Question

I have a very ugly website but I’m ranking very good on GMB which is the main purpose. I will start working on it soon to make it better looking. What’s the best way to do it without loosing any ranking?  

Answer 1

Keep the same platform and url structure

Answer 2

Keep the url structure and on page as same as current ones.  

Answer 3

Change only the looks, and make no mistakes while doing that

Answer 4

Slowly. and methodically. UI isn’t everything.  

Answer 5

Make sure about content, meta information, url structures, navigation menus and its pages, https links, 301 redirects remain the same. Rest you can change website coding, add new images, speed update and more. Thanks

Answer 6

First thing first create a backup! Did I mention a backup? Then build it out on a different server, don't mess with permalink structure (keep it the same), and keep meta description and titles the same. When you can see that it's identical other than design you should be good.  

Answer 7

Back it up, Stage it, test it and deploy.  

Answer 8

If you're looking to take the next step to convert your traffic, join Conversion Rate Optimization Junkies (not my group) Lots of SEO peeps on there, too.  

Answer 9

What platform is it in? If its WordPress just change your theme

Comments

@house I’m using weebly

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@photogenic well done ranking with weebly I haven't looked at weebly in years but if you can't re-theme & you want to move to WordPress. Keep everything identical (site structure & content). I migrate a lot from wix to WP & find a WP migration brings gains

Answer 10

I have one more comment or question to ask. It's ugly so what is it working for you? Is it generating leads and revenue? Beautiful site design isn't a ranking factor. and I do behavioral site design and there is so many sites that are percieved "ugly" but maybe that works. Now if it's a status thing for you. just refresh the images the layout a bit to add more trust and flow to the onpage content change the color pallette and typography but leave it in its current template and change nothing but the aesthetics. it's a mistake to redo a site that is performing because you believe it's ugly when ugly may work. A website is a box a responsive box with things on it changing the template won't make it more beautiful! Improve the typography improve the imagery update the layout from boxed to full width make sure it looks and performs awesome on mobile primarily but leave everything else as is. even changing the template because of its coding can affect crawl budget and ultimately rankings. If it's WordPress and Divi just get a new skin. use a child theme and customize the look and feel through cascading style sheets. just don't go fixing the wheel if it's turning. It's a mistake but is cro and performance isn't there then you have efficacy. You would be surprised how awesome a site can look by making small transformational changes in simplicity and white space a few images and new fonts. What else is there to site design. and if you got a slider and boxed format yeah ditch that crap for one great high rest image. set the template to full width for the hero images. alt text it with the local and service you do. if you came to me and this was your reason I would ask what is the business goals and if you told me it's working id just say leave it and give it some design love. an ugly site that makes revenue is far better than a beautiful site nobody sees. Update I saw the site: First get a logo Next remove the wood background Structure your text better in blocks people scan sites. Get a great image for the header and put your call to action and number there and make it click to call only on mobile. when you need a towing company two things your customers want a number and availability band of course price Trust needs to come across add staff images or you State towing starts at. Just needs some love yeah your not in WordPress so start with some love next do WordPress same everything URLs structure pages but a new them like Astra Good luck!  

Comments

@hora77577 thanks. Decided to leave the site alone for now. Can’t afford to lose ranking

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@photogenic saw the site I gave an update reread my last comment

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@hora77577 just inboxed you

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@photogenic np

Answer 11

Improve the content with the same general site internal link structure when you update the design.  

Answer 12

What is your bounce rate?