Rebuilding a Site? Keep the Old One Active

Why Keeping Your Website Live During a Redesign is Crucial*

(Except in rare circumstances where a complete pivot is undertaken)

Redesigning your website can be an exciting time, filled with the promise of a fresh look and improved functionality. However, one of the most common mistakes businesses make during this process is taking down their current website and replacing it with a “Coming Soon” page. While this might seem harmless, it can have serious consequences for your SEO, user trust, and overall business performance.

SEO Implications

Search engines like Google rely on your site’s content and structure to understand what you offer and rank you accordingly. When search engines encounter a blank or placeholder page, they may interpret it as a signal that your website is no longer active or relevant. This can lead to a temporary drop—or even a complete loss—in rankings.

By keeping your old website live during the rebuild, you retain your SEO equity. Your pages remain indexed, and your business continues to appear in search results, ensuring that your online visibility doesn’t take a hit during the redesign process.

User Trust

First impressions matter, and a “Coming Soon” page is often perceived as unprofessional or unprepared. Imagine a potential client visiting your website to learn more about your services, only to be met with a message that the site is under construction. This creates a poor user experience and can lead to lost opportunities as visitors turn to competitors who appear more established and reliable.

Keeping your current site live shows that your business is operational and committed to serving its customers—even during a transition. It also allows you to continue capturing leads and sales while the new site is being built.

Best Practices for Rebuilds

To ensure a smooth transition, here are some best practices for rebuilding your website:

  1. Use a Staging Environment
    A staging environment is a private version of your new website where you can test changes without affecting the live site. This allows you to troubleshoot issues, perfect the design, and ensure functionality before going live.
  2. Plan Redirects
    When the new site is ready, ensure that old URLs redirect to their new counterparts. This prevents broken links and ensures that search engines and users can find the information they’re looking for.
  3. Preserve Site Structure
    While it’s tempting to overhaul everything, maintaining a consistent structure helps search engines and regular visitors navigate your site with ease. Gradual updates are often more effective than drastic changes.

Real-World Example

At Creativo Solutions, we make it a priority to keep our clients’ existing websites live and functional during every rebuild. For one client, this approach ensured they didn’t lose their strong SEO rankings or miss out on valuable leads during the transition. By maintaining the old site while working on the new one, they retained their online presence and saw a seamless switch to the new design without any interruptions to their business.

Conclusion

Strategic planning can make your website rebuild seamless and effective. By keeping your current site live, you protect your SEO, maintain user trust, and ensure your business remains operational throughout the process.

Planning a website rebuild? Let us guide you to ensure a smooth transition and lasting success.