Things to Consider Before Hiring Someone to Redesign Your Business Website.
What to Look For in the Company You Hire
There’s more to a website design than just a beautiful and professional design. If your website is currently generating business, there can be some risks involved with a redesign, so it’s important to make sure the person or company you hire knows and understands the technical aspects of websites and search engine optimization as well as best practices for website design.
When you had your website built the first time, it might not have mattered much whether your designer understood SEO. But during a redesign, that changes. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of making your site easy for search engines to crawl. Think of it like an outline, where the algorithm quickly scans your website’s content and structure. If that outline gets messy or unclear after a redesign, your visibility in search results can drop. A good designer who isn’t familiar with how search engines work can unintentionally remove or restructure pages that are driving traffic to your site. That’s why your redesign needs to start with someone who understands what’s already working, and how to protect it.
Make Sure Your Website Redesigner Knows These 5 Things
1. They Need to Thoroughly Audit Your Current Website
When evaluating who to hire for your website redesign, make sure they understand the performance and inner workings of your current site. They should take time to identify what’s working well and what needs improvement. Before any design work begins, they need a clear understanding of your keyword rankings, backlinks, and page-level traffic.
This helps them determine which pages are driving value, which ones can be refined, and which ones are no longer necessary. Carelessly removing valuable pages can hurt your online visibility, and by extension, your business.
Not all high-performing pages are obvious at first glance. Some of your most effective pages may not be linked in your main menu or accessed directly from the homepage, but they still bring in search traffic and leads. Your redesign partner should know how to spot those and treat them with care.
2. How to Handle Redirects and URLs Properly
All too often, a website redesign begins with removing or renaming pages without checking what URLs point to them. This can be catastrophic for your site’s navigability. Users who click on old links may end up on broken pages, which damages trust and drives them away.
Before your new site goes live, your designer should create a URL map. A URL map is a side-by-side comparison of old URLs and their new counterparts. This ensures every important page has a home and nothing valuable gets left behind. Even small changes, like turning /about-us into /our-story, can cause problems if not handled correctly.
Sometimes designers think they’re helping by “cleaning up” your URL structure. And while there’s nothing wrong with making things more organized, it has to be done carefully. Every change should serve a purpose, and every move needs a plan.
3. SEO Should Be Top-of-Mind During a Redesign
The top priority of any designer working on a website redesign is pretty universal: make it look better! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it can’t come at the expense of accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and SEO performance.
It’s crucial for your designer to preserve SEO elements like H1s and H2s, meta tags, alt text, and internal linking.
Certain modern design trends may look clean and sleek, but they can actually hurt your site’s visibility. Things like hiding content behind expandable tabs, using oversized image carousels with little to no text, or loading critical content through JavaScript can all reduce crawlability and weaken your search presence.
A good designer will make your site look better than ever. A great one will do that and build around your existing SEO strategy. The design should enhance your content, instead of distracting from or competing with it.
4. Maintain Your Customer Conversion Pipeline
The main goal of most websites is to get someone to take action. This can mean many different things: filling out a form, making a call, scheduling an appointment.
It’s easy for a designer to get caught up in reworking the visual layout and unintentionally bury a contact button, lengthen a form, or remove a call-to-action altogether. These changes may seem minor, but they can significantly impact how many leads your site generates.
Whoever you hire should take time to understand how people are currently converting on your site and what pages they use to reach out, what actions they’re taking, and where they drop off. Then, they should work to make those pathways even clearer, not more complicated.
A strong redesign improves conversions, not just aesthetics. If your new site looks great but your phone stops ringing, something went wrong.
5. Make Sure Your Site Works for Everyone, On All Platforms and Devices
Too often, redesigns focus heavily on how a site looks on a large desktop screen, while overlooking how it performs on phones, tablets, or slower internet connections. But the reality is, most visitors are using mobile devices, and Google factors page speed and mobile usability directly into search rankings.
Beyond devices, accessibility matters too. That includes readable font sizes, high-contrast colors, keyboard navigation, and proper tagging for screen readers. Not only is this good practice, it’s the right thing to do, and in some cases, a legal requirement. It’s for these reasons a well-designed site should work beautifully and load quickly for every user, not just those with the newest phone or fastest connection. Whoever you hire should build with that in mind from the very beginning.
Make Sure You Stay in Control of Your Website’s Key Components
Before you hand over the keys to your redesign, double-check who will own your domain name, hosting account, and login credentials. These are the foundations of your website, and they should always be registered in your name or under your company, not your employees or web designers. It might seem easier to let them handle everything, but if they use a personal email to create accounts, you could lose access later if you can’t reach them or if they change email addresses. This can especially happen when working with freelancers, interns, or students who move on in their careers, change email addresses, and phone numbers.
Ultimately, when choosing who to redesign your website, it’s important you choose someone with more than just an eye for good design. They need strategy, technical understanding, and a focus on performance. Asking the right questions upfront can save you from costly mistakes down the road. So before you sign off on a new design, make sure the person leading it knows how to keep your traffic, rankings, and results moving in the right direction.
Types of Website Designers: Pros and Cons
Before you go to Google and start searching for a “website designer near me”, there are a few things you need to know. There are several types of businesses or contractors that offer website design services. Each comes with their own set of strengths and limitations. Here is a pros and cons list of each type of website designer you can expect to come across, to help you narrow down your design.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Professional Web Design Company
These companies often have a large staff, and tend to focus on a few select niches. These companies are good for businesses that want to give the reins over to somebody else to help take care of their online needs.
Pros:
Specialized Expertise: These companies are typically well-versed in design, development, SEO, user experience, and best practices. This makes for a good, all-around fit for many mid-sized businesses.
Full Team Support: You often get access to a team of professionals designers, developers, project managers, and sometimes copywriters or SEO specialists.
Reliable Processes: They tend to follow structured workflows, use contracts, and set clear timelines, which helps ensure consistency and accountability.
Long-Term Support: Most offer ongoing maintenance, hosting, and tech support after the site goes live.
Cons:
Higher Cost: You’re paying for a full team and professional-grade work, so these services can be more expensive than other options.
Less Personalization: Depending on the company, your project may be one of many, so you might not get as much one-on-one attention.
Commonly Only Work with Big Niches: Some professional firms focus exclusively on specific industries or larger-scale clients, which can make them less flexible for smaller businesses or niche markets.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Marketing Agency
Marketing agencies often offer website design as part of a larger package that includes branding, advertising, social media, and content strategy. These companies are typically focused on big-picture growth and may build your website to align with a broader campaign or marketing plan. If you’re looking for a website that fits into a full-service marketing effort, this route might be a good fit.
Pros:
Integrated Strategy: Your website is built with your overall marketing goals in mind, often tying into campaigns, branding, and content strategy.
One-Stop Shop: Agencies can handle everything from design and copywriting to SEO and paid ads, so you don’t have to juggle multiple vendors.
Creative Direction: Many agencies have strong creative teams who bring fresh ideas and professional polish to your online presence.
Cons:
Website May Be a Secondary Focus: Since web design is just one piece of what they offer, it might not receive the same level of depth or attention as it would from a specialist.
Higher Price Point: Because you’re paying for a full-service experience, the cost can add up quickly, especially if you only need the website.
Slower Turnaround Times: Large teams and multiple departments can sometimes mean longer timelines for approvals and revisions.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Local Web Designer
Hiring someone local can be appealing, especially if you value face-to-face communication or want to support businesses in your community. Local website designers can range from solo freelancers to small studios and often offer a more personalized experience. They may be more flexible and easier to reach than large firms, and they may even be familiar with your market if you serve a specific geographic area.
Pros:
Personal Connection: You can meet in person, build a working relationship, and talk through ideas without relying entirely on emails or Zoom.
Better Local Understanding: A local designer may understand your audience, competition, and regional branding needs better than someone from across the country.
Flexible and Accessible: They’re often quicker to respond and more adaptable to your feedback and needs.
Cons:
Varied Skill Levels: Some local designers are excellent, but others may lack technical depth or broader experience, especially with SEO or more complex builds.
Limited Capacity: A smaller team (or solo designer) may have less availability or slower turnaround times, especially during busy seasons.
Less Specialized Support: They may not have access to a full team, which means services like copywriting, SEO, or advanced development may need to be outsourced.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Website Freelancer
Freelance website designers are independent professionals who work on a project-by-project basis. They can range from seasoned experts to newcomers just starting out. Hiring a freelancer can be a cost-effective and flexible option, especially for small businesses or one-time projects. That said, the experience can vary widely depending on the individual’s skills and communication style.
Pros
Lower Cost: Freelancers often have less overhead than agencies or companies, making them one of the most budget-friendly options.
Direct Communication: You work directly with the person designing your site, which can make feedback and collaboration more efficient.
Flexible Approach: Many freelancers can adapt their process to fit your needs, timeline, or preferences.
Cons
Skill Level Varies Widely: There’s no standard for what makes someone a “freelance web designer,” so experience and ability can be hit or miss.
Limited Support: Freelancers usually work alone, so if you need SEO, copywriting, custom coding, or maintenance, those may not be included.
Availability Issues: Some freelancers take on multiple clients at once, have full-time jobs, or disappear mid-project—so it’s important to vet them carefully.
Pros and Cons of Using an AI Web Designer
AI-powered website builders are becoming a popular option for small businesses and startups that need to get online quickly. These tools use artificial intelligence to generate fully designed websites based on your content and preferences. One example is ZipWP, a platform that allows users to spin up starter websites in just minutes.
Pros
Speed and Simplicity: AI tools can create a working website in minutes, often requiring little to no manual design work. This is ideal for users who need something live quickly.
Low Cost: Many AI platforms are extremely budget-friendly—some are even free to start—making them attractive for solopreneurs or brand-new businesses.
Beginner-Friendly: Most tools don’t require any coding or design skills. You answer a few questions, choose a style, and the system does the rest.
Built-in Best Practices: Platforms like ZipWP are built with modern design and SEO principles in mind, which can give you a solid starting point without needing a professional right away.
Cons
Limited Customization: AI builders are great at getting you started, but they can feel restrictive if you have very specific branding or design requirements.
Generic Feel: Since these tools rely on templates and automation, it can be harder to create a truly unique site that stands out in your market.
Not Ideal for Complex Sites: If your site needs custom integrations, advanced features, or tailored functionality, an AI builder likely won’t be able to handle it.
You Still Need Strategy: AI can handle the layout, but it doesn’t know your audience, messaging, or conversion goals. You’ll still need to bring a clear plan to get the most from the tool.
Frequently Asked Questions About Website Redesigns
Q: How do I redesign my website without losing SEO?
A: Start with a full audit of your current site. Identify which pages are driving traffic, track keyword rankings, and review your backlink profile. Preserve high-performing URLs or create proper redirects if any change. Make sure your new design keeps essential SEO elements like title tags, headings, alt text, and internal links. Work with someone who understands how to protect, and improve, your site’s visibility during a redesign.
Q: How often should you redesign your website?
A: Most businesses should consider a redesign every 2 to 4 years. That timeframe allows you to keep up with evolving technology, design trends, SEO best practices, and user expectations. But if your site still performs well and aligns with your brand, you may only need periodic updates rather than a full redesign.
Q: How much does it cost to redesign a website?
A: Website redesign costs can vary widely based on scope and who you hire. A basic redesign by a freelancer might start around $1,000 to $3,000. A mid-tier agency or professional design firm could range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more, especially if you need strategy, copywriting, SEO, or custom development included.
Q: How long does it take to redesign a website?
A: It depends! A basic refresh might take just a couple of weeks, while a more in-depth redesign could take two to three months… or potentially more. The timeline depends on things like the size of your site, how many people are involved in approvals, whether you’re rewriting content, and how quickly decisions get made. The more organized and responsive everyone is, the faster the process tends to go.
Q: When is it time to redesign your website?
A: You might need a redesign if your site looks outdated, loads slowly, isn’t mobile-friendly, or no longer reflects your brand. Other signs include declining traffic, poor conversion rates, or difficulty making updates. If your competitors’ websites offer a better experience, it may be time for a refresh.
