website redesign project plan (template)

Redesigning a website is about more than just looks - it's about improving user experience, driving conversions, and achieving measurable business goals. Here's what you'll get in this guide:

• Key Steps: From setting clear goals to launching your site, this guide covers every phase.

• Metrics to Track: Learn which KPIs matter most, like bounce rate, page speed, and conversions.

• Templates & Tools: Use a customizable project plan to stay organized and on track.

• Real Examples: See how companies achieved results like a 34% revenue boost after a redesign.

Quick Takeaway: A clear plan is your best tool for a successful website redesign. Focus on user needs, align your team, and track progress with actionable goals.

Ready to dive in? Let’s break it down step by step.

Website Design Project Planning Tips & Template | TeamGantt

Define Project Goals

Every successful website redesign starts with clear, measurable goals. As Katie Yohn from Olive & Company explains, "Goal setting is the first step of a website redesign because it informs your strategy and influences each decision you make".

Choose Key Metrics

To set effective goals, review your current performance metrics and identify areas that directly impact your business outcomes. Here are some key categories and metrics to consider:

For example, a well-defined goal might look like this: "Increase monthly organic visits by 50% (from 10,000 to 15,000) within six months". Once these benchmarks are in place, the next step is ensuring everyone involved is on the same page.

Align Team and Stakeholders

To keep the redesign process smooth and focused, align your goals with team members and stakeholders. Here's how:

• Identify Key Stakeholders: Include representatives from sales, marketing, leadership, and customer service.

• Gather Input: Conduct surveys or host workshops to ensure all perspectives are considered.

• Document Expectations: Create a shared vision document that outlines objectives and priorities.

A RACI matrix can help clarify everyone's role in the project:

If you're working with a redesign agency, involve them early in the process. Regular check-ins and periodic goal reviews can ensure the project stays aligned with your business objectives.

With clear goals and alignment in place, you’ll be ready to move on to a detailed website audit and user-focused design strategies.

Analyze Current Website

Taking a closer look at your website is an essential first step in any redesign process. As Maigen Thomas, founder of Level 11 Technology, puts it:

"Website owners should conduct a UX audit before doing a website redesign... And the audit results will inform where to focus any user research on fixes that can provide an immediate return on their investment in digital upgrades"

Check Technical Performance

Start by evaluating your website's technical foundation using trusted tools. Here are some key metrics to focus on:

Improving these metrics can have a significant impact. For example, Arkadium boosted its organic traffic by 230% in 2019 by focusing on SEO enhancements through Semrush. Mario León Rojas, Performance Marketing Specialist at Banco del Sol, highlights the tool's versatility:

"Semrush is like a keyword research tool, Google Trends, Moz, Hootsuite and SimilarWeb in one"

Once the technical aspects are addressed, the next step is to evaluate your content.

Review Content Quality

Your website's content plays a direct role in engaging your audience. Here's how to assess its effectiveness:

• Content Inventory: Compile a list of all existing content, including pages, blog posts, and other resources.

• Performance Analysis: Use analytics tools to identify:

  • Top-performing pages

  • Pages with high bounce rates

  • Conversion paths

  • Sources of inbound links

• Content Assessment: Look at each piece of content and evaluate:

  • Its current relevance

  • Accuracy of the information

  • SEO performance

  • How well it supports conversions

Armed with this information, you’ll have a clearer picture of what’s working and what needs improvement. Now it's time to focus on how users interact with your site.

Test User Experience

Beyond technical and content reviews, understanding the user experience (UX) is key. Chris Coussons, CEO and founder of Visionary Marketing, emphasizes:

"One of the biggest signs it's time for a UX audit is high bounce rates and low time-on-page... If users land on your site and leave quickly, Google picks up on that as a negative signal, which can hurt rankings over time"

To conduct a thorough UX audit, consider these steps:

• Gather User Feedback: Use interviews, surveys, heatmaps, and click tracking to uncover navigation issues.

• Examine Navigation: Check menus, breadcrumbs, and internal links for usability.

• Ensure Accessibility: Verify compliance with accessibility standards to make your site usable for all.

Danielle Thompson, founder of Design Match, explains the value of a UX audit:

"A UX audit lets you see your product or the steps a customer takes from a bird's-eye view. When you work on a product, you often know more than the regular user. A UX audit helps us see the whole picture better"

For a well-rounded evaluation, involve various stakeholders. Marko Aleksic, Product Designer, advises:

"Reach out to the support team to get their take on what are the most common issues users are reporting. The data team can provide valuable analytics that can guide some of the decisions"

Plan User-Focused Design

Once your analysis is complete, the next step is crafting a website that meets user needs while achieving your business goals.

Create User Profiles

Building detailed user personas is key to making informed design decisions. These profiles help you address real user needs. Here’s a breakdown of how to create them:

Design User Paths

"User flow is the path a user follows through your website interface to complete a task - make a reservation, purchase a product, subscribe to something. It's also called a user journey."

To create effective user flows, map out entry points, outline the key actions users need to take, and identify any potential obstacles. Simplify the journey by eliminating unnecessary steps and tailoring your messaging to align with user intent.

Apply Design Standards

Incorporate design principles that make your website easy to use and visually appealing:

• Visual Hierarchy: Guide attention by strategically using size, color, and spacing to highlight important elements.

• Consistent Navigation: Keep menus and buttons in predictable locations across all pages for a seamless experience.

• Mobile-First Approach: Begin with designs optimized for smaller screens, then adapt them for larger displays.

• Clear CTAs: Use action-driven language that clearly explains the value of clicking or engaging.

Set Project Schedule

A well-defined timeline keeps your redesign organized, optimizes resources, and ensures everyone stays clear on their roles.

Plan Key Deadlines

Divide the redesign process into manageable phases, each with specific milestones. Here's an example breakdown:

Once these deadlines are set, assign tasks to ensure the workflow stays smooth and on schedule.

Assign Team Tasks

Clear task allocation eliminates confusion and ensures accountability. A responsibility matrix can help clarify who handles what. Here's how roles might break down:

• Project Manager
  

  Manages the overall timeline, coordinates team communication, and ensures stakeholder expectations are met. They also maintain the project schedule in the chosen management tool.

• UX/UI Designer
  

  Responsible for wireframes, user interface designs, and maintaining consistency across all pages. Works closely with developers to ensure designs are practical and achievable.

• Developer Team
  

  Includes specialists for front-end, back-end, and responsive design to bring the project to life.

• Content Team
  

  Handles auditing, creating, and migrating content. Ensures all content aligns with SEO best practices and fits seamlessly into the new design.

Use project management tools with real-time updates to track progress. Regular team check-ins help identify and resolve delays before they escalate.

Use the Redesign Template

Our redesign template simplifies project management, helping you stay organized and ensuring no important details slip through the cracks.

Template Sections

The template includes five essential components designed to cover all aspects of a successful website redesign:

Each section includes customizable fields, allowing you to set specific goals like "increase conversion rate by 25%" or "reduce bounce rate to under 40%."

After familiarizing yourself with these core sections, adapt them to fit the unique needs of your project.

Modify the Template

Adjust the template to align with your goals and team structure:

• Project Overview Customization
  

  Begin by outlining your brand identity, including key selling points and overall vision. This serves as the foundation for consistent and cohesive design decisions throughout the redesign process.

• User Research Adaptation
  

  Refine the buyer persona section to gather critical insights, such as demographic details, buying behaviors, industry-specific challenges, decision-making factors, and preferred communication methods.

• Design Framework Adjustment
  

  Customize the design section to meet your brand’s visual needs. Include details like:

  • Specific color palette requirements

  • Typography preferences

  • UI component libraries

  • Responsive design breakpoints

  Keep the focus on driving conversions by ensuring intuitive navigation and compelling calls-to-action (CTAs).

Use the template’s progress-tracking features to monitor task completion. Its modular structure allows you to easily add or remove sections based on your project’s scope, whether you’re tackling a full redesign or a smaller update.

Conclusion

With this well-structured template and actionable approach, you're all set to bring your redesign plans to life.

Some websites might just need a refresh, while others, especially those that are severely outdated, could benefit from a complete rebuild.

Use the insights from your audit to map out a clear strategy. As Red-Fern puts it, "Any successful redesign has to start with establishing where you are now." Start by documenting your current metrics using tools like Google Analytics in the project overview section of the template. From there, track your progress toward your SMART goals with the detailed implementation plan.

The template's flexible design guides you through key steps, including:

• Performance benchmarking and setting clear goals

• Conducting content and technical audits

• Improving user experience

• Refining your brand messaging

• Monitoring and tracking your progress

By following this structured process, you can achieve outcomes that are both measurable and impactful.

Turn this framework into action with the customizable template. Whether you're aiming for a full redesign or just a focused update, this tool is designed to help you achieve tangible results while improving the user experience.

FAQs

What key metrics should I track during a website redesign to ensure it meets my business goals?

To make sure your website redesign supports your business goals, it’s essential to keep an eye on key performance metrics like these:

• Website traffic: Check the total visits and unique visitors to understand your site's reach.

• Bounce rate: See what percentage of visitors leave after viewing just one page - it’s a good indicator of engagement.

• Time on site: Measure how long users stick around; longer times often mean better content or user experience.

• Keyword performance: Track your rankings for important search terms to gauge your SEO efforts.

• Leads and conversions: Look at how many leads and sales your site generates each month to assess its effectiveness.

• Inbound links: Keep tabs on the number of backlinks pointing to your site, which can boost your authority and visibility.

By analyzing these metrics, you’ll get a clear picture of how well your redesign is working to improve engagement, enhance the user experience, and drive more conversions.

How can I get my team and stakeholders aligned during a website redesign project?

To bring your team and stakeholders together during a website redesign, it’s essential to start with clear goals and a well-thought-out project plan. Pin down your objectives, define your target audience, and outline key deliverables so everyone is aligned with the same purpose.

Get your team involved early by assigning roles and responsibilities tailored to their strengths. Regular updates - like weekly check-ins or progress reports - help keep everyone on the same page and actively engaged. Make space for feedback throughout the process to address concerns and refine ideas as a group.

Leverage tools like project management software or visual frameworks to simplify collaboration and monitor progress. These tools promote transparency, ensure accountability, and keep the entire team aligned at every step of the redesign journey.

What should I focus on when creating user personas to guide a website redesign?

When building user personas, it's crucial to collect essential information such as demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, and goals. These personas should stem from genuine user research to truly capture your audience's needs and preferences.

Take a close look at how users navigate your website, pinpoint the challenges they face, and map out their expectations. This approach will guide you in making design choices that resonate with their experiences and align with their objectives.

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