Website Redesign Checklist (2026): What Actually Increases Conversions
In 2026, a website redesign is no longer about aesthetics or trends. Many websites look great—but fail to convert. This practical guide explains what truly increases conversions and provides a proven website redesign checklist based on how high-performing business websites are built. Why Most Website Redesigns Fail (Pretty ≠ Profitable)
Common reasons redesigns don’t deliver results:
- Focusing on visuals instead of user experience.
- Ignoring real user behavior and data.
- Slower performance after the redesign.
- No clear conversion goals (leads or sales).
- No testing before and after launch.
- The result? A beautiful website with lower conversions than before.
UX Signals That Hurt Conversions
1. Speed & Performance
- A 1-second delay can reduce conversions by up to 20%.
- Unoptimized images.
- Heavy, unstructured code.
Best practices:
- Website performance optimization.
- Image compression & lazy loading.
- Core Web Vitals optimization.
2. Navigation & Site Structure
- Common mistakes:
- Complex menus
- Too many pages with no clear goal
- Services hard to find
What works:
- Simple navigation (5–7 main items).
- Clear CTA in the header.
- A defined user path from entry to conversion.
3. Forms & Lead Capture
- Conversion killers:
- Asking for too much information
- Long, unnecessary forms
- No clear value proposition
Golden rule:
- Every extra form field reduces conversions.
- Must-Have Pages & Elements for High-Converting Websites
- Essential Pages.
- Homepage with a clear value proposition.
- Services / Solutions pages.
- About page that builds trust.
- Contact page optimized for action.
- Dedicated landing pages.
- Trust Signals That Increase Conversions.
- Client testimonials (social proof).
- Client logos.
- Real metrics and results.
- Privacy policy and legal pages.
- Clear and verifiable contact details.
- CTAs That Actually Convert.
Effective calls to action are:
- Clear and benefit-driven.
- Written in the user’s language.
- Visually distinct.
Example:
- ❌ Contact Us ✅ Get a Free Consultation Today.
- Mobile-First & Performance Essentials.
In 2026:
- Over 70% of traffic comes from mobile.
- Google evaluates your site based on its mobile version first.
Checklist:
- Truly mobile-friendly website (not just responsive).
- Large, tap-friendly buttons.
- Readable text without zooming.
- Fast loading even on slow networks.
- Tracking & Analytics: No Data, No Growth.
- A redesign without tracking is a gamble.
Essentials:
- Google Analytics 4
- Conversion goals.
- Event tracking (clicks, scrolls, form submissions).
- Heatmaps and session recordings.
Goal: Understand user behavior and remove conversion friction.
The ESS Approach: How We Build High-Converting Websites. ESS doesn’t rely on templates—we focus on performance and results. Discovery Business and audience analysis Competitor research UX Strategy User journey mapping Conversion-focused layouts Build Clean, scalable code Speed, security, and stability.
- Test
- Usability testing
- Performance audits
- Optimize
- Continuous improvement based on data
- Final Thoughts
A website redesign in 2026 is not about taste—it’s about systems that increase conversions.
If your goal is to:
- Improve website conversions.
- Generate more qualified leads.
- Deliver a real UX for business websites.
Start with a redesign built on this website redesign checklist—not just visual appeal.
ESS — We build websites that don’t just look good. They perform.