate chains.
Test forms, chat, checkout, and key user journeys on mobile.
Run Lighthouse on primary templates for LCP, INP, and CLS.
Complete WCAG checks on navigation, forms, and media.
Recalculate canonical tags, hreflang, and schema on every template.
Launch day and first 90 days
Deploy redirects before DNS cutover when possible.
Submit updated XML sitemap in Search Console.
Verify robots.txt and noindex rules on staging remnants.
Compare rankings and traffic weekly against pre-launch baselines.
Frequently asked questions
What belongs on a website redesign SEO checklist?
URL inventory, redirect map, internal link updates, schema validation, sitemap submission, and Coverage report monitoring.
Who signs off on the checklist?
Your marketing lead, our migration engineer, and optionally legal or compliance for regulated pages.
Can we use this for partial redesigns?
Yes. Scope the checklist to affected templates and URLs only.
How do you track checklist completion?
Shared spreadsheet and QA tickets tied to launch milestones.
What tools do you use?
Screaming Frog or Sitebulb, Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and accessibility scanners plus manual testing.
Do you provide the checklist as a deliverable?
Yes. Clients receive the completed migration checklist at handoff.
Related pages
Ready for a migration-first redesign?
Share your site URL on a discovery call. You will leave with a written scope, timeline, fixed price, and an honest read on whether a full rebuild is the right move.