When was the last time you gave your website a closer look? Does it still feel modern, user-friendly, and aligned with your business goals? If the answer is “not really,” you might be dealing with a legacy website, and you’re not alone.
So, what exactly is a legacy website? Think of it as an older site that once served your business well but has fallen behind in today’s fast-paced digital world. Maybe it’s not mobile-friendly, struggles to rank on search engines, or just doesn’t deliver the seamless experience your users expect. Sound familiar? If so, it might be time for a redesign.
But where do you start? How do you ensure your redesign isn’t just about looks but also improves functionality, SEO, and user engagement? That’s where a website redesign checklist comes into play.
In this blog, We’ll guide you through the essential steps to transform your outdated website into a modern, high-performing digital hub. Along the way, we’ll help you answer questions like:
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for creating a website that not only looks fantastic but also drives results for your business. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and turn that legacy website into your most powerful digital asset!
You might feel your website is performing okay, but how do you really know for sure? When you’re deep in the project, it’s easy to overlook the areas that need attention. Let’s take a closer look at some common challenges faced by legacy websites that could be preventing your business from thriving online, even if you're not fully aware of them.
Think of your legacy website like that old, trusty smartphone. It served you well for years, but now it’s slow, outdated, and just doesn’t have the features you need to stay ahead. If your website is outdated, it’s likely hindering your growth and user engagement. Now’s the time to give your website the fresh start it deserves!
So, how do you know if your website is ready for a redesign? Let’s dive into some of the most common issues that legacy websites face and how they might be hurting your business.
Are visitors struggling to find what they need or getting frustrated with confusing navigation? A poor UX can cause people to leave your site before you’ve even had a chance to show them what you have to offer. If your users are leaving faster than they’re engaging, it’s time to reassess your design and make it intuitive and user-friendly.
In today’s world, speed is everything. If your website is taking too long to load, visitors will bounce. Even worse, Google doesn’t like slow sites either, and it can impact your SEO rankings. If your website feels like it’s stuck in the past with slow load times, a redesign will help optimize your site’s performance.
Outdated content and poor design can make your website feel disconnected from your brand and audience. If your messaging no longer aligns with your mission or your visuals are looking dated, it’s time for an update. A modern, clean, and mobile-responsive design is key to making a strong impression and building trust with visitors.
Is your website delivering the experience and brand image you want? If not, a redesign can help you engage your audience and stay competitive.
Let’s talk about security. Is your website really as secure as it should be? If your site is running on outdated software or missing key security features, it could be leaving you vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. And let’s be honest: a security breach can not only harm your reputation but also cost you big time in terms of money and trust.
Does your website look like it’s stuck in a previous decade? If your design feels outdated, it can hurt your credibility and make your brand seem less professional. An outdated website doesn’t just look bad; it can make your visitors question whether you’re still in business or relevant.
Getting traffic to your website is great, but if your visitors aren’t converting into customers, leads, or followers, that’s a problem. A site redesign allows you to optimize your layout, CTAs (calls-to-action), and overall user flow to improve conversion rates.
You may be getting some traffic, but is your website showing up where it matters most—on the first page of Google? An outdated design could be hindering your SEO efforts. A website revamp allows you to integrate the latest SEO strategies, improving your visibility and boosting your search rankings.
When visitors land on your site, do they immediately know who you are, what you do, and why you’re different? If your branding isn’t clear or consistent, it’s hard for your audience to connect with you. A website redesign is a chance to make your brand stand out and speak directly to your audience’s needs.
Your website is a reflection of your brand, and it should grow as your business does. If your current site doesn’t align with your evolving goals or the services you offer, it’s time to reconsider. A redesign gives you a chance to reposition your site to match your current vision and audience.
Now that you’ve identified the issues holding your website back, it’s time to plan how to move forward with your redesign. A successful website revamp doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a well-thought-out strategy and clear objectives.
Before jumping into a redesign, it’s worth stepping back and asking: are you truly ready for what comes next? A website redesign isn’t just about a fresh coat of paint; it’s about fixing what’s broken, upgrading what’s outdated, and setting your digital presence up for long-term success. From scalability and data retention to SEO and tech choices, overlooking even one detail could cost you time, money, or visibility. Let’s make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
When you think about the future of your business, can your website keep up? Scalability is essential for handling future growth, whether that’s more traffic, new features, or expanding product offerings. If your legacy website was built using a website builder, you may face limitations as you try to scale. A custom website, however, offers the flexibility to grow alongside your business. So, pause for a moment and ask yourself: Is your current website prepared to handle the demands of tomorrow, or is it time for an upgrade?
Integrity issues are often overlooked, but they can have a significant impact. Think about all the crucial data on your website, user accounts, transactions, and content. During a redesign, these need to be transferred carefully. If you’re using a website builder, this could become tricky because these platforms may limit your ability to retain and transfer data properly. On the other hand, with a custom-built website, you have more control over how your data and key features are maintained. So, take a moment to ask: Are all the important elements of your site protected during the redesign? How can you ensure they remain intact?
Choosing the right tools and technology for your redesign is critical. If your current website is built using a website builder, you might be feeling the limitations in terms of customization, integrations, and flexibility. But when you have a custom-built site, you get to choose exactly what works best for your business needs. Are your current technology and platforms helping you achieve your goals, or are they limiting what your site can do? A redesign offers the perfect opportunity to reassess your tech stack and select solutions that will power your website’s future success.
SEO should always be at the top of your mind during a website redesign. If your legacy site was built on a builder, you might already be facing challenges with optimizing your site’s SEO. A custom-built site gives you the flexibility to implement tailored SEO strategies that can help you rank better and drive more traffic. But here's the big question: Are you ready to protect your current SEO rankings and boost them further with your new design?
When it comes to choosing who will redesign your website, the decision often depends on your resources, budget, and the scale of the project. If you have a skilled in-house team, they may be able to handle the redesign, but keep in mind that a comprehensive website overhaul requires expertise across various areas such as design, development, content strategy, and SEO. If you lack certain skills internally, it may be more effective to outsource. When considering external help, you can choose between freelancers and agencies. Freelancers are often more cost-effective and flexible, while agencies bring a team of specialists who can handle the entire process with more comprehensive solutions. Regardless of your choice, make sure to review portfolios and client feedback to ensure they have the expertise to deliver what you are looking for. Also, the communication and collaboration aspect is key to ensuring they are responsive and open to feedback. While cost is important, always weigh it against the value you’re getting. The right team, whether in-house or outsourced, can deliver a website that meets your goals and elevates your brand’s online presence.
Let’s dream a little: what could your ideal website look like a year from now? A site that not only looks sharp but works harder for your business, bringing in more leads, engaging the right audience, and reflecting your brand at its best. Whether it’s adding must-have features for your industry, tightening your messaging, or outshining the competition, now’s the time to map out the upgrades that will set you apart.
What do you want your website to accomplish? Whether it’s increasing sales, generating leads, improving customer engagement, or building brand awareness, your website’s purpose should be tied directly to your business goals. Be specific: Do you want more conversions from visitors? Are you looking to grow your email list? Define your key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and ensure you’re meeting your goals.
Having key features and functionalities on a website is crucial for several reasons, as they directly impact the user experience, engagement, and overall effectiveness of the site.
Here’s why they are essential:
Understanding your audience is critical when designing a website that resonates. Define your target demographics: What are their pain points, needs, and desires? How do they prefer to consume content? A site that speaks to your audience will increase engagement and drive results. Ask: How can we ensure our website speaks directly to our audience's needs and preferences?
Make the purchasing process smooth and intuitive, encourage repeat business
Turn visitors into leads by offering value (e.g., guides, consultations) and nurture them into clients.
Facilitate internal communication and ensure that team members have access to necessary resources easily
Attract new partners, strengthen existing relationships, and showcase collaboration value.
Establish credibility, engage experts for networking and collaboration, and promote leadership in the industry.
Increase brand awareness, encourage community engagement, and expand public support.
Your website is a digital extension of your brand, making it essential that every element reflects your identity and core message. From your logo and color scheme to typography and tone, your website should seamlessly communicate your mission, values, and personality. A well-branded site ensures visitors instantly connect with your business and understand what you stand for.
When crafting a cohesive website design, consider the following:
Does the design reflect your mission and what your business stands for?
Are visual elements like logos, colors, and typography aligned across all platforms?
Does the tone and language of your content resonate with your audience and reflect your company’s personality?
Include real-world examples of your work to showcase credibility and results.
Ensure every page reinforces your purpose and goals, whether it’s through storytelling or clear calls-to-action.
Feature any upcoming or past events that showcase your expertise and community involvement.
By weaving your mission, values, and unique qualities into your website’s design and content, you create a memorable experience that builds trust and loyalty with your audience right from their first visit.
Have you ever read something online and thought, Wow, this really speaks to me? That’s the magic of engaging content writing. It’s not just about stringing words together; it’s about crafting messages that connect with your audience on a personal level, solve their problems, and inspire them to take action. Whether you're writing for a blog, a landing page, or social media, the right words can turn a casual visitor into a loyal fan or paying customer.
So, why does engaging content matter so much? Let’s break it down:
Think about it—would you buy from someone you don’t trust? Probably not. Great content shows your audience that you understand their needs and genuinely want to help. It positions you as an expert, a go-to resource, and someone they can rely on. When your content feels authentic, it builds confidence in your brand. Over time, this trust turns into loyalty, and that’s the foundation of a strong relationship with your audience.
Let’s face it: the internet is full of distractions. If your content isn’t interesting, people will move on without a second thought. But when your copy is engaging—when it speaks directly to your audience’s needs, interests, and pain points—it grabs their attention and keeps it. Whether it’s an insightful blog post or a captivating product description, great content gives people a reason to stick around and come back for more.
Want to climb to the top of Google’s search results? Engaging, well-optimized content is the key. When your copy answers real questions, targets the right keywords, and keeps readers on your site longer, search engines take notice. Plus, when people find value in your content, they’re more likely to share it, link to it, and recommend it—all of which boosts your visibility.
Here’s where the magic really happens. Engaging content doesn’t just inform—it motivates. Whether you want someone to sign up for your newsletter, download an ebook, or hit the “Buy Now” button, your content should make the next step crystal clear and irresistible. Strong calls-to-action (CTAs) that tap into emotions and address needs are the secret to driving conversions.
Your website revamp isn’t the final chapter – it’s just the beginning! Think of your website as a living, breathing entity that needs ongoing care and attention to stay in peak condition. Maintaining and supporting your site is just as important as designing it in the first place. After all, your website is a key asset for your business, and to make sure it stays secure, fast, and aligned with your goals, regular maintenance is a must.
From regular updates to performance monitoring and security checks, website maintenance helps ensure that your site continues to deliver the best possible experience for users while adapting to your growing business needs. So, let’s dive into the key features of website maintenance and support that’ll keep your website thriving:
Regularly updating your website’s security measures is essential to protect against cyber threats, malware, and data breaches.
A slow or lagging website can drive visitors away and hurt your search engine rankings. Performance optimization ensures your website loads quickly and delivers a smooth user experience.
Fresh content keeps visitors engaged and boosts SEO. Additionally, website features need to evolve as your business grows to offer new services or products.
When was the last time you explored your competitors’ websites? Understanding how they structure their sites, what features they prioritize, and how they engage with their audience can offer invaluable insights. This kind of research isn’t just about keeping up. It’s about finding ways to stand out. Have you considered how your site compares to theirs?
It’s easy to focus on direct competitors who are offering similar products or services to the same audience. But what about indirect competitors? These are businesses that may not sell exactly what you do, but could still influence your target audience’s expectations. For instance, is there another brand or industry known for innovative design, standout features, or engaging content that you admire? What lessons could you draw from them?
Think of it this way: your direct competitors show you what’s expected in your niche, while your indirect competitors often highlight what’s possible. Who falls into each category for your business?
Start by reviewing their sites with a critical eye. What grabs your attention? Is their navigation intuitive? Do they use compelling calls to action that make you want to engage? How about their website speed or how it looks on mobile? Are they setting the bar high, or are there areas where you can outshine them?
Now flip the perspective: what are they missing? For instance, if they have great lead-generation forms but no clear path to purchase, could you create a seamless flow that combines both? Which features or design elements would make your audience’s experience effortless and enjoyable?
Look closely at their messaging. Is their value proposition crystal clear the moment you land on their site? Are they speaking in a way that resonates with their audience—or could you do better? How consistent is their branding across pages, and does it reflect their business goals?
Now, think about your website. If a potential customer were to land there for the first time, would they immediately understand what you offer and why it matters?
Here’s where it gets interesting. What keywords are they ranking for? Are they dominating search results for terms you’d love to own? On the flip side, are there content gaps or untapped opportunities you could capitalize on?
Indirect competitors can be especially revealing here. Could they be targeting keywords or strategies that might work for your audience too? How could refining your SEO strategy help you gain an edge?
Competitor analysis isn’t about copying. It’s about learning. What are they doing well that you could improve upon? Where are they falling short, and how can you fill those gaps to offer something truly unique?
Ask yourself:
By diving into both direct and indirect competitors, you’ll not only uncover valuable insights but also find new ways to position your website as the go-to solution in your industry. Ready to get started?
Imagine trying to explain your dream website without visuals. It’s tricky, right? That’s where mockups shine. Mockups turn ideas into something tangible, helping you and your team see the bigger picture before diving into the heavy lifting of development.
Mockups bring your website ideas to life, before a single line of code is written. They help you visualize layout, design, and flow while making collaboration easier across teams. Plus, they catch design issues early and set the stage for a polished, consistent final product.
A mockup lets you visualize your website’s structure, design, and flow. It’s like sketching out a blueprint for a dream house you wouldn’t start building without one!
When everyone from designers to developers to stakeholders has a clear visual, collaboration becomes smoother. Misunderstandings? Gone.
Mockups help you spot layout hiccups or design inconsistencies before you’re knee-deep in development. It’s easier (and cheaper) to tweak a design than to fix code.
Mockups ensure that colors, fonts, and styles are on point across the board. No more “Why does this button look different here?” moments.
Showing a client a polished mockup is way more impressive than trying to explain ideas. It helps them visualize the final product, making approvals faster.
Creating a mockup doesn’t have to be complex. Begin with simple sketches or wireframes, focusing on structure first, and then incorporate branding elements such as colors, fonts, and images. Share with your team for feedback and adjust until everything feels just right.
Sketch out your homepage and key pages. Consider where the navigation, hero section, content, and footer will be placed. Don’t worry about details; it’s about layout.
Begin with a wireframe and a basic outline of your site. Keep it clean and focus on structure, not the visuals.
Add placeholders if you don’t have the final content yet.
Share your mockup with the team or clients. Ask: Does this feel right? Is it straightforward and user-friendly? Take feedback and refine as needed.
You don’t need to be a design wizard. There are tools for every skill level. Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch are excellent options for collaborative design that make teamwork seamless. If you’re looking to add interactivity, InVision and Marvel are intuitive choices for prototyping. For wireframing, tools like Balsamiq and MockFlow are great for sketching out basic ideas quickly. If simplicity is your priority, Canva and even Google Slides or PowerPoint can work wonders for creating clean, low-fidelity layouts. Want an all-in-one solution? Webflow lets you design and develop on the same platform, saving time and effort.
UI/UX Design isn’t just about appearance. It’s about enhancing the user's journey. UI ensures aesthetic appeal with colors and layout, while UX ensures effortless navigation, fast loading speeds, and mobile responsiveness. When done right, users stay engaged and take action, whether that’s signing up or making a donation.
Here are two great examples:
McKesson.com is a leading healthcare distribution and services platform designed for enterprise-level users. The site offers a clean, corporate interface with intuitive navigation, responsive design, and a strong focus on accessibility. Its user experience emphasizes trust, professionalism, and functionality ideal for B2B audiences in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical logistics.
Robust search with smart filters helps professionals quickly find medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and service solutions.
The homepage routes users by role (e.g., Pharmacy, Hospital, Biopharma), streamlining navigation for different user intents.
Prominently featured pages on product recalls, secure handling, and compliance practices boost transparency and trust.
Their “Insights” section organizes content by solution type, keeping decision-makers updated on trends and innovations.
Users can transition seamlessly from research to action with access to McKesson Connect and other portals directly from the site.
EnsignGroup.net presents a warm, people-first healthcare experience with a strong focus on post-acute care services. The site highlights its network of skilled nursing, assisted living, and rehabilitation centers through a clean design, easy-to-navigate structure, and storytelling-driven content. It emphasizes community, compassion, and clinical excellence tailored to both prospective patients and partners in the senior care ecosystem.
Full-width imagery of caregivers and residents builds emotional connection — emphasizing warmth and compassion.
Unlike data-heavy enterprise sites, Ensign opts for a lean, calming navigation ideal for families and patients exploring care options.
The “Find a Facility” tool is optimized with map-based results, filters by state and specialty, and provides easy paths to contact information.
The site integrates employee testimonials and leadership philosophies, offering a transparent look at company values.
The homepage strikes a rare balance, serving both business interests and prospective residents without overwhelming either.
When redesigning your website, marketing and SEO planning are crucial to ensure your new site isn’t only visually appealing but also effectively noticed online. A successful website redesign is about combining great design with smart SEO strategies that will attract the right audience and boost your search engine rankings. Here’s how to approach it with a focus on keyword research, on-page and off-page SEO, and other essential SEO features.
Before your website can attract the right visitors, you need to know what they’re searching for. Keyword research helps you uncover the real words and phrases your audience uses, so you’re not just guessing. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can show you terms with strong search potential and low competition. Once you’ve got your list, it’s all about using those keywords naturally in your content so Google (and your customers) know precisely what your business is all about.
Think of on-page SEO as fine-tuning each page so it’s clear, helpful, and easy for both people and search engines to understand. From writing keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions to structuring your content with headings and internal links, these elements all help your site rank better and keep visitors engaged. Don’t forget the little things like image alt text and clean URLs, they make a big difference too.
These are one of the first things search engines look at, so make sure they’re clear, descriptive, and include your target keywords.
Craft compelling meta descriptions that give users a reason to click while also weaving in your keywords.
These help search engines understand the structure of your content. Use keywords in your headings to signal what the page is about.
Don’t forget to link to other relevant pages within your website. This keeps people on your site longer and helps search engines see the structure of your content.
Images need SEO love, too! Name your image files with descriptive keywords and use alt tags that help both search engines and users understand what the image is about.
Keep URLs simple, clean, and keyword-rich. They should clearly indicate what each page is about.
Off-page SEO is all about earning trust, from both users and search engines. The central pillar here is backlinks. When reputable sites link to yours, it’s like a vote of confidence, telling Google your content is valuable and credible. But great backlinks don’t just appear; you need to earn them through innovative outreach, content promotion, and relationship building.
At the same time, don’t overlook the technical essentials that support your off-page efforts. Your site must be mobile-friendly and responsive. Google now uses mobile-first indexing so that poor mobile performance can hurt your rankings. Page speed is equally critical; slow-loading pages frustrate users and turn off search engines. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to optimize load times and keep your visitors engaged.
Together, strong backlinks and solid technical foundations help your website not just rank, but stand out.
Share your expertise on other blogs in your industry and include links back to your site.
Connect with influencers or industry experts who can help promote your content and link to it.
Sharing content on social media platforms can drive traffic and increase the chances of getting backlinks.
Create valuable, shareable content like infographics, case studies, or research papers that people will want to link to.
Technical SEO is what helps your website perform at its best while staying visible to search engines. It covers everything from fast loading times and mobile responsiveness to secure HTTPS connections and clean, crawlable code. These foundational elements ensure your site is easy to find, use, and trust.
It also includes structured data like XML sitemaps and schema markup, which give search engines extra context about your content. This can improve your chances of appearing in rich search results like snippets or FAQs. Without strong technical SEO, even excellent content can get lost online.
Want your business to show up when nearby customers search online? Start by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile. Then, build credibility with local citations on trusted directories and keep your contact information consistent across the web. These small but powerful steps can significantly improve your visibility in local search results and bring more people to your door.
When local SEO is part of your website redesign from the start, you’re not just building a better site, you’re building a more substantial presence in your community. Pair it with a smart SEO strategy, and you’re well on your way to ranking higher, attracting the right audience, and growing your business with confidence.
When you’re building or revamping a website, the backend and CMS are key components that shouldn’t be overlooked. The backend powers the technical side of things, handling data, security, and server operations, while the CMS lets you update content easily without needing coding skills. The proper CMS makes managing content a breeze, while a solid backend ensures scalability and performance. Think of it as setting up a smooth engine for your website; when both work together, your site stays efficient, secure, and ready to grow!
Choosing a CMS that supports SEO during a redesign is a game-changer! It ensures your website is built to rank with clean URLs, mobile-friendly designs, and easy optimization of meta tags. These features boost your site's search engine visibility, helping you get discovered by more people. In short, a good SEO-friendly CMS doesn’t just make your site look great; it helps it perform better, too, driving more traffic and engagement!
While choosing a CMS that supports SEO, consider these key pointers:
A clean, keyword-rich URL helps both users and search engines understand what the page is about. Make sure your CMS allows you to customize URLs for every page easily. This small tweak can have a significant impact on your SEO performance.
Your CMS should make SEO easier, not harder. Look for built-in features like meta tag editing, XML sitemap generation, and keyword management tools. These essentials help you optimize your site without needing extra plugins.
A responsive design is non-negotiable. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search results, so your CMS should support layouts that adapt seamlessly to all screen sizes. It’s not just good for SEO. it’s suitable for your users too.
Generic URLs with random numbers or letters won’t cut it. Choose a CMS that allows you to edit permalinks and include target keywords. This gives your pages a more apparent identity and boosts visibility in search rankings.
These features will help ensure your website ranks well and attracts organic traffic.
Performing Testing and UAT are crucial stages in ensuring a website or application meets the intended requirements and user needs. Testing helps identify and fix bugs, while UAT ensures the system works as expected in real-world conditions. It allows stakeholders to verify functionality before the product goes live, ensuring a smooth user experience. Properly conducted testing and UAT prevent post-launch issues, improve quality, and ensure the project meets business objectives.
Once your website checklist is ready, it’s time to kick off the redesign and make your dream come true! This is the moment when all your planning comes to life, as you optimize the design, improve functionality, and ensure your site aligns perfectly with your goals. It’s an exciting step toward creating a website that works for both your business and your users. Now, let's turn your vision into a reality!
Ready to give your website the upgrade it deserves? Whether you're planning a complete redesign or just making a few key tweaks, this checklist will keep you organized and ensure no detail is overlooked. Redesigning a legacy website isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about aligning your digital presence with your business objectives, improving user experience, and driving tangible results.
If you’re ready to take the next step and want expert guidance, JanBask Digital Design is here to help. We specialize in transforming outdated websites into modern, high-performing digital assets that look stunning, work seamlessly, and help your business grow.
Your website is one of your most essential tools. It’s where first impressions are made, leads are generated, and goals are achieved. By following this checklist, you’re already on the right path to success. But if you’re looking for a trusted partner to bring your vision to life, JanBask Digital Design is ready to step in.
Let’s create a website that not only stands out but also converts, engages, and evolves with your needs. Reach out today, and let’s start building a digital presence that helps you scale, grow, and thrive in the ever-changing online world!
Start Your Website Makeover the Right Way
Driving digital innovation in healthcare, Saurabh Jamwal helps organizations adopt cloud technologies to boost efficiency and improve patient outcomes. He ensures smooth digital transitions with a focus on measurable results and client success.
K
Really appreciate how thorough this was. It’s like having a mini consultant walk you through the redesign process. Highly recommend!”
K
Really appreciate how thorough this was. It’s like having a mini consultant walk you through the redesign process. Highly recommend!
D
Perfect for staying organized during redesign.
I
Redesigning our site felt overwhelming until I found this. So clear and manageable now