As the size and complexity of your website increases, a website migration may become necessary. When this happens, using a methodical, step-by-step approach to moving your site enables the process go more smoothly and helps you avoid damaging your brand and business.
The subtleties of site migration can be explained by an SEO specialist, but if you simply need a fast refresher, this article offers everything you need to know.
What is the definition of site migration?
Simply simply, site migration is the process of switching from one website to another. It frequently entails domain migration, which is the process of changing a domain name.
During the site migration, other portions of the website may be revised. Your website’s servers, content management system (CMS) platforms, and subdomains, for example, could all be changed.
The need to relocate a website is usually a good indication, showing that things are moving in the right direction. The following are the most compelling reasons to transfer your website:
Changing the name of your domain
You want to modify your website’s domain name or URL from oldname.com to newname.com. This might be the outcome of a recent rebranding effort or a strategic shift in your company.
Perhaps you wish to switch to a domain that is known globally (such as .com or .co.uk).
Server upgrades and downgrades
You’re having problems with website accessibility because your server can’t manage the amount of traffic you’re getting right now. Your website’s response times may deteriorate as well, resulting in a poor customer experience.
You may also want to improve data security and privacy by switching to a more secure server (such as from HTTP to HTTPS).
Changing web hosting companies
Your hosting service should give you with a dedicated server and manager, something your current provider does not supply. You may also wish to look at other providers’ features or choose a more cost-effective package.
What are the dangers of relocating a website?
Migration of a website is a regular and important component of corporate expansion, but it is not without risk. Changing your domain is, after all, a significant change.
Most websites that migrate will see a temporary loss of traffic, but if the old website isn’t automatically connected to the new one and the change of domains isn’t properly publicized, the traffic loss might be permanent. Other dangers associated with site transfer include content loss and broken internal and external linkages.
Proceed with caution and enter the site migration process with your eyes wide open, as things can rapidly become nasty. Migrations can have an impact on search engine rankings and cause content to be lost if done poorly.
Plugins and other site elements may become unresponsive. If you are not deliberate and cautious, the entire site may crash.
To avoid predicted hazards and reduce potential downfalls, you’ll need a clear and precise plan. This guide to site migration includes a list of typical pitfalls to avoid when moving your website.
How can you move your website successfully?
Before you begin site migration, you should carefully examine whether it is the best option for your brand and organization. If you’re determined to migrate your site, here are a few pointers to make the process go as easily as possible:
Test, test, and test some more
Testing your new domain or subdomain will help you detect problems early on, before you abandon your old site. Recruit workers from various departments within your firm to stress test the website’s performance and report on their user experience.
Make sure your new site is an upgrade to your old one before migrating. Your new site should have faster loading times, tighter internal linking, and even more SEO-friendly characteristics than your old one!
Set up a redirect for your former domain
It’s not just for folks that write in the wrong website address that you should redirect your old domain. There will be numerous internal and external links pointing back to your old site.
Create a redirect map to route visitors to your new website.
Promote the new website early and often
Even before migrating, you should be promoting it. Notify everybody who has links to your website that they may need to be updated, advertise the debut of your new website on social media and in your emails, and create a ‘coming soon’ landing page for the new website.
Perform an SEO audit on your new website. Even if a month passes without incident, Google will penalize your search rating if it discovers a broken internal link on your website.
If you follow these suggestions and take the time to create a proper site migration plan, you’ll set yourself up for success. This will make it more likely that your site migration will go smoothly, stress-free, and quickly.
Your site’s organic performance will be minimally impacted. You have nothing to be concerned about.
Thanks to Dave Sutton at Business 2 Community whose reporting provided the original basis for this story.
