Guide · Website relaunch
Website relaunch: when it pays off - and what it costs
A website relaunch is the fundamental rework of an existing site - new design, current technology, usually a new structure as well. This guide shows how to tell your site is ready, what a relaunch costs, and how it runs without you losing your visibility on Google.
01The signals
Seven signs a relaunch is due
It is rarely one single reason. Usually several of these points come together - and then the step is worth it.
The design looks dated
Your site looks noticeably older than your competitors'. First impressions are decided in seconds - and they rub off on how much people trust your company.
Unusable on a phone
Most of your visitors arrive on a smartphone. If they have to zoom and drag around there, most leave again before they have read anything.
The site loads too slowly
If it takes longer than two to three seconds, a noticeable share of visitors drop out. Speed is also a ranking factor at Google.
Hard to find on Google
You do not appear for your most important search terms. Often that comes down to outdated technology and missing structure - both of which a relaunch fixes at the root.
You cannot change anything yourself
Every small text edit needs a developer. A modern site lets you maintain content yourself - or we take that over for you while the site is live.
The technology is a risk
No HTTPS, an old system without security updates: that is not merely unattractive, it is a genuine weak point - and browsers now actively warn visitors about it.
Your brand has moved on, your site has not
Your offering, your standards and your presence have developed - but the website still tells the old story. Then it works against you instead of for you.
02The terms
Relaunch, redesign or rebuild?
Three terms that get mixed up - and that decide effort, price and risk.
| Term | What happens | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Redesign | Only the look is renewed. Structure, content and technology largely stay as they are. | The site works technically but looks out of its time. |
| Relaunch | Design, technology and usually the structure are rebuilt - domain and content are kept and move across. | The site is fundamentally dated but should keep the Google position it has built up. |
| Rebuild | Everything is created from scratch, often with a new brand or a new domain. | There is no base worth keeping - or the company is starting over anyway. |
The boundaries are fluid. If you are unsure, we look at your site and say honestly which of the three is right - sometimes it is none of them.
03The process
How a relaunch runs - without losing visibility
The trickiest part is not the design, it is the move. Change addresses without redirecting the old ones and you can lose your Google rankings overnight. That is why this step sits at the centre of how we work.
1 · Taking stock
We look at which pages bring visitors today and which ones rank on Google. That substance gets protected, not accidentally thrown away.
2 · Structure & redirects
Every old address gets a permanent 301 redirect to its new target. That is how Google transfers the position you built to the new site - your visibility moves with it.
3 · Design & build
On that basis the new site takes shape: individually designed, fast, made for phone and desktop, with a clean technical base for findability.
4 · Go-live & checks
After the switch we verify redirects, indexing and load time, and keep an eye on visibility in the weeks that follow - a relaunch does not end on go-live day.
04The cost
What a relaunch costs
In price terms a relaunch sits in the same range as a new website - the scope decides, not the word "relaunch". A manageable site with a handful of subpages sits well below an extensive presence with a lot of content and its own editorial work.
What really drives the price - number of pages, languages, content maintenance, special features - and the range it moves in is set out in detail in our price guide. With us the running side (hosting, care and changes) is included in the monthly plan, so no hidden follow-up costs turn up after the relaunch.
05Frequently asked
Questions about relaunches
Will I lose my Google rankings in a relaunch?+
Not if the move is done cleanly. The key is 301 redirects: every old address points permanently to its new target, so Google transfers the position you built to the new site. Without those redirects a drop is likely - which is why this step is a fixed part of every relaunch we do.
How long does a relaunch take?+
That depends on the scope. A clearly defined site is usually ready within a few working days; extensive projects with a lot of content take correspondingly longer. We agree the schedule together before the start.
Can I keep my existing content?+
Yes. Text, images and documents that still fit are carried over - a relaunch is no reason to start from zero. Whatever is out of date, we revise or replace it together.
Do I need a new domain?+
In the vast majority of cases no - your domain stays, and that is exactly what protects your visibility. A new domain only makes sense for a genuine fresh start or a rename; then we plan the domain move and its redirects in as well.
What is the difference to a website builder?+
With a builder you build it yourself and carry maintenance, technology and the result alone. With us the site is created individually, hosted and cared for - you say what should change, we implement it. You will find the comparison of both routes in the price guide.
Read on
This takes you further
Is your website ready for a relaunch?
Describe your current site to us in a few lines - we will tell you honestly whether a relaunch, a redesign, or none of it for now is the right step.