A website redesign improves a site you already have. A new website starts from nothing, for a business that has never had one or is starting again under a new name. In practice, most redesigns today are rebuilds: your domain, content and Google rankings carry over, and everything underneath them is replaced.
This guide explains what each option involves, how to tell which your business needs, and what to protect when you switch so the enquiries keep coming.
What a website redesign actually involves
The word covers two very different jobs, and quotes don't always say which one they mean.
- A refresh: new colours, photos and wording on the same platform and the same code. Quick and cheap, but only as good as the site underneath.
- A rebuild: a new site built from the ground up, on the same domain, with your content moved across and every old web address pointing to its new page.
A refresh makes sense when the site is fast, works well on phones and is easy to update, and only looks dated. If the problems are deeper than the look, a refresh just paints over them.
When you need a new website
- You don't have a website yet, or you rely on a Facebook page or a Google Business Profile alone.
- You're starting a new business or rebranding under a new name and domain.
- Nothing on the old site is worth keeping: the content is out of date, it gets no visitors from Google, and the domain has no history.
A brand-new domain has to be discovered by Google from scratch. Google says crawling can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so launch the site before you need the enquiries, and set up Google Search Console on day one.
When a redesign is the better choice
If your current site already brings in some visitors from Google, redesign it rather than starting over on a new domain. Years of history, links from other sites and pages that already rank are hard to replace. A redesign keeps what works and fixes what doesn't.
- Your domain has been live for a year or more.
- Customers already find you on Google for some searches.
- Your services, prices and contact details are mostly still right.
Signs a refresh won't be enough
Some problems live in the code and the platform, not the look. A new colour scheme won't fix them. Only a rebuild will.
- Pages are slow to load on a phone.
- The layout breaks, or text is hard to read, on small screens.
- Simple changes, like a new price or opening hours, need a developer.
- The site runs on an old theme or plugins that no longer get updates.
- You want bookings, payments or a CRM connection and the platform can't do it.
For a fuller checklist, see our 10 signs your website needs a redesign.
How to switch without losing your Google rankings
The risk in any redesign is the move itself. Do these four things and most sites come through with their rankings intact.
- Keep the same domain. A new domain starts from zero.
- Redirect every old address. Use permanent (301) redirects from each old page to its new one. Google says these don't cause a loss of ranking value.
- Keep the current site live until the new one is tested and ready, so there's no gap where customers find nothing.
- Submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console after launch, so Google finds the new pages quickly.
Google also notes that rankings can move around for a few weeks while it recrawls a changed site. That's normal, and it settles.
What each option costs
A website rebuild and a new website usually cost about the same, because the build is the same work. The difference is migration: moving content, forms and redirects. Our 2026 website price guide covers typical prices across Australia.
Lumeen's $299 offer covers both. For a new website, we build it from the ground up. For a redesign, we build a completely new site and move everything across, while your current site stays live until launch. Either way it's ready in about 10 business days, with nothing to pay upfront.
Not sure which one you need?
Send us your current website and we'll tell you whether it needs a refresh or a rebuild, and why. Looking costs nothing and there's no obligation. If you're still weighing it up, our FAQ covers timing, hosting and how the move works.
Key takeaways
- (01)
A redesign improves a site you have. A new website starts from nothing.
- (02)
Most redesigns are really rebuilds: same domain and content, new site underneath.
- (03)
If your site already gets visitors from Google, redesign it rather than starting on a new domain.
- (04)
Protect rankings with the same domain, 301 redirects, no downtime and a fresh sitemap.
- (05)
A rebuild and a new site cost about the same. Lumeen's $299 offer covers both.
Frequently asked questions
Is a website redesign cheaper than a new website?
Usually not by much, because most redesigns are rebuilt from scratch. A light refresh of colours and wording is cheaper, but it only helps if the site underneath is fast, mobile-friendly and easy to update.
Will I lose my Google rankings if I redesign my website?
Not if the move is done properly. Keep the same domain, redirect every old page to its new one with a permanent 301 redirect, and submit the new sitemap in Google Search Console. Rankings can move around for a few weeks, then settle.
How long does a website rebuild take?
Agency projects often take weeks to months. A Lumeen website, new or redesigned, is ready in about 10 business days, and your current site stays live the whole time.
Can I keep my domain and email address?
Yes. Your domain stays yours, and email usually runs separately from your website, so it keeps working when the site moves. We check your setup before launch.
More answers on price, hosting and timing in our FAQ.