Website Revamps, How to Improve SEO, Retain Ranking

Each day the internet comes up with new changes and it is quite sure necessary that you remain updated to stand through the tide. A timely revamp of your website is hence the key in keeping your business live. But revamping a website is much similar to moving your office space to a new destination. You should ensure that all your client backups follow you to the new place. When it comes to website, your goodwill, reputation and reachability by far depends on your search engine ranks.

So it’s ideal to keep your SEO intact, before you revamp your website. Here are some tips which you should never forget while you start thinking about a new design:

Start it separately

As mentioned, what would be the situation if you demolish your existing office space for renovation? Nothing but your customers will go crazy and frustrated and alas you may lose a huge business. The same case goes in this scenario as well. Revamping a live site is the biggest blunder you can commit. This will leave your visitors mad and pull your SEO rankings down. Hence the first step is to redesign a website separately and later get the old one redirected to the new space

Back Up

Yes it’s the keyword!  The best idea to not lose your SEO rankings is to keep the back up of all information you have in the existing website. Keep track of the game changing factors of your present strategies. It may include keywords, the pages that rank the best, and the pages that bring in most traffic, the organic search stimulators and so on. This will help in building the platform stronger within the new design.

301 redirects

301 redirects is your saviour in revamping a website. This is mandatory while linking the old website to new one. Ensure that every URL remains in position and are not broken, unless it is for some good. Each page of the old website should be redirected to its new counterpart. This will keep you safe, in the crawling. This is a great strategy in keeping off from losing your backlinks which helped you reach the position you enjoy today. Try changing the backlinks with new website links wherever possible.

Match the design

SEO is not only about bringing traffic to your website, but converting that traffic into potential customers. This is one major reason that UX experience has a gained a heavy weightage in any activities associated to digital marketing. Similarity with the website features is a comfort zone for regular visitors. Make sure they don’t lose that comfort zone with your new design. This can affect your SEO efforts adversely.

Once it is live

Keeping all these factors, you can preserve your SEO and come with a fresh look and feel. But this is the time; you should be very vigilant about your moves. Keep an eye on your bounce rates. If that is higher than your common track, there is something, which your clients are not feeling comfortable in your new design. Monitor each little change as if you are beginning with a fresh SEO project.

Shifting to a new design and the changes are a bit hectic. But these tips can help you make the process easier. The key note, plan well, execute well and monitor well and its sure you will continue to perform well!!