---
title: "Will a new website make my search results go down? - Light Bulb Web Design Blog - Light Bulb Web Design in Carlisle, Cumbria, and the UK - The UK Creative Agency who delivers"
description: "When handled correctly, the launch of a new website normally sees a minimal initial impact on search ranking."
url: "https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/will-a-new-website-make-my-search-results-go-down"
date: "2026-06-05T23:09:11+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---
## Light Bulb Web Design Blog
[ Categories ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/categories "Categories")
[ Tags ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/tags "Tags")
[ Archives ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/archive "Archives")
[ Calendar ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/calendar "Calendar")
[ Categories: All Categories ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0); "Categories")
Search...Suggested keywords
[ x ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
Font size: [ + ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);) [ – ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
[ Print ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/will-a-new-website-make-my-search-results-go-down?tmpl=component&print=1&format=print "Print")
# Will a new website make my search results go down?
[Website Design](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/categories/website-design)
[Chris Wilcox](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris)
Sunday, 15 December 2024
674 Hits
[  Will a new website make my search results go down? ](//www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/images/easyblog_articles/141/one-trick-pony.jpg "Will a new website make my search results go down?")
A common question from enquiries and clients.
My answer?
We don't know - however, when handled correctly, the launch of a new website normally sees a minimal initial impact on search ranking, and assuming your new website has had more work on SEO than the old one, we tend to see a quick rise back to or above your previous positions.
Any new website project involves mapping the pages and URL structure of an existing website.
Where it fits, we will maintain that URL structure.
Where it doesn't, we will pre-map URL redirects so that the chances of search engines or visitors finding a '404 Page Not Found' error are minimal (and for visitors, if this does happen, the 404 page has a clear button to take them back to the website home page).
The website sitemap URL is added to your robots.txt file so that search engine crawlers can find it, even if you haven't submitted it to them - it's also dynamic, so any new pages and content you add becomes part of the sitemap without you having to do anything.
Fundamentally, search engines play by their own rules - nobody can ever 100% guarantee you won't see a change.
However, what we do, amongst many other smaller elements in the background (such as adding schema markup, meta descriptions, page titles, and ALT tags), ensures the disruption will either be minimal or non-existent.
We will always recommend SEO research plays its part in any new website project - even just in planning the pages required, keywords to focus on, and the direction of the copywriting.
We will always recommend that you don't view SEO as a one-trick-pony.
Whether your competitors do more work than you and take over your rankings, or Google change their algorithms (which they do regularly), it is crucial to consider ongoing SEO and digital marketing as an essential element of a long-term strategy to grow your visibility and authority online.
It's also crucial that you select the metrics that dictate how successful this SEO work is.
It is up to us, in our creative agency, to ask you what is important to you, so we can tailor the work and reporting to give you clarity on the results and so you understand the data within.
(PS make sure your SEO agency or web designer doesn't ask you to pick the keywords you want to rank for - that's something they should be researching and presenting to you!)
[ Tweet ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk%2Fwebsite-design-blog%2Fentry%2Fwill-a-new-website-make-my-search-results-go-down&text=Will+a+new+website+make+my+search+results+go+down%3F&via=wilcox_c)
[ pinterest ](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk%2Fwebsite-design-blog%2Fentry%2Fwill-a-new-website-make-my-search-results-go-down&media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk%2Fimages%2Feasyblog_articles%2F141%2Fb2ap3_thumbnail_one-trick-pony.jpg&description=Will+a+new+website+make+my+search+results+go+down%3F)
[×](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Your Name
E-mail Address
[ Can you afford not to invest in SEO? ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/can-you-afford-not-to-invest-in-seo)
[ Keeping your website secure ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/keeping-your-website-secure)
#### About the author
[  ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris)
### [Chris Wilcox](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris)
[ ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk) [ Subscribe to updates from author ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);) [ Unsubscribe to updates from author ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);) [ Chris Wilcox ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris)
Chris is the founder and lead strategist at Light Bulb Web Design, a UK‑based creative agency specialising in psychology‑driven, AI‑ready websites for professional service businesses. From law firms and financial practices to property and consultancy brands, he helps organisations turn underperforming websites into high‑trust, high‑converting digital assets.
With a background rooted in web design, technology, and human‑centred strategy, Chris writes about the real issues holding most websites back; unclear messaging, bloated builds, weak trust signals, and structures that search engines and AI simply can’t interpret. His work blends behavioural insight, technical precision, and a deep understanding of how people make decisions online.
Chris speaks at industry events, sharing practical, no‑nonsense guidance on AI‑aware optimisation, digital trust, and the future of web strategy. When he’s not building or refining websites, he’s exploring the intersection of technology, psychology, and business growth - and helping service‑based brands show up online with clarity, confidence, and credibility.
##### Author's recent posts
[More posts from author](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris)
[ Thursday, 04 June 2026 Smart Generative Engine Optimisation: The Essential Guide ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/smart-generative-engine-optimisation-the-essential-guide)
[ Wednesday, 27 May 2026 What are AI Markdown Pages, and why do they matter for your business? ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/what-are-ai-markdown-pages-and-why-do-they-matter-for-your-business)
[ Friday, 22 May 2026 Strengthening School Website Support Across Northamptonshire ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/strengthening-school-website-support-across-northamptonshire)
- [Comments](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
- [Facebook Comments](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
#### Comments
No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
[  ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
Friday, 05 June 2026
I have read and agreed to the [Terms & Conditions](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
**Captcha Image**
[ ](https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/javascript:void(0);)
").prependTo("body"); } var jssdk = document.getElementById("facebook-jssdk"), FBInited; // No JSSDK if (!jssdk) { var head = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0], script = document.createElement("script"); head.appendChild(script); script.id = "facebook-jssdk"; script.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=682041708485336&version=v3.0"; // Has JSSDK, but no XFBML support. } else if (!FBInited) { if (!/xfbml/.test(jssdk.src)) { var _fbAsyncInit = window.fbAsyncInit; window.fbAsyncInit = function() { if ($.isFunction(_fbAsyncInit)) _fbAsyncInit(); FB.XFBML.parse(); // parseXFBML(); } } FBInited = true; } // For some reason even somewhere load this fb.init but still unable to load the comment // Manually parse and renders XFBML markup in a document on the fly } else { FB.XFBML.parse(); } });
## Schema
```json
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chris Wilcox", "item": "https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/blogger/chris" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Will a new website make my search results go down?", "item": "https://www.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/website-design-blog/entry/will-a-new-website-make-my-search-results-go-down.md" } ] }
```