Migrating a website is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. Whether you’re switching domains, redesigning your website, moving to a new content management system (CMS), or transitioning to HTTPS, following a well-organized site migration checklist can help ensure a smooth and successful transition. This checklist outlines key steps to take before, during, and after your website migration to minimize the risk of traffic loss, SEO ranking drops, and user experience issues.
Pre-Migration Phase: Planning and Preparation
Before you initiate the migration process, it’s crucial to prepare properly. A solid plan will save you from errors that could hurt your SEO and traffic. Here are the initial steps to take.
1. Define the Scope and Goals of Migration
Determine the reasons behind your migration:
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Changing domains: Moving to a new website address (e.g., from
oldsite.comtonewsite.com). -
Switching CMS or platform: Migrating from one platform to another, such as from WordPress to Shopify.
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Redesigning the website: Updating the structure or content of the site.
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Upgrading to HTTPS: Moving from HTTP to HTTPS for better security.
Understanding your migration goals will guide the process and help you address technical and SEO considerations.
2. Backup Everything
Before making any changes, ensure you back up your entire website, including:
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Files: HTML, CSS, images, JavaScript, etc.
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Databases: Export any databases associated with your site.
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Emails: If applicable, back up your email configurations.
A backup will serve as a safety net in case something goes wrong during the migration process.
3. Conduct a Site Audit
Perform an in-depth audit of your existing site to understand its structure and performance:
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Crawl your site: Use tools like Screaming Frog, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to get a complete list of your URLs, including metadata (titles, descriptions), header tags, and internal links.
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Identify broken links: Check for 404s or other broken links that need fixing.
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Review SEO performance: Look at keyword rankings, organic traffic, and any potential SEO issues like duplicate content or missing alt tags for images.
4. Plan 301 Redirects
If your URL structure is changing, create a 301 redirect map. A 301 redirect will send users and search engines from the old URLs to the new ones. It helps preserve SEO value and avoid broken links.
5. Create a Migration Timeline
Develop a timeline with clear milestones and deadlines for each step in the migration process. Set up a contingency plan in case any unforeseen issues arise.https://autonomoustech.ca/blog/website-migration-made-simple-the-only-checklist-youll-ever-need/
Migration Phase: Executing the Changes
After you’ve prepared, the migration process itself begins. During this phase, you’ll transfer your website content, adjust technical settings, and ensure SEO elements are intact.
6. Set Up a Staging Site
Build and test your new site in a staging environment. This allows you to troubleshoot and test everything before going live. Ensure all the following are checked:
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Design and layout: Confirm that the new site matches your vision.
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Content transfer: Verify that all text, images, and media files are transferred.
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Functional testing: Test forms, CTAs (calls to action), and e-commerce features.
7. Migrate Content and SEO Elements
Transfer all website content and SEO elements, including:
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Meta tags: Titles, descriptions, and other meta data.
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Header tags: Properly structure your content with H1, H2, etc.
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Image alt text: Make sure all images have descriptive alt attributes.
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Canonical tags: Implement to prevent duplicate content issues.
Ensure that your SEO strategy is mirrored in the new site to maintain search engine rankings.
8. Implement 301 Redirects
As mentioned earlier, setting up 301 redirects is crucial to ensure users and search engines are directed to the new URLs. You can use Google Search Console and Screaming Frog to test if all redirects are working properly. Avoid redirect chains as they can negatively impact site speed and SEO.
Post-Migration Phase: Monitoring and Optimization
After your website is live, continuous monitoring and optimization are essential to track performance, fix issues, and ensure everything is functioning as expected.
9. Submit New XML Sitemap
Create an updated XML sitemap reflecting the new URL structure of your site. Submit this sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. This ensures search engines can easily crawl and index your new pages.
10. Monitor Google Search Console for Errors
Monitor your new site closely through Google Search Console. Look out for issues such as:
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Crawl errors: Broken links or pages that search engines can’t access.
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Indexing issues: Pages that aren’t being indexed or are being blocked by robots.txt.
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Mobile usability: Ensure your new site is optimized for mobile devices.
11. Track Rankings and Traffic
Monitor your site’s performance using Google Analytics, SEMrush, or other SEO tools. Track organic traffic and keyword rankings to see if there are any drops or issues. It’s common to experience some fluctuations, but significant drops may indicate issues with redirects or content migration.
12. Check for Broken Links
After the migration, use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to check for any broken links on your new site. Fix these broken links promptly to ensure both user satisfaction and SEO value are maintained.
13. Test Site Speed and Mobile Optimization
Site speed is essential for both user experience and SEO. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to check your website’s speed and mobile performance. If the site is loading slowly, you may need to optimize images, minify JavaScript, and improve server response times.
14. Review Backlinks
Check that your site’s backlinks are still intact. Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to monitor backlinks. If any backlinks are pointing to old URLs, reach out to the site owners and request they update the links.
Final Steps: Wrapping Up the Migration
15. Test User Experience (UX)
Ensure that the new site provides an excellent user experience. Test the following:
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Navigation: Is it intuitive and easy to use?
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Forms and CTAs: Do all forms work, and are the CTAs compelling?
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Content readability: Ensure text is easy to read on all devices.
16. Announce the Migration
If you’re changing domains or making major changes, it’s important to announce the migration to your audience. Use email newsletters, social media posts, or a blog update to inform users about the transition. This keeps them in the loop and ensures they know how to access your new site.
17. Review and Optimize
Finally, after a few weeks, review the performance of your website:
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SEO performance: Are rankings and traffic improving?
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User engagement: Are visitors spending more time on the site?
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Conversions: Are you seeing the desired outcomes from your new website?
If you identify any issues, take action to optimize and fix them.
Conclusion: The Path to a Successful Site Migration
A site migration checklist is an essential tool to ensure a smooth and successful website transition. Following each step will help you avoid common pitfalls, maintain SEO rankings, and provide a great user experience. From pre-migration preparation to post-launch monitoring, every phase plays a critical role in achieving a successful migration.
By thoroughly planning, executing, and reviewing each stage of the migration, you’ll be able to minimize risks and ensure that your website performs better than ever. Whether you’re moving to a new domain, switching platforms, or redesigning your site, having a comprehensive site migration checklist will help guide you through the process.
Are you ready for your website migration? Follow this checklist and ensure that your move is seamless and successful.
