## How to Redesign a WordPress Website (Beginner’s Guide)
**By Naveed Ahmed** | **September 20, 2024**
**Disclaimer:** This content is for informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with WPBeginner or any of the tools mentioned in this article.
As a WordPress expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen countless websites go through redesigns. It’s a vital step for any website, but the process can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to WordPress.
You might be tempted to redesign your WordPress website simply because you’re bored with its current look. But a redesign is a significant undertaking. You need to be sure it’s worth the effort.
**Here’s the truth:** A redesign is about more than aesthetics. It’s about making your website **better**, whether that means improving user experience, boosting SEO, or driving more conversions.
**This beginner’s guide will walk you through every step of the process, from identifying if you truly need a redesign to choosing the best method and launching your new website.**
**Ready to take your WordPress website to the next level? Let’s dive in!**
### When Should You Redesign Your WordPress Website?
Before embarking on a redesign, consider these factors:
* **Traffic Loss:** Is your website losing traffic? A decline in visitors often signals that your website is no longer meeting user expectations.
* **Outdated Look:** Does your website appear dated? A stale design might reflect poorly on your brand or business.
* **Poor User Experience:** Do users struggle to find information? A poor user experience can be a major turn-off.
* **Slow Performance:** Have you tried optimizing your website’s speed, but it’s still sluggish? This might indicate that your design is too heavy.
* **Mobile Incompatibility:** Have you tried making your website responsive, but it still doesn’t work well on mobile devices? Your current theme might be too outdated.
* **Brand Misrepresentation:** Does your website no longer accurately represent your brand or offerings?
* **Low Conversions:** Is your website failing to convert visitors into customers or subscribers effectively?
**If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, a redesign might be necessary.**
### The WordPress Website Redesign Checklist
**Step 1: Collect Website Performance Data**
You might think, “I already know I’m losing traffic and conversions, why do I need to collect data?”
**It’s crucial to confirm these issues with hard data.** This establishes a baseline to compare your website’s performance to after the redesign.
**To simplify this process, I recommend using the MonsterInsights plugin for Google Analytics.** I’ve used it extensively to improve the performance of my websites.
With MonsterInsights, you can connect your website to Google Analytics and access vital performance metrics directly in your WordPress dashboard.
**Here are the marketing metrics to monitor:**
* **Total Traffic:** The overall number of visitors to your website. It helps understand your website’s reach and whether the redesign improves its overall visibility.
* **Bounce Rate:** The percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. It reveals if your new design better engages users and improves your website’s speed.
* **Conversion Rate:** The percentage of visitors who take a desired action (e.g., making a purchase or signing up). It shows if the redesign enhances your website’s effectiveness in achieving its goals.
* **Top Performing Pages:** Which pages visitors view most frequently. This helps you protect popular content during the redesign and understand what your audience likes.
* **Primary Traffic Sources:** Where your visitors come from (search engines, social media, etc.). This helps you design your new website to better attract traffic from these channels.
* **Average Session Duration:** How long visitors typically stay on your website, revealing if the redesign makes your content more valuable to users.
* **Pageviews Per Session:** How many pages a visitor usually views. This indicates if your new design improves navigation and encourages users to explore more content.
* **Mobile vs. Desktop Traffic Split:** The proportion of visitors using mobile devices compared to desktop computers. This information allows you to tailor your redesign to cater to the most frequently used devices.
**Step 2: Run a WordPress Website Audit**
Before diving into the redesign, you need to understand the actions and factors that contributed to the performance metrics collected in the previous step. This allows you to make informed decisions about what to change and what to keep.
**Conduct a website audit, which involves:**
* **Gather User Feedback:** Get direct feedback from your users to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points.
* **Use the UserFeedback plugin:** It allows you to add surveys to your website and quickly gather visitor opinions.
* **Evaluate the User Journey:** Visitors typically follow predictable steps before making a purchase or submitting a form. Identify any obstacles along their path.
* **Utilize the User Journey Add-on in MonsterInsights:** It tracks the customer journey on popular WordPress eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and MemberPress.
* **Consider WPForms with the User Journey Add-on:** It reveals the referral source that brought users to your website and their path before submitting a form.
* **Analyze Heatmaps:** These tools visually represent how visitors navigate your pages, providing insights that raw data alone cannot offer.
* **Try Microsoft Clarity:** It’s a free tool that offers heatmaps, scroll tracking, and click tracking.
**Step 3: Decide Whether to Keep Your Site Live or Put It in Maintenance Mode**
One of the most crucial decisions during a WordPress redesign is whether to work on your live website or put it in maintenance mode. This choice significantly impacts user experience and search engine ranking during the redesign.
**Here are some questions to help you decide:**
* **How Extensive is Your Redesign?** Are you only changing the homepage, or is the entire website being redesigned?
* **How Long Will the Redesign Take?** Is it a quick update you can complete in a few days, or a major change that will take weeks?
* **Can Your Website Be Offline for a Period?** Consider whether your business can handle being offline for a while.
* **How Much Traffic Does Your Website Receive?** A high-traffic website suffers more from downtime than a smaller, personal blog.
* **Will You Change Your Website’s Structure?** Are you just updating the appearance, or are you moving things around and changing URLs?
* **Does Your Website Run Essential Parts of Your Business?** For example, do you have an online store that needs to stay open, or is your website primarily for information?
**Generally, I recommend keeping your website live during the redesign**, especially if the process will take a while and/or your business operation is significantly impacted by downtime. It’s also a good option if you don’t want to jeopardize your website’s SEO.
**In this case, you’ll need to set up a staging website or a local development environment.** This lets you experiment with your redesign without affecting your live website.
* **Staging Website:** A staging website is essentially a copy of your live website where you can make changes safely. Many hosting providers offer one-click staging features, including SiteGround (where I host some of my websites).
* **Local Development:** A local development environment creates a copy of your website on your computer, offering even more privacy and faster development times. I recommend the Local WP tool, which many of my team members use for testing new features.
**If the redesign is relatively quick and doesn’t interrupt critical business functions, it might be acceptable to put your website in maintenance mode for a short period.** But be aware of the risks.
* **Downtime:** Putting your website in maintenance mode can negatively impact your SEO and might require setting up redirects. This isn’t a big problem for small, personal websites, but it can be challenging for larger websites with many visitors.
* **SeedProd Page Builder:** My preferred method is using the SeedProd Page Builder. It not only enables you to activate maintenance mode for your WordPress website but also lets you create an engaging page to inform visitors about upcoming changes. You can even generate leads by creating a waiting list landing page.
**Step 4: Choose a WordPress Redesign Method**
You have three options when redesigning your WordPress website:
1. **Customize Your Existing Theme:**
* **Best suited for:** Website owners generally satisfied with their current design but want to freshen its look or add new features.
* **Advantages:**
* Familiarity with the current setup
* Potentially faster, easier, and less expensive
* Maintains consistency for returning visitors
* **Disadvantages:**
* Limited by the existing theme’s structure
**To retain your current theme while gaining more customization options, I recommend plugins like CSS Hero and WPCode.**
* **CSS Hero:** A visual CSS editor plugin that lets you visually customize your WordPress theme’s CSS. You don’t need to touch code to modify the theme, but all your changes affect its CSS.
* **WPCode:** Adds custom code snippets to your theme without directly working with the theme’s files. Whenever an error occurs in the code, the plugin disables it, ensuring your theme is not affected.
2. **Choose a New Theme and Customize It:**
* **Best suited for:** Those who want a significant design change without the cost of a fully custom solution or want to leverage new theme features.
* **Advantages:**
* Fresh start with modern options
* Access to new features and layouts
* Potential for improved website performance
* **Disadvantages:**
* Possible learning curve with a new theme
* Careful setup required to avoid compatibility issues
When selecting a new theme, ensure it’s fast, responsive, compatible with your existing plugins, and regularly supported. Consider its price-performance ratio and customization options to tailor your WordPress website precisely to your preferences.
**For a more flexible solution, I recommend SeedProd, a drag-and-drop page builder with dozens of themes and templates.** I use it to design custom landing pages for myself and my brands.
**SeedProd offers:**
* A theme and a flexible tool for customizing it, enabling you to create a unique design without technical knowledge.
* Access to AI tools to generate content and custom images for your pages.
3. **Hire a Professional WordPress Website Design Service:**
* **Best suited for:** Entrepreneurs or bloggers who desire a unique, professional design tailored to their specific needs and don’t have the time or skills to create it themselves.
* **Advantages:**
* Unique, professional WordPress theme design
* WordPress themes tailored to your specific needs
* No need for personal design or coding skills
* **Disadvantages:**
* Higher costs
* Dependence on the designer’s schedule
If you’re tired of cookie-cutter designs, this is an excellent option. The challenge is finding the right WordPress designers to work with.
**Consider WPBeginner Pro Services:**
* Dedicated project manager overseeing the redesign process
* Multiple revisions of the WordPress website design
* Training to manage your new website
* Complete WooCommerce setup for online stores
* SEO and performance optimization
**Step 5: Back Up Your WordPress Website**
Before going live with your redesign, take a critical step: **back up your current WordPress website.**
**Here’s why backups are essential:**
* **Protection Against Errors:** If something goes wrong during the transition, you can easily restore your website.
* **Protection Against Setbacks:** If users negatively react to the new design, you can quickly revert to the old one.
* **Preservation of Critical Data:** Ensures that you don’t lose valuable content or settings during the redesign.
* **Peace of Mind:** Knowing you have a backup lets you launch your website with confidence.
**I recommend using a backup plugin like Duplicator for this task.** Duplicator makes it easy to create and manage backups directly on your website.
**Step 6: Launch Your Website and Run Another Audit**
Now you’re ready to publish your redesigned website and show it to your audience.
* **If you used SeedProd to put your website in maintenance mode, simply deactivate the mode** so everyone can access your site.
* **If you developed your website locally, refer to my guide on moving WordPress from a local server to a live website.**
* **If you used a staging site in your WordPress hosting, simply use the “deploy” function to make your website live.** For example, with Bluehost, you can use the Bluehost WordPress Plugin to deploy all your changes with a few clicks.
**Once your website is online, don’t get complacent.** You need to ensure everything is working correctly.
**Here’s what to check:**
* **SEO Settings:** If you restructured your pages, set up redirects and update your internal links to reflect the changed URLs. Otherwise, search engines won’t be able to crawl your website properly.
* **Use the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin:** I use it for my website to ensure it’s always optimized for search engines.
* **With AIOSEO, you can easily detect broken links across your entire website.** If you find any, quickly replace the existing URL with a new one so users don’t encounter an error page.
* **AIOSEO also makes it easy to set up 301 redirects.** This is helpful if you had to restructure your website’s hierarchy during the redesign.
* **SEO Audit:** Conduct an SEO audit to look for missing SEO titles, meta descriptions, canonical link tags, SSL certificates, speed issues, and more. These are vital elements that can impact your search engine visibility.
* **Website Audit:** Re-run the same checks mentioned in Step 2 (website audit). Use heatmaps and review your Google Analytics data to ensure that no one is encountering any problems with your new website.
**Step 7: Continuously Maintain Your WordPress Website**
The work of a website owner is never done. Even after launching your website, you need to perform routine tasks to ensure it doesn’t slow down, become vulnerable to attacks, or experience errors.
**Don’t be intimidated.** I have a guide outlining the essential WordPress maintenance tasks you should carry out, from changing your passwords to updating your plugins and reviewing your security protocols.
**If you find all this too much work and have a budget, I recommend hiring our WordPress maintenance experts at WPBeginner Pro Services. You’ll receive:**
* 24/7 WordPress maintenance and support
* Around-the-clock uptime monitoring
* Consistent WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates
* Routine cloud backups and malware removal
* On-demand emergency support
**Our services start at $57.50 per month.** While it costs some money, think of it as purchasing a WordPress security plugin, except in this case, a real person maintains your website.
We can identify and solve complex problems that automated tools might miss and make decisions based on your specific needs and website goals.
**Remember: Regular maintenance is key to the smooth and secure operation of your redesigned WordPress website.** Whether you do it yourself or hire experts, make sure you have a plan to keep your website in top shape.
### Conclusion
Redesigning a WordPress website can be a rewarding experience, but it requires a strategic approach. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have a clear roadmap to navigate the redesign process and achieve your desired results.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help with a specific aspect of the process. I’m always happy to offer advice and support.
### FAQs
**h2**
**h3**
**What are some common mistakes to avoid when redesigning a WordPress website?**
**p**
* **Not collecting data:** Failure to gather data about your website’s performance means you can’t track your progress or determine if the redesign is successful.
* **Neglecting user feedback:** Ignoring user input can lead to a redesign that doesn’t address their needs.
* **Choosing a theme without considering compatibility:** Picking a theme that clashes with your existing plugins or core functionality can cause unexpected problems.
* **Forgetting about SEO:** Overlooking SEO during the redesign can hurt your website’s visibility in search engines.
* **Not testing thoroughly:** Failing to test your website before going live can result in errors and glitches that affect user experience.
**h3**
**How can I improve my website’s speed after the redesign?**
**p**
* **Optimize images:** Use compressed image formats like WebP or optimize existing images using tools like TinyPNG.
* **Minimize HTTP requests:** Reduce the number of files your website needs to load by combining CSS and JavaScript files.
* **Enable browser caching:** Allow browsers to store copies of your website’s files, reducing loading times for returning visitors.
* **Use a content delivery network (CDN):** Distribute your website’s content across multiple servers geographically, ensuring faster loading times for users worldwide.
* **Choose a lightweight theme:** Select a theme that is designed for speed and efficiency.
**h3**
**Should I use a drag-and-drop page builder for my redesign?**
**p**
Page builders can simplify the redesign process, but they’re not always necessary. If you want more control over your website’s design and have coding skills, you can manually edit your theme files. However, if you’re a beginner or prefer a visual approach, page builders offer a user-friendly way to create and customize pages.
**h3**
**What are some good WordPress design resources for beginners?**
**p**
* **WPBeginner:** Offers numerous tutorials and articles covering various aspects of WordPress design and development.
* **WordPress.org Theme Directory:** Provides a wide selection of free WordPress themes.
* **Envato Elements:** A marketplace for premium WordPress themes, templates, and plugins.
* **ThemeForest:** A popular marketplace for premium WordPress themes.
* **YouTube:** Search for WordPress design tutorials on YouTube for visual learning.
**h3**
**How can I ensure my redesigned website is mobile-friendly?**
**p**
* **Choose a responsive theme:** Select a theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
* **Use a mobile-first design approach:** Prioritize the mobile experience and then adapt for desktop.
* **Optimize images for mobile:** Ensure your images are optimized for mobile devices to avoid slow loading times.
* **Test your website on different devices:** Use tools like Google Mobile-Friendly Test to check how your website looks on various devices.
**h3**
**Is it necessary to hire a professional designer for a website redesign?**
**p**
Hiring a professional designer is not always essential. If you have basic design skills and time, you can redesign your website using tools like page builders or theme customization options. However, if you require a complex design, lack design experience, or want to focus on other aspects of your business, hiring a designer can save you time and effort.
**h3**
**What are some popular WordPress themes that are suitable for redesigning a website?**
**p**
* **Astra:** A lightweight and customizable theme that offers various layouts and customization options.
* **GeneratePress:** A fast and versatile theme known for its flexibility and ease of use.
* **Divi:** A powerful theme builder that allows you to create unique designs without coding.
* **OceanWP:** A multi-purpose theme that provides a wide range of pre-built templates and customization options.
* **Avada:** A popular all-in-one theme with a wide range of features and design elements.
**h3**
**How long does it usually take to redesign a WordPress website?**
**p**
The duration of a WordPress redesign depends on several factors, including:
* **Complexity of the redesign:** A simple redesign might take a few days, while a complete overhaul could take weeks or even months.
* **Design experience:** If you’re comfortable with design and coding, you can complete the process faster than someone who lacks experience.
* **External resources:** Hiring a designer or developer can expedite the process, but it also adds to the cost.
**h3**
**How much does it cost to redesign a WordPress website?**
**p**
The cost of a WordPress redesign varies widely depending on:
* **Design complexity:** Simple redesigns are cheaper than elaborate ones.
* **Theme selection:** Free themes are inexpensive, while premium themes come with a price tag.
* **Customization:** Customizing a theme or hiring a designer increases the cost.
**h3**
**What are some of the best WordPress plugins for website redesign?**
**p**
Here are some of the most useful plugins for website redesign:
* **MonsterInsights:** Provides insights into your website’s performance data.
* **UserFeedback:** Collects feedback from your website visitors.
* **SeedProd:** A drag-and-drop page builder for creating landing pages and website layouts.
* **WPForms:** A user-friendly form builder for creating contact forms and lead capture forms.
* **Duplicator:** A backup and migration plugin to create backups of your website.
* **All in One SEO (AIOSEO):** A comprehensive SEO plugin for optimizing your website for search engines.
* **CSS Hero:** A visual CSS editor for customizing your theme’s styles.
* **WPCode:** Adds custom code snippets to your theme.
**If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.**