Types of Migrations
Different migration types carry different risks and requirements.
- Domain change: Moving to a new domain name
- Protocol change: HTTP to HTTPS migration
- Platform change: New CMS or technology stack
- Restructure: New URL patterns and architecture
- Hybrid: Combining multiple changes simultaneously
Pre-Migration Planning
Success depends on thorough preparation before any changes go live.
- Complete crawl and inventory of existing site
- Document all ranking pages and their metrics
- Map every URL to its new destination
- Identify pages to consolidate or retire
- Plan redirect implementation method
Redirect Strategy
301 redirects are the cornerstone of migration SEO. Every indexable URL needs a plan.
Preserving On-Page Elements
Maintain on-page optimization through the migration.
- Keep title tags and meta descriptions
- Preserve heading structure and content
- Maintain internal linking patterns
- Transfer schema markup
- Retain canonical tags and hreflang
Migration Launch Checklist
Critical steps when the migration goes live.
- Verify all redirects are working correctly
- Update Google Search Console with new property
- Submit updated sitemaps
- Test key pages for content and technical issues
- Monitor crawl errors and indexation
Post-Migration Monitoring
Intensive monitoring catches problems before they become permanent losses.
Conclusion
Migrations don't have to hurt SEO if executed properly. Comprehensive planning, complete redirect coverage, and vigilant monitoring preserve your hard-won rankings. Contact mysitebroker for SEO migration planning and execution.
Key Takeaways
- 1Migrations are high-risk but manageable with proper planning
- 2Complete URL mapping and redirect coverage are essential
- 3Preserve on-page elements through the transition
- 4Launch carefully with immediate verification
- 5Intensive post-migration monitoring catches issues fast