Top 5 Website Redesign Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring your analytics and user data

The Mistake
Businesses can often fall into the trap of making design decisions based on personal preferences, competitors, etc. rather than using data as a reference point. Using subjective data to guide your team’s decision making regarding web design is a critical mistake.

Why?
Using subjective data instead of detailed analytics to make decisions on your website redesign can quickly result in a website that is not optimised for performance. Your website analytics provides data gold, allowing you to analyse which pages convert and which see engagement drop offs. 

The Solution
Starting with Google Analytics or Microsoft Clarity to analyse which pages your visitors engage most with, your top converting pages, user flow patterns, heatmaps, etc. This data can then be leveraged when making decisions about website structure and design. 

SEO as an Afterthought

The Mistake
Concentrating on design aspects of a website without planning for search engine optimisation is a recipe for a ranking disaster.

Why?
your website has built authority and positive SEO practices over time. A poorly executed redesign, which neglects SEO’s vital importance, can undo this overnight. For example, a reworked sitemap can cause broken redirects, changed URL’s, and lost content that ranked well. 

The Solution
Make SEO a priority: The foundational building blocks of the site that the content supports, not the other way around. Successful website redesigns treat SEO with the importance it deserves. One method of doing this is to conduct a full pre-launch SEO audit, monitoring all high-ranking pages. Also, 301 redirect maps can help when URL’s change. To learn more about SEO, download our ultimate guide here 
 

Choosing Beauty Over Functionality

The Mistake
Prioritising stunning visuals over practical functionality

Why?
Visitors arrive on your site to accomplish something. Whether it is to research products, request a quote or to make a purchase, visitors need a clear path to their objective. Complex artwork can look amazing, however, it can often act as a distraction. Successful redesigns simplify their artwork, leaving a clear user journey.

Solution
The most successful website redesigns prioritise the customer journey to optimise its usability and clarity for the visitor. Before re-design, mapping the customer journey helps to lay a solid foundation for stunning visuals to supplement later in development. 

Desktop-First Design

The Mistake
Redesigning a website on desktop and then adapting for mobile as an afterthought.  

Why?
Roughly 60% of website traffic is mobile (StatCounter 2025). A lack of consideration of mobile traffic can lead to poor mobile sites. This will drastically increase bounce rates and lost conversions. 

The Solution
Keep the mobile layout in mind throughout the whole redesign process, such as making CTA buttons, images, forms and all artwork compatible on mobile. After development and design, you must test the site on mobile devices, not just on browser tools. 

Launching without adequate testing

The Mistake
Rushing to launch without thorough cross-browser and device testing

Why?
A lack of testing can lead to structural and content issues such as broken forms, losing leads, compatibility issues frustrating visitors and launch day bugs that can damage credibility instantly. 

The Solution
Create a detailed plan for testing, allowing plenty of time within the timeline to test and remove issues. Testing across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, verifying every form, payment process and interactive features. Moreover, checking page load speed on mobile and desktop is vital to ensure effective UX. This can be closely monitored on the week of release to identify any issues that can be found in the user analytics. 

Next Steps

Successful redesigns practice a balance, prioritising website functionality and performance with visual appeal. The best website redesigns use real data, best technical practices and SEO followed by stunning design. 

Before we start your redesign, we:

• Audit your current performance
• Define clear, measurable goals
• Plan for SEO preservation and continuous improvement
• Budget for comprehensive testing.

Case Study: Albion Stone Website Modernisation

Overview

Albion Stone commissioned Livewire to redesign its website to reflect its position within the Portland Stone industry and showcase the quality and beauty of its stone. Read the full case study here.

Project Deliverables

• Enhanced Product Showcase - We redesigned their product display page allowing the user to explore their stone options. This included compelling product copy, high-quality imagery and an inquiry form for easy lead generation. 
• Streamlined Project Portfolio - Revamped “our work” page with an improved portfolio layout including individual project pages instead of PDFs and page filters for project types, improving UX and SEO.

Results  

• Increased user engagement - the redesigned site offered a more engaging and intuitive user experience
• SEO as a priority - optimised content and site structure to enhance visibility and install SEO best practices. 
• Lead Generation - Clear calls to action and easily accessible inquiry forms made it easier for leads to contact Albion Stone.
• Strengthened Brand Image - The website redesign projected Albion Stone’s product quality and authority in the market.

Ready to Get Started?

Need help with a website redesign? Our team at Livewire Marketing specialise in web design and development that not only maximises your website’s performance but also your search rankings.
Contact our team today to arrange a free consultation or just to explore what Livewire can offer.