Website Redesign Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

If you’ve been in business for longer than a couple of years and your brand is active in the digital space, you’ve hopefully redesigned your website at least once. And if you haven’t, you should look into it (maybe by contacting us right now - seriously, it’s that dire).

Is your redesign solving real problems or just chasing a trend?

Your site isn’t something you can create and then forget about; it should change, grow and adapt the same way your business does. With digital technology and graphic design trends evolving so often, your site needs to stay fresh in order to remain relevant - because that’s what consumers are expecting.

Website redesigns are simply a part of doing business. However, site redesigns are like sites themselves: they can be good, bad, or ugly. Here are some common website redesign mistakes that get made:

Mistake #1: You Don’t Set a Clear Goal

Redesigning your website without a clear objective is one of the most common mistakes. Many businesses focus on visual updates like new colors or layouts but forget to define what the redesign should accomplish.

Do you want to generate more leads, improve conversion rates, or lower bounce rates? Each goal affects how you approach the design, content, and structure. Without a clear target, it becomes hard to measure success or know if your investment paid off.

Solution:

Start with a discovery phase. Meet with key stakeholders and define what success looks like. Set specific, measurable goals like increasing leads by 25%, improving mobile conversion rates, or reducing bounce rate. Every design and content decision should support these goals.

Mistake #2: You Ignore SEO

SEO often gets pushed aside during a redesign, which can lead to a drop in search rankings and lost traffic. Businesses sometimes delete high-performing pages, change URLs without setting up redirects, or forget to migrate meta tags.

A typical redesign can cause a 10–40% drop in organic traffic if not managed well.

To protect your visibility:

• Audit your existing pages and traffic
• Maintain or improve keyword optimization
• Set up 301 redirects for any changed URLs
• Keep internal linking structures intact

Treat SEO as part of the redesign process, not an add-on after launch.

Mistake #3: You Don’t Listen to Your Users

Many redesigns rely on guesses or internal preferences. But the best input comes from the people using your site.

Use data and direct feedback to understand what works and what needs fixing:

• Look at analytics to see user paths and bounce rates
• Use heatmaps to track clicks and scrolls
• Run surveys or ask for feedback from real users

These insights help you design around real user behavior, not assumptions.

Mistake #4: You Overcomplicate the Design

A clean design is good. But too many animations, videos, or effects can slow down your site and distract users. If people can’t find what they need quickly, they will leave.

38% of users will leave a website because of poor design or irrelevant content.

Focus on clarity:

• Use a clear hierarchy with headlines and subheadings
• Keep layouts simple and consistent
• Make navigation easy to follow

A good design supports your content and goals. It doesn’t compete with them.

Mistake #5: You Don’t Optimize for Mobile

More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t work well on smaller screens, you are losing potential customers.

Mobile-optimized sites can see up to 40% higher conversion rates compared to non-optimized ones.

Mobile optimization includes:

• Responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes
• Fast loading times
• Buttons that are easy to tap
• Readable text without zooming

Test your site on multiple mobile devices to make sure the experience is smooth and usable.

Mistake #6: You Don’t Use Clear Calls-to-Action

Visitors need to know what to do next. Without strong CTAs, they may leave without taking any action.

Place clear, visible CTAs across your site:

• “Contact Us”
• “Get a Quote”
• “Book a Demo”
• “Buy Now”

Each page should lead users toward a specific goal. The language should be simple and action-focused.

Mistake #7: You Don’t Review or Update Your Content

Redesigning your website is not just about how it looks. It's also about what it says.

Old or unclear content can confuse users and hurt credibility. Take this time to:

• Audit existing content
• Rewrite outdated copy
• Improve readability with short paragraphs and bullet points
• Focus on user needs, not just company information

Content should answer your visitors’ questions and guide them toward action.

Mistake #8: You Skip Accessibility

If your website isn’t accessible, you are excluding potential customers and risking legal trouble. Website accessibility means people with disabilities can navigate and interact with your site.

Make sure to:

• Use readable font sizes and strong color contrast
• Add alt text to images
• Ensure forms are labeled correctly
• Support keyboard navigation

Following accessibility standards improves the experience for everyone.

Mistake #9: You Forget to Set Up Analytics

Redesigning a site without tracking in place means you won’t know what’s working. If Google Analytics or conversion tracking breaks during the redesign, you lose valuable data.

Before launch:

• Check that tracking codes are installed
• Set up goals for conversions like form fills or purchases
• Use event tracking to measure user actions
• Monitor performance after launch

Data tells you if the redesign is delivering real results.

Mistake #10: You Launch Without Testing

Even the best designs can break if not properly tested. A single broken form or confusing navigation path can hurt trust and cost you leads.

Before going live:

• Test on different browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox
• Check across devices, including desktop, tablet, and mobile
• Review site speed, load times, and interactive elements
• Ask a small group of users to test and give feedback

A proper testing process catches issues early and ensures a smooth launch.

Real-World Example: Carla Amorim Jewelry

Challenge: Carla Amorim had an outdated design, poor SEO, and low digital visibility.

Solution: WSI redesigned its website, integrated SEO and conversion strategies, and eliminated third-party transaction fees.

Results:

• Over 3,000 new organic users in one month
• More than 2,000 new visitors in 15 days
• Over 300 conversions on product pages in the first month

“WSI has helped us a lot on all digital fronts, correcting directions and solving problems that went far beyond their responsibilities.”

— Gabriela Loffredo, Marketing Head, Carla Amorim Jewelry

Read more about how we did this here!

Avoid Costly Mistakes and Contact WSI

Avoid costly mistakes that can hurt your traffic, conversions, and brand credibility. Whether you're planning a full redesign or need help fixing issues from a recent launch, WSI can guide you through the process with clear strategy, user-focused design, and proven SEO practices. Speak to an expert today to review your site and get expert support that keeps your business moving forward.