/A refresh, not a rebuild
A like-for-like redesign gives your existing website a refreshed presentation while keeping roughly the same structure, page count and functionality. It is about modernising how the site looks and feels, not reinventing what it does. That distinction matters, because it changes the cost, the timeline and the inputs required.
/What a like-for-like redesign typically includes
A refreshed visual design within the original agreed page count, updated layouts and typography, improved presentation on current devices, and broadly equivalent functionality. It usually works with your existing content and assets, or with new content and images that you supply.
/What it usually does not include
New pages beyond the original count, new integrations, major new functionality, fresh copywriting, photography, extensive e-commerce changes, premium licences and third-party costs are normally outside a like-for-like scope. These can still be added, but they are quoted separately because they are new work.
/Signs your website is due for a refresh
Your design looks dated next to competitors. Customers struggle to use the site on their phone. Your brand has evolved but your website has not. Pages feel cluttered or inconsistent. If the underlying structure still suits your business, a like-for-like redesign can address these issues without the cost of a full rebuild.
/When you need more than like for like
If your services, audience or business model have changed significantly, or you need new capabilities such as online booking, e-commerce or customer portals, a broader redesign or rebuild may be the better option. A good agency will tell you honestly which approach fits.
/Protecting your search visibility
Even a visual refresh can affect SEO if URLs, headings or content change. Keep existing URLs where possible, set redirects for any that move, retain important content and structured data, and check indexing after launch. A careful redesign should preserve the search equity you have already built.
/How Website for Life uses this model
The Digital Hive Website for Life programme is built on the like-for-like model. For websites we design or build that remain on uninterrupted paid managed hosting with us, eligible clients can request one like-for-like redesign at each third anniversary of the initial launch, without an additional redesign fee. Additional pages, integrations, copywriting and third-party costs are quoted separately, and redesign work is scheduled by mutual agreement.
