Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design

techconnections · 10-18-2011, 01:02 PM

Hello,

I am new to the forums and have done a search for this question on Google and in this site and have not found a great answer.

Currently, my website ranks between 1-2 for 2 of my key phrases which generates a good amount of traffic to my website every month.

I certainly do not want to lose this traffic, but i want to change my design completely. Currently, I am using Headway themes, but want to switch to a theme that I have purchased on Themeforest.

Is there going to be any issue with losing my Google placement in the SERP if i switch themes?

Thank you.

apoorv.parijat · 10-18-2011, 01:10 PM

Not major changes, but if your URL structure changes and the previous URLs are 404 (and you don't 301 them to the new ones), you'll lose the rankings for those URLs.

However, if you're just changing a wordpress theme, that shouldn't be any problem.

TheFc · 10-18-2011, 01:18 PM

as long as you keep the site's structure the effect won't be dramatic. be sure you keep all your tags on the same spot and you will be fine.

techconnections · 10-18-2011, 02:10 PM

Thank you for your replies, can you elaborate a little more about what you mean when you say "site structure."

The layout of the site (the look and feel) will totally change

But the domain name will stay the same, all of the blog categories, blog post, permalink settings , images , etc. will change

I am using a google XML sitemap plugin. Will that help keep my rankings?

ezzypro · 10-18-2011, 02:33 PM

Site structure, meaning if page 1 linked to page 2, which then linked to page 3 and 4, that the new design still has page 1 linked to page 2, which then links to page 3 and 4

RevSEO · 10-18-2011, 04:01 PM

If you are ranking well, and your current design works. I would not change it.

By doing so you could risk your rankings, without a doubt. If you must change your design here are things to remember.

Keep your URL structures the exact same
Keep your linking strategy the same way, for example, if you have a sidebar with links, be sure to incorporate those internal linking strategies into your new design.

Again, you very well could risk your rankings for some time, so make sure your OK with that if you decide to move forward.

John Ralph · 10-18-2011, 04:13 PM

After changing your theme/design you might lose rankings temporarily as google will notice a change. But your website should go back to its original position. Just keep adding content and building quality backlinks, make sure your onsite SEO is good, this is an important factor!

kaluuu · 10-18-2011, 04:14 PM

I had one day a problem with the them of one of my sites and i changed the theme and did a lot of modification to its appearence...but this didnt affected my position in google.

mark1230 · 01-09-2012, 01:57 AM

Sorry moderator for posting in this thread,but i think mine problem is same.When i changed my blog theme its ranking dropped drastically.

10-18-2011, 01:02 PM	#1
techconnections Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 42 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design Hello, I am new to the forums and have done a search for this question on Google and in this site and have not found a great answer. Currently, my website ranks between 1-2 for 2 of my key phrases which generates a good amount of traffic to my website every month. I certainly do not want to lose this traffic, but i want to change my design completely. Currently, I am using Headway themes, but want to switch to a theme that I have purchased on Themeforest. Is there going to be any issue with losing my Google placement in the SERP if i switch themes? Thank you.

10-18-2011, 01:10 PM	#2
apoorv.parijat Apoorv Parijat War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Delhi, IN Posts: 700 Thanks: 95 Thanked 298 Times in 45 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design Not major changes, but if your URL structure changes and the previous URLs are 404 (and you don't 301 them to the new ones), you'll lose the rankings for those URLs. However, if you're just changing a wordpress theme, that shouldn't be any problem.

10-18-2011, 01:18 PM	#3
TheFc Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design as long as you keep the site's structure the effect won't be dramatic. be sure you keep all your tags on the same spot and you will be fine.
	Best Affiliate Programs Reviews \| Tips, ideas, consulting and much more\| The wisest choice... you all know what that means...

10-18-2011, 02:10 PM	#4
techconnections Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 42 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design Thank you for your replies, can you elaborate a little more about what you mean when you say "site structure." The layout of the site (the look and feel) will totally change But the domain name will stay the same, all of the blog categories, blog post, permalink settings , images , etc. will change I am using a google XML sitemap plugin. Will that help keep my rankings?

10-18-2011, 02:33 PM	#5
ezzypro Ezra Anderson Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Posts: 171 Thanks: 32 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design Site structure, meaning if page 1 linked to page 2, which then linked to page 3 and 4, that the new design still has page 1 linked to page 2, which then links to page 3 and 4
	Ultimate White Hat Link Pyramid! Effective, safe, affordable.

10-18-2011, 04:01 PM	#6
RevSEO RevSEO.com High PR Links Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 853 Thanks: 26 Thanked 111 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design If you are ranking well, and your current design works. I would not change it. By doing so you could risk your rankings, without a doubt. If you must change your design here are things to remember. Keep your URL structures the exact same Keep your linking strategy the same way, for example, if you have a sidebar with links, be sure to incorporate those internal linking strategies into your new design. Again, you very well could risk your rankings for some time, so make sure your OK with that if you decide to move forward.
	★★Panda & Penguin Protection★★ Effective & Proven Homepage Links

10-18-2011, 04:13 PM	#7
John Ralph Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 66 Thanks: 10 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Contact Info	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design After changing your theme/design you might lose rankings temporarily as google will notice a change. But your website should go back to its original position. Just keep adding content and building quality backlinks, make sure your onsite SEO is good, this is an important factor!

10-18-2011, 04:14 PM	#8
kaluuu Active Warrior Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 80 Thanks: 3 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design I had one day a problem with the them of one of my sites and i changed the theme and did a lot of modification to its appearence...but this didnt affected my position in google.
	Get now 50 EDU Profiles Backlinks and 30 EDU wiki backlinks, that will be powered by 500 forum profiles Members from Warrior forum will get 200 extra forum profiles to their edu backlinks. Please when you place the order write WF in the order.

01-09-2012, 01:57 AM	#9
mark1230 Warrior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Will I Lose My Rank in SERPs If I Change Website Design Sorry moderator for posting in this thread,but i think mine problem is same.When i changed my blog theme its ranking dropped drastically.
	used dell laptops Blog