A website migration is any move of a website from one place or setup to another: a new host, a new platform, a new domain name, a switch to HTTPS, or a redesign that changes page addresses. The goal is that visitors and search engines land on the right pages afterward, and that forms, email and tracking keep working.
This guide is part of our website redesign guide. If your main worry is search traffic, read how to redesign without losing SEO too.
What kind of migration are you doing?
- New host, same site: the files and database move to another server. Page addresses should not change.
- New platform: for example, an old builder to WordPress. Content has to be moved or rebuilt, and addresses often change.
- New domain: your business name or address changes. Every URL changes.
- Redesign with new structure: same domain, but pages are renamed, merged or removed.
The more that changes, the more you have to plan. A host move with the same addresses is the simplest. A new domain is the most sensitive.
Before the move
- Back up everything. Files, database and a copy of your DNS records. Keep the backup somewhere other than the old host.
- List what the site connects to. Forms, email notifications, booking tools, payment or CRM connections, tracking codes, chat widgets.
- Check who controls the domain and DNS. You need the registrar login. If a former web person set it up, find out now.
- Check your email setup. Business email often runs through DNS records. A careless DNS change can break email.
- List every URL. Use your sitemap and Search Console. You will need this for redirects.
Build and test on a copy
Keep the old site live while you build the new one on a staging copy. Test it before it replaces anything. Check forms, phone links, the mobile layout, page speed and that the whole site is visible only to you until it is ready.
Staging copies are usually set to discourage search engines. Remember to switch that off at launch. It is one of the most common ways a new site ends up invisible.
Map old URLs to new URLs
If any address changes, make a two column list of old URL to new URL and set up permanent (301) redirects. Google recommends sending each old URL directly to the most relevant new one, avoiding chains, and not sending lots of pages to the home page. The details are in our guide on redirect mapping and in Google’s site move documentation.
The switch
- Pick a quiet time, and tell anyone who edits the site to stop making changes.
- Take a final backup of the old site.
- Point the domain to the new host, or launch the new platform, and turn on redirects.
- Make sure the SSL certificate is active so the site loads over HTTPS with no warnings.
- Allow time for DNS changes to spread. Your host can tell you what to expect.
If you are changing domain names
Google provides a Change of Address tool in Search Console for domain moves. It requires that both the old and new sites are verified in your account. Use it after your redirects are live. Also update your Google Business Profile, directory listings, email signatures and ad links to the new address.
After the move: your check list
- Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.
- Submit every form and confirm the notification email arrives.
- Click each phone and email link.
- Confirm analytics and call tracking are recording.
- Test a sample of old URLs and confirm they redirect once to the right page.
- Look for 404 errors and mixed content warnings.
- Watch Search Console for errors and for pages leaving the index.
Keep the old setup for a while
Do not cancel the old hosting the same day. Keep it available for a short period in case you need to compare something or roll back. Keep redirects for at least a year, as Google advises.
When to get help
A host move on a small brochure site is something many owners can do with their host’s help. A platform or domain change with several hundred pages, forms and tracking is easier to get wrong. If you are not sure, have someone review your plan before you switch.
Related guides
- How long a website redesign takes for the phases of a full project.
- Website maintenance for backups and updates after the move.
- Website redesign checklist for what to prepare.
Common migration problems
- Email stops working. DNS records for email were overwritten or not copied. Save a copy of all DNS records before you touch anything.
- The new site is invisible to Google. A staging setting that discourages search engines was left on.
- Forms look fine but leads never arrive. The notification address or an outside connection was not carried over. Always submit a real test.
- Old addresses show an error. The redirect list missed pages, usually older blog posts and images.
- Security warnings. The certificate is not active on the new host, or images and scripts still load over HTTP.
- Tracking goes quiet. The analytics or call tracking code was left out of the new theme.
Choosing the time
Pick a window when your phone is usually quiet, and avoid launching right before a busy season, a big ad push or a holiday when nobody is around to fix problems. Have the person who built the site available for at least the first few days.
Who should own what
You should own your domain, your hosting account and your analytics, and have the logins on file. If an agency or a former developer holds them, ask for them before the move. It makes every migration simpler and keeps your options open later.
Want a second set of eyes on your site?
If you are moving to a new platform or host and want it done carefully, Webfactory Media is a web design and marketing agency in Carlisle, PA. See our website redesign service or call (888) 849-2397 for a free review of your current site.
