Can I keep my existing domain name and data when redesigning?
Yes, a well-planned redesign helps preserve your SEO equity and ensures a smooth transition without loss of traffic or search engine rankings.
What is SEO Equity and Why is it Important During a Redesign?
SEO equity is the value your website has earned from search engines based on its performance history, such as:
• Domain Name: The reputation and authority associated with your current domain.
• Indexed URLs: The pages of your site already recognized and classified in search results.
• Existing content: Optimized texts, images, and tags that attract organic traffic.
• Backlinks: Links from other sites, which contribute to your SEO authority.
When redesigning, mismanaging these elements can lead to a significant drop in traffic and rankings.
How does a good agency maintain SEO equity during a redesign?
1. Conservation of the domain name:
• Keeping the same domain name is essential to maintain continuity and recognition by search engines.
• A 301 redirect will be implemented if subdomains or additional domains are consolidated.
2. Complete audit of existing URLs:
• Analysis of all URLs indexed in Google and other search engines via tools like Google Search Console and SEMrush .
• Identification of the pages generating the most traffic, to ensure that they are properly redirected or retained.
3. Clear 301 redirect plan:
• 301 redirects signal to search engines that a page has permanently changed address, thereby transferring SEO equity from the old URL to the new one.
• Example: www.yoursite.com/old-product redirects to www.yoursite.com/new-product.
• This avoids 404 errors (pages not found) which harm user experience and SEO.
4. Migration of existing data:
• Products: Keep descriptions, images, and associated tags to maintain the referencing of product sheets.
• Content: Migrate blog posts, guides, or case studies that generate organic traffic.
• Users and orders: Secure transfer of customer data and purchase history (in the case of an eCommerce site).
5. Post-launch testing:
• After the redesign, an SEO audit is carried out to verify that:
• All redirects work correctly.
• No important URLs have been missed.
• SEO performance remains stable or improves.
What are the risks of a poorly planned redesign?
• Loss of organic traffic: If URLs change without proper redirects, search engines will not find your pages.
• SEO Ranking Drop: Top-ranking pages may lose their position if content is removed or structure is carelessly changed.
• Degraded user experience: Visitors encounter 404 errors, which damages your credibility.
Why are a redirection plan and an SEO audit essential?
A clear plan of redirections and a structured migration ensures that:
• Search engines understand the changes made.
• The acquired SEO authority is transferred to the new site.
• Your current visitors still find your content or products, even after the redesign.
By working with an experienced agency like Bofu, you ensure that your site redesign follows SEO best practices, minimizes negative impacts, and preserves your SEO equity to continue performing in search engines.