---
title: "Redesign a Website Without Losing Google Rankings | MCC"
description: "A checklist for relaunching a small business website: list your current pages, redirect old addresses, keep what ranks, and check Search Console after launch."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/websites/guides/how-to-redesign-a-website-without-losing-rankings"
---

Guide · Updated October 12, 2026

# How to redesign a website without losing your Google rankings

Most ranking drops after a redesign come from changed addresses and removed pages, not from the new look. This is how to avoid them.

By [Matthew Coleman](/about), MCC Solutions

**Quick answer.** Most ranking drops after a redesign come from changed addresses and removed pages, not the new look. List every page on the current site with its address, title and whether it gets visits or calls, using Search Console and analytics, and keep the list.

**Free tools:** [Search result preview](/websites/search-result-preview) · [Free website SEO check](/websites/seo-checker)

## Before you start: take inventory

List every page on the current site with its address, title and whether it gets visits or calls. Search Console and your analytics show which pages matter. Export the list and keep it.

## Keep what works

Pages that already bring in customers should keep their content, their main headings and ideally their address. Improve them in place instead of replacing them with something new.

## Redirect every address that changes

If a page moves, set a permanent (301) redirect from the old address to the closest new page. Do not send everything to the home page. Test a sample of old addresses after launch.

## Do not block the new site

Staging sites are often set to ask search engines not to index them. Make sure that setting is removed at launch, and that robots.txt does not block the live site.

## After launch

Submit the new sitemap in Search Console, check the Pages report for errors, and watch impressions and clicks for a few weeks. Small movement is normal while Google reprocesses the site. A sudden fall in a key page means a redirect or indexing problem to fix.

## Common questions

**Will my rankings drop after a redesign?**

They can move for a while, but a careful relaunch with redirects keeps the risk low.

**Should I change my domain at the same time?**

Avoid it if you can. Changing the domain and the design together makes problems harder to trace.

This guide is general information. Search engines change how they work and their guidelines; check Google's current documentation for your situation. Nobody can guarantee a ranking.

Let us handle it

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More guides

- [Website accessibility basics for small businesses](/websites/guides/website-accessibility-basics-for-small-business)
- [A website audit checklist for small businesses](/websites/guides/website-audit-checklist-for-small-business)
- [How to Choose Google Business Profile Categories](/websites/guides/choose-google-business-profile-categories)
- [Using the Google Business Profile Services Section](/websites/guides/google-business-profile-services-section)

Free tools

- [Website basics check](/websites/seo-checker)
- [Is your website working for you? quiz](/websites/quiz)

 [All guides](/websites/guides)

Reach small business owners working on their website and Google listing who read this guide: [advertise here](/advertise#websites).

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[See what's inside ($29)](/toolkits/small-business-website-starter) [Free sample](/toolkits/small-business-website-starter#free-starter)14-day full refund

## Rather have us handle it? Ask for a quote.

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