Website redesign checklist: how to keep your SEO intact
Redesigns are one of the most common causes of lost search traffic. This checklist covers what to do before, during and after launch.
By Sumit Pandey
SEO, ads & websites · Now taking on new projects
Find out what's stopping your website from bringing in customers.
We're a founder-led team doing SEO, Google Ads and web development. Every project starts the same way: an honest look at what's already there. Start with ours, free.
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics 4
- Google Tag Manager
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- Looker Studio
- Google Ads
- Microsoft Advertising
- Meta Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
- WordPress
- WooCommerce
- Shopify
- Custom PHP
- PHP
- MySQL
- JavaScript
- React
- REST APIs
- Tailwind CSS
A note from the founder
Most businesses I speak to have already paid someone for SEO or ads. What they rarely got was a straight answer.
Reports full of charts. Rankings for keywords nobody searches. A website that looks fine but never brings in an enquiry. And nobody who could explain what was actually wrong, let alone fix it.
I started Rank First on SERP to be the agency I would want to hire: one that explains its thinking, fixes things instead of just reporting them, and tells you when something isn't worth your money.
We're new, and I won't pretend otherwise. What you get instead of a long client list is me, involved in your project from the first call, and a team that does the work properly. I would rather earn your trust with the first month's work than with claims on a homepage.
-
You own everything
Ad accounts, analytics, content and code are set up in your name.
-
No lock-in
Monthly work you can stop. We keep clients by being useful.
-
No guarantees we can't keep
Nobody controls Google. We commit to the work and to honest reporting.
Which of these sounds like you?
Hardly anyone finds us on Google
- What's usually behind it
- Pages don't match what people actually search for, technical issues stop Google crawling properly, or competitors simply cover the topic better.
- Where we would start
- An SEO audit: technical fixes first, then research into what your customers search for, then a content plan built around it.
People visit, but nobody gets in touch
- What's usually behind it
- An unclear offer, slow pages, weak calls to action, or a contact form that asks for too much too early.
- Where we would start
- A conversion review of your key pages, clearer structure and proper tracking, so we can see exactly where people give up.
Our Google Ads cost more every month
- What's usually behind it
- Broad keywords, no negative keywords, tracking that counts the wrong things, or landing pages that don't match the ad.
- Where we would start
- An account audit, conversion tracking you can trust, a cleaner campaign structure and landing pages matched to each ad group.
We publish content, but it goes nowhere
- What's usually behind it
- Topics chosen without a plan, written for nobody in particular, with no link to what you actually sell.
- Where we would start
- A content strategy tied to real buyer questions, detailed briefs, and improving the pages you already have before writing new ones.
Our website is slow, dated or painful to update
- What's usually behind it
- An old theme, too many plugins, cheap hosting, or a structure that grew without a plan.
- Where we would start
- A rebuild with speed, accessibility, SEO and easy editing built in from the start, without losing the pages that already rank.
ChatGPT and AI search never mention us
- What's usually behind it
- Your business isn't described clearly or consistently, on your own site or across the wider web.
- Where we would start
- Clear, structured content, consistent business information and the technical foundations AI tools rely on.
What we do
All services01
Search
Be found on Google, in answer boxes and in AI tools like ChatGPT.
- SEO Technical, on-page, off-page, local and international SEO that makes your site easier to find and worth clicking.
- AEO Structure your content so search features and voice assistants can lift a clear, correct answer from it.
- GEO Make your brand easier for AI search tools to understand, trust and cite.
02
Paid, Social & Content
Reach buyers now, and give them reasons to choose you.
- PPC & Google Ads Google Ads and paid search campaigns built around conversion tracking and cost per lead, not clicks.
- Social Media Marketing Platform strategy, content, community management and paid social for the channels your buyers use.
- Content Marketing Content strategy and writing that answers buyer questions and moves readers toward an inquiry.
03
Technology
Websites and apps that are fast, secure and built to convert.
- Web Design Clear, accessible, conversion-focused websites designed around how your customers decide.
- Web Development Custom builds, CMS and e-commerce development, integrations, performance and security.
- App Development Mobile apps planned, designed, built, tested and maintained alongside the backend and APIs they need.
You'll always know what we did, and why.
These are the kinds of documents you get from us. The content here is illustrative, not client data, but the format is what lands in your inbox.
| # | Finding | Impact | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Product pages share one title tagSearch engines can't tell the pages apart | High | Low |
| 02 | Old URLs redirect through three hopsSlows crawling and weakens links | Medium | Low |
| 03 | Blog hero images are 2–3 MB eachSlow loading on mobile | High | Low |
| 04 | Service pages get no links from the blogKey pages look unimportant | Medium | Medium |
{
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Rank First on SERP",
"url": "https://rankfirstserp.com/",
"founder": { "name": "Sumit Pandey" },
"areaServed": "Worldwide",
"knowsAbout": ["Search Engine Optimization", …]
}Tells search engines and AI tools exactly who a business is. We add it to every site we build.
E
Example Dental Clinic
https://www.example.com › services › dental-implants 2
Dental Implants in Pune: Cost, Process & Recovery | Example Dental 1
What dental implants involve, how long treatment takes and what affects the price. Book a free consultation with our implant team. 3
- 1 · Title tag. The clickable headline. Matches the search and makes the offer clear.
- 2 · URL. Short and readable, reflecting how the site is organized.
- 3 · Description. Gives the reason to click. Written by us, not left to chance.
What we did
- Rewrote titles on 12 service pages
- Fixed redirect chains on old URLs
- Published two buyer guides
What we learned
- Pricing questions lead to the most inquiries
- Mobile visitors drop off on the long form
Next month
- Shorten the contact form
- Guide: "How much does it cost?"
Decision needed from you: approve the new pricing page outline.
What your first month with us looks like
A typical SEO or website engagement. Paid ads move faster: tracking is usually fixed in the first week.
Start with a call-
Week 1
A call, then access
We learn how your business makes money, who your customers are and what has been tried before. You give us read access to analytics, Search Console and ad accounts.
-
Week 2
The audit
We go through your site, search data, campaigns and competitors, and write down everything we find, ranked by likely impact.
-
Week 3
A written plan
You get a short, prioritized plan: what we will do, in what order, and how we will measure it. You approve it before work starts.
-
Week 4
First fixes go live
The quick, high-impact fixes ship first, so progress isn't only a promise. Then a plain-language report on what changed.
Worth reading
All articles
Questions
Questions people ask us
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. You will get a straight answer, even if it is that you don't need us.
Ask Your QuestionWhat services does Rank First on SERP provide?
Search (SEO, AEO and GEO), paid media (PPC and Google Ads, paid social), social media marketing, content marketing and writing, and technology: web design, web development and app development. Analytics, conversion rate optimization and digital strategy run through all of it.
You are a new agency. Why should we trust you?
Fair question. We can't point to a long client list yet, so we don't pretend to. Instead: the founder is involved in every project, you own every account and file from day one, there are no long lock-in contracts, and you see exactly what we did each month. If the first month's work doesn't earn your trust, you are free to walk away.
Do you work with international businesses?
Yes. Our work is delivered remotely, so we can work with businesses in any country and time zone as well as across India. We agree on meeting times and a main point of contact at the start.
Can you work with our in-house marketing team?
Yes. We can take on a specific job, such as technical SEO, paid search management, content production or development capacity, and work inside your tools, reporting and approval process. Your team keeps ownership of the plan; we add specialist skills and hands.
Do you guarantee rankings?
No, and be careful of anyone who does. Nobody outside Google controls rankings. We commit to doing the right work, explaining it clearly and reporting honestly on what it achieves. How our SEO work is run.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the scope: the channels involved, the size of your site, how competitive your market is and how much your own team handles. After a short conversation we send a written proposal with a clear scope and price, so you know exactly what you are paying for before anything starts.
How do we get started?
Run the free website check if you want a quick look first, or send us a short message. We reply, arrange a call to understand the details, and then send a proposal. There is no obligation at any stage.
Start a conversation
Tell us what's not working. We'll tell you honestly where to start.
A short message is enough. You get a reply from a real person, and a proposal only if it makes sense to work together.
- Email sumitpandey010@yahoo.com
- Phone & WhatsApp +91 62875 39407
- Reply time From a real person, within one business day