A website redesign is often seen as a fresh start. Better visuals, faster loading, and improved navigation can create a great user experience. But behind the new design, one important SEO element is often forgotten, structured data.

After the launch of a redesigned website, a lot of businesses see a drop in organic traffic, and then they wonder why it’s happening. Usually the design itself is not the real issue. Search engines rely on the loss or weakening of structured data, and that can silently hurt you.

So if your goal is SEO-friendly website development, then protecting structured data should be part of the redesign plan from the very beginning, not something you track on later.

What is structured data?

A kind of code that makes it easier for search engines to get a clear idea of what your website holds is known as structured data. Search engines gather structured information about things like goods, services, articles, FAQs, reviews, and company facts, instead of simply guessing what a page is about.

If you follow the Google structured data rules, it also boosts the chances of showing results right in search, things like star ratings, FAQ snippets, and company details.

Why website redesigns break structured data

When you’re doing a redesign, most of the time the big things that get attention are functionality, speed, and overall look, and so it’s easy to forget the more organized, structured data part.

Old templates containing schema markup may be replaced. New themes or plugins can remove existing code. Sometimes page restructuring or CMS updates accidentally delete structured data without anyone noticing.

Even if the site seems updated at first glance, search engines can later drop important clues they need, in order to truly understand what your content is about.

What happens when structured data is missing?

When structured data disappears, search engines get less info about what you wrote. Some rich snippets that used to show up in search results might not appear anymore, like those FAQ blocks, product score things, company details, and that “review stars” look. Basically, using structured data can make your pages feel more polished and it can boost click through rates, but it doesn’t really improve rankings by itself. 

So, without it, your pages could become less noticeable, and that usually drags down your click-through rates, which then affects organic traffic overall. And when the real issue is missing schema markup, a lot of companies mistake that drop as if there was an algorithm change, even if it was more like a setup problem than anything else.

Common mistakes during a website redesign

Several small mistakes can create major SEO problems after launch.

A common issue is failing to transfer existing schema markup from the old website. Developers may also use incorrect schema types, leave required fields incomplete, or publish broken JSON-LD code.

Changing page URLs without updating structured data references can also create problems. Since these issues remain invisible to users, they often go unnoticed until website traffic starts dropping.

How to protect structured data during development

Putting SEO in the middle of the redesign process is the most effective way to stop that traffic from slipping away. Before you launch, double check that structured data hasn’t been knocked out, by comparing the old and the new versions of your most important pages. Do this early, so you can catch problems easier, then test your pages using Google’s Schema Markup Validator and the Rich Results Test to see what actually shows up.

Also, after the migration is done, confirm that the right schema is still there in goods, services, articles, FAQs, and business data. If something shifted during the move, you’ll want to know fast.

Good SEO-friendly website development is about more than creating an attractive website. It also protects the technical foundation that supports search visibility.

Structured data matters more than ever

Search engines keep getting more capable at reading websites and figuring out what they mean, and structured data sort of sits right in the middle of that whole situation. It helps bind your content to what people are actually searching for, and it increases the chances of showing up in richer search results. For companies hiring search engine optimization services, structured data should be viewed as core technical SEO, not some optional add-on.

If you skip it during a redesign, you can basically wipe out years of SEO gains in just one launch.

Conclusion

When you redesign a website, it should make everything look sharper but also lift your search engine ranking. To keep things visible, maintain traffic, and hold on to the SEO value while the work is happening, protecting structured data that matters. If people can’t seem to locate a nice looking website via search engines, then the whole effort is kinda pointless.

In the best redesigns, solid design is blended with technical SEO so you get a better appearance without losing search presence. At Adox Global, we craft SEO optimized websites that not only look fantastic, but also tend to rank highly in search results right away.

FAQs

1. Why does a website redesign affect SEO?

During a redesign, you can alter URLs, the page setup, metadata, and even structured data too. Search engines might find it somewhat hard to interpret your site if some of those SEO pieces are removed or changed too much, which can lead to less visibility, and fewer organic visitors.

2. Can a website redesign remove schema markup?

Yes. During redevelopment, templates, plugins, or themes may replace existing code, accidentally removing schema markup if it is not reviewed before the website goes live.

3. What happens if structured data is missing?

Search engines get a little less context about your content when you don’t have structured data in place. And that sort of thing can mess with your overall search visibility, because it lowers the chances of getting those richer search results , and it can even reduce click-through rates too.

4. Can structured data improve search rankings?

Structured data is not a direct ranking factor, but it helps search engines better understand your content. It also increases the chances of rich results, which can improve visibility and attract more organic clicks.