If your website feels outdated, is hard to update, or simply doesn’t reflect who you are anymore, it’s probably time for a redesign. But before you jump into a new build, take a step back.
A website redesign checklist gives you a way to plan with purpose—not just to make things look better, but to actually improve function, visibility, and long-term usability. Especially for Anchorage businesses, where local visibility and straightforward messaging matter, you want to be sure your redesign does more than change colors.
Here’s a practical guide to help you get organized before you start.
Know What’s Not Working
Start by getting honest about what’s wrong with your current site. Look at it from both a business and customer perspective. What’s hard to find? What’s outdated? What feedback have you gotten?
A solid website redesign checklist begins with understanding the problems you’re trying to solve.
Ask yourself:
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Is the design outdated or hard to navigate on mobile?
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Are you missing key features like a contact form, booking option, or updated content?
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Do people say they can’t find things—or that your site is slow?
Document the issues clearly. This becomes the foundation for what the redesign needs to fix.
Define Your Goals
What should the redesigned site actually do for you? Beyond just “looking better,” think in terms of performance and business goals. Be specific.
Examples:
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Make it easier for customers to contact or book services
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Improve search visibility in Anchorage and surrounding areas
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Simplify the layout to guide users toward key actions
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Make content management easier on the backend
These goals will shape your decisions later—especially when balancing budget, features, and content strategy.
Audit Your Existing Content
While it’s not necessary to commence from the beginning, it is crucial to scrutinize the existing content. Some content may need to be updated, condensed, or restructured to make more sense.
As you go through your site, track:
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What content still serves your audience
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What’s outdated or irrelevant
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What’s missing that could help new users
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Whether pages are optimized for search (keywords, metadata, headings)
Not sure where to start with SEO? Check out Bianca Frank Design’s SEO Strategy Services to align your content with how people in Anchorage search for services like yours.
Outline Your Site Structure
Your site’s structure affects both user experience and search engine visibility. Don’t overcomplicate it—most small- to mid-sized businesses can operate with a simple layout.
Your redesigned site might include:
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Home
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About
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Services (with subpages if needed)
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Blog or News
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Contact
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FAQ or Resources
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Location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas
Keeping your structure clean and predictable helps users (and Google) navigate more easily.
Plan for Function, Not Just Aesthetics
Design is important—but function is what keeps people on your site. Make sure your website redesign checklist includes planning for how people actually use your site.
Think about:
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Clear calls to action (phone, email, contact forms)
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Mobile responsiveness
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Accessibility for all users
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Fast loading speeds
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Backend editing ease (especially if your team will be updating content)
Function-first thinking ensures your site looks good and works.
Need inspiration? This list of high-performing small business sites shows how design and utility can work together without going over the top.
Prepare Your Visuals
Gather up-to-date photos, logos, icons, and branding assets. If your visual identity has changed, your site should reflect that—but it should still feel familiar to returning customers.
You’ll need:
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High-resolution logo files
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Brand color and font preferences
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Updated staff or product photos
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Any video or media you want to feature
If you’re light on visuals, now is a good time to invest in a local photographer or video team.
Set a Launch Plan (And What Comes After)
Redesigning your site is a project—but managing it after launch is ongoing. Know who’s responsible for keeping content updated, checking for technical issues, and watching performance metrics.
Include in your checklist:
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Timeline for review and testing
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Who will train staff on how to use the site
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How you’ll handle redirects from old pages
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Ongoing SEO, blog updates, or analytics tracking
A redesign isn’t just a fresh coat of paint—it’s a reset. So make sure your team knows what to expect after launch.
Final Thought
Redesigning your website is a chance to realign your brand, fix what’s broken, and build something that actually supports your business. Having a clear website redesign checklist saves you time, helps you communicate better with your designer or developer, and ensures that nothing important gets missed.
Need help mapping out what your site really needs? Bianca Frank Design works with Anchorage businesses to create websites built around real goals, not just aesthetics.
