Why Your Website Update Hurt Your SEO — And How to Fix It

Redfern Omwamba
Jun 12
4 min read

Updated: Jun 15

Imagine this: Your business is finally ranking in the top 3 Google search results for your service. Leads are flowing, the phone is ringing daily, and your visibility is exactly where it should be. Then, in an effort to improve your online presence, you redesign your website — expanding from a single landing page into a more polished, multi-page site. It looks stunning, but soon after… your traffic crashes. Calls slow to a trickle.

You're left asking: Why did my SEO drop after updating my website?

This is exactly what happened to some of our SEO clients and it’s a scenario we see all too often.

The Hidden SEO Risks of a Website Update

Many business owners assume a website redesign automatically leads to better SEO. But without the right strategy, a redesign can do the opposite. If you’ve ever asked yourself:

“Why did I lose my Google ranking after a website redesign?”
“Why isn’t my new website getting traffic?”
“How do I fix SEO after updating my site?”

You’re not alone — and you’re in the right place.

Our client had previously ranked in the top 3 in Google and was receiving daily phone calls from organic search. After launching their redesigned website with five new pages, traffic tanked. In one month, they received just 4 calls — a dramatic drop that nearly halted their business.

What Causes SEO to Drop After a Website Update?

Here are the most common reasons websites lose traffic and search rankings after a redesign:

1. URL Structure Changes Without Redirects

Changing URLs (e.g., from yourdomain.com to yourdomain.com/home) without using proper 301 redirects confuses Google. Old pages lose authority, and new pages take time to rank — if at all.

2. Keyword Dilution

A single landing page often concentrates all keyword signals in one place. When spread across several pages without optimization, keyword relevance weakens, especially for core phrases like

Doctors and Wellness Experts
- reiki healing [location]
- mindset coach for creatives
- integrative wellness services in [location]
Life and Business Coaches
- business coach for female entrepreneurs
- clarity coach for creatives
- business coach for solopreneurs
- mindset and performance coaching [location]
Consultants
- small business consultant [location]
- operations consultant for startups
- HR consultant for startups
- strategic planning consultant in [location]
Local Retail Shops
- gift store in [city]
- organic grocer near me
- boutique clothing store [suburb]
- handmade candle shop [location]
Painting Contractors
- painters in [location]
- interior house painting services near me
- exterior residential painters near me

3. Missing On-Page SEO Elements

Without proper meta titles, descriptions, headers (H1-H3), and image alt text, search engines can’t understand what your new pages are about — making them harder to index and rank.

4. Weakened Local SEO Signals

If the redesign removed or downplayed your local business info (e.g., location, service area, map, phone number), your local SEO ranking suffers — especially for map pack listings and mobile searches.

5. Technical SEO Errors

A beautiful website that’s slow, unresponsive, or not mobile-friendly will be penalized in search rankings. Core Web Vitals matter more than ever.

6. Google Business Profile Not Updated to Match

If your new site doesn’t align with your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) — including business description, services, and NAP (name, address, phone) — your local credibility drops.

The Real Cost of Ignoring SEO During a Redesign

When SEO isn’t part of the website update process, the consequences are real:

Loss of search visibility
Decrease in qualified leads and phone calls
Lower click-through rates
Decrease in Google Business Profile views
Damaged domain authority

For local businesses, one lost lead a day could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars per month — and that’s a cost few can afford.

How Taskmojo Helped Fix the Problem

At Taskmojo, we specialize in SEO-smart websites that combine beautiful design with technical and strategic SEO.

Here’s how we helped our client reclaim their Google ranking after their SEO dropped:

Re-optimized homepage and key service pages using high-volume, relevant keywords like:
- painters Northern Beaches
- interior painting services
- mental health nonprofit organization
- licensed drone services for events
- HR consultant for startups
Implemented 301 redirects to preserve link equity from old URLs
Improved internal linking using keyword-rich anchor text
Added schema markup and business information to support local search results
Updated meta tags and descriptions across all pages
Created Google Business content aligned with the updated site
Submitted the new sitemap to Google Search Console and fixed indexing errors
Created local citations and directory links to rebuild domain trust

How to Prevent SEO Drop During a Website Redesign

If you’re planning a website update, here are our top SEO tips to protect your traffic:

Maintain consistent URL structure — or use 301 redirects if you change pages.
Use your target keywords (like "SEO for service-based business" or "local SEO expert") strategically across pages.
Optimize every page with on-page SEO: titles, headers, descriptions, image alt text.
Match your website to your Google Business Profile info.
Keep NAP (name, address, phone) details consistent across your website and all directories.
Conduct an SEO audit before and after launch.

Pro Tip: Don’t Rely on Design Alone

A great-looking site isn’t enough. SEO is what helps people find your site. That’s why every redesign should begin and end with a strong SEO audit checklist.

If your redesigned website isn’t ranking — it’s time to bring SEO back into focus.

Let Taskmojo Help You Fix or Prevent SEO Damage

Whether you just launched a new website or are planning one soon, Taskmojo can help you recover lost traffic, reclaim your ranking, and grow your business.

We handle everything from: