Migrating a website may seem like a challenging endeavor, but with proper preparation and planning, it can be a smooth and manageable process.Migrating a website to a new domain or platform is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. Without the right preparation, a website migration can lead to loss of traffic, rankings, and revenue.
Reasons For Migrating A Website?
There are a few key reasons you may need to migrate your website:
Switching to a new domain name
Moving to a new hosting provider
Upgrading to a new CMS or platform
Merging websites after an acquisition
Whatever the reason, careful planning is required to preserve organic traffic and avoid pitfalls.
Pre-Migration Steps
Before embarking on the process of moving your website, follow these essential steps::
Create a Full Website Backup
Prior to making any alterations, ensure you create a complete backup of your entire website.. This gives you a restore point in case anything goes wrong. Use your hosting control panel, a backup plugin, or an automated service.
Research and Select a New Host
If switching hosts, thoroughly research new options. Compare features, uptime, support, and costs. Select one that meets your site’s needs and budget.
Compile a List of All URLs
Use tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs to generate a complete list of indexed, linked, and crawled URLs. This is key data for comparison after migration.
Map Old URLs to New URLs
Figure out redirect paths from old to new URLs. Identify any new pages needed and any obsolete pages to remove. Tracking this in a spreadsheet is helpful.
Benchmark Your Current Performance
Record key organic KPIs like rankings, traffic, leads, and conversions. You can use this data to evaluate the migration’s impact.
Install Google Search Console on New Domain
Get your new domain verified in Search Console. This allows you to monitor indexing issues and provides data like errors and crawl stats.
Create a Redirect Plan
Based on your URL mapping, build a detailed 301 redirect plan. Use a plugin like Yoast to implement the redirects from old to new URLs.
Update On-Page SEO
Audit the new site’s on-page elements like title tags, meta descriptions, H1s, etc. Optimize them for core pages and key landing pages before launch.
Migrating A Website : Step by Step Process
Once your prep work is complete, it’s time to migrate:
Transfer Site Files and Database
Work with your hosting support to migrate files and the database to the new host. Use their migration tools if available.
Update Internal Links
Audit all internal links on the new site. Update them to point to the correct new URLs to avoid broken links or redirect chains.
Implement 301 Redirects
Launch your previously tested redirect plan from old URLs to new URLs. Monitor using Search Console and verify redirects are indexed properly.
Switch DNS Records
Update your domain’s DNS records to point visitors to the new site’s server. This can take up to 48 hours to propagate fully.
Submit New Sitemaps
Generate a new XML sitemap for the migrated site and submit it to Search Console. Link the sitemap in robots.txt as well.
Post-Migration Checklist
After the site is live, monitor closely:
Check traffic reports for any abnormalities
Review Search Console for sudden drops in indexed pages
Submit a change of address request in Search Console
Fix any lingering redirect or indexing issues
Update backlinks to point to new URLs
Additional Tips for Success
Minimize downtime by migrating during low-traffic hours
Establish a contingency plan for rolling back changes in case any issues arise.
Inform visitors ahead of time about the upcoming migration
Follow this comprehensive website migration checklist and you can transfer your site seamlessly with minimal disruption.
Pay close attention to planning and testing, and your migration will go off without a hitch!