We are doing a website redesign that has some key differences to the old site. The content of each page and all URLs will remain the same. We are concerned that any one of the following changes might negatively impact our Google search position: More navigation - the main site navigation had 9 links, now it has 21. Generic content - every page will have an extra 5 paragraphs (80 words) of generic text. This same text will appear on almost all 200 pages. Position change - the unique content was at the top of the page, now it will be further down the page below the nav and the generic content. Image links - some links that were previously text are now images. Are any of these 4 things likely have a bad effect?
In my opinion, this should not make major difference. Your load time might increase. Go for it, as long your visitors experience will improve.
Are you simply changing the 2design" and keeping the same structure, organisation and filenames? Are you renaming file/paths? Are you changing the <titles>? The More you change - the more likely it will have an effect! If you remove pages that are linked to - that will likely have an effect as well. If you heavily alter how your pages interlink, then that will have an effect as well. If you alter the main words used in the primary locations (title, headers, link text to that page), then thats going to have an effect as well. Basically - if you make a major overhaul - then you are changing your site, and how Google see's it will likely change too. Think of it as a house. You have built a house. You have had it valued. Now you are going to go and knock down walls, add new ones, add extensions, change the decor etc. Do you think the previous quote will still apply? Not a chance .... so same goes here.