What are the most common mistakes made during website redesigns?
Ignoring SEO and Redirects
- Failing to set up 301 redirects results in broken links and traffic loss.
- Loss of keyword-optimized content can reduce organic search rankings.
- Sitemap and robots.txt are often overlooked or misconfigured.
- Metadata and alt text are sometimes removed or forgotten.
- Redirect loops and canonical errors confuse search engines and users.
Launching Without Testing
- Skipping quality assurance leads to broken features or forms.
- Incompatibility across browsers and devices can hurt user trust.
- Unchecked plugins may conflict with core functionality.
- Mobile responsiveness is often only tested on a few screen sizes.
- Lack of UAT (User Acceptance Testing) causes last-minute surprises.
Poor Planning and Scope Creep
- Undefined goals result in feature overload or unnecessary complexity.
- Scope creep delays timelines and inflates costs without adding real value.
- Critical elements like forms, checkout flows, or tracking tags are sometimes missed.
- Redesigns that ignore data or user research lack purpose.
- Misalignment between design, marketing, and IT teams causes execution gaps.
Disrupting Existing UX Patterns
- Changing familiar user flows without explanation confuses returning users.
- Over-designing with animations or hidden menus hurts usability.
- Important features are sometimes buried deeper in navigation.
- Content structure may become disorganized or inconsistent.
- Accessibility features may be lost in the redesign process.
Neglecting Post-Launch Monitoring
- No plan for bug fixes or performance optimization after launch.
- Slow server response times or loading issues aren’t resolved promptly.
- Analytics may break if tracking codes are not reinstalled properly.
- User feedback is not collected, leading to missed improvement opportunities.
- Missed opportunity to A/B test new features or layouts post-launch.
