Website Migration
Definition
Moving a website from one platform, host, or domain to another while preserving content, SEO value, and functionality.
What is Website Migration?
Website migration is the process of moving your website from one location or platform to another. This could mean changing your hosting provider, switching CMS platforms (like WordPress to Shopify), moving to a new domain name, or restructuring your entire URL system.
It's more complex than it sounds because you're not just moving files. You're preserving years of SEO value, maintaining user bookmarks, and ensuring nothing breaks in the process.
Types of Migration
Platform Migration
Moving from one CMS to another, like WordPress to Webflow or Squarespace to Shopify. Content needs reformatting, and templates need rebuilding.
Host Migration
Changing web hosting providers while keeping everything else the same. Usually the simplest type if done correctly.
Domain Migration
Moving to a new domain name (oldsite.com to newsite.com). Requires careful redirect planning to maintain search rankings.
URL Structure Migration
Changing how your URLs are organised. Even on the same domain, this needs proper redirects.
Why Migrations Go Wrong
The biggest risk is losing search rankings. Google has indexed your old URLs, and if you don't redirect them properly, that SEO value disappears. Other common issues include broken internal links, missing images, and lost functionality.
Essential Migration Checklist
- Map all old URLs to new URLs
- Set up 301 redirects for every page
- Update internal links throughout the site
- Submit new sitemap to Google Search Console
- Monitor rankings closely for 3-6 months after launch
A botched migration can cost months of traffic. It's worth getting professional help if you're not confident handling it yourself.