SEO website migration
A new website without losing search traffic.
Our SEO website migration services cover redesigns, CMS changes, domain moves and site mergers. We record what brings traffic and enquiries today, map every important old URL to its new one, test the staging site and watch the live site after launch, so the move doesn’t cost you the search traffic you have built.
What our SEO website migration services include
Baseline and inventory
Before anything changes, we record important URLs, search reports, backlinks and pages that bring enquiries or sales.
URL map and redirects
We choose the right new address for every important old one and document redirects, internal links, canonical tags and what happens to merged or removed content.
Checks before launch
We review the staging site: content, robots rules, sitemaps and language tags. Together with developers we agree the launch checklist and a rollback plan.
Monitoring after launch
We check live redirects, broken paths and indexing, compare search data with the baseline and assign fixes quickly.
Who SEO migration support is for
A good fit if:
- You are redesigning the site, moving to a new CMS or changing domain.
- You are merging several sites or language versions into one.
- Search already brings a meaningful share of enquiries or sales, and you can’t afford a long drop.
Probably not the right fit if:
- The launch is tomorrow and the URL structure can no longer change. We can still help with damage control after launch.
- The site is new and has almost no search traffic to protect.
What you get from SEO migration support
- An old-to-new URL map with notes on content that must be kept.
- A launch checklist for developers, with a rollback plan.
- A post-launch monitoring plan and a ranked list of issues found.
Why sites lose traffic after a redesign
A drop after launch is rarely bad luck. It comes from a few predictable gaps:
- Old URLs return 404 or redirect to the home page instead of the matching new page.
- Content that ranked (text, FAQs, tables) is cut in the new design.
- The staging site’s noindex rule goes live with the release.
- Internal links, canonicals, hreflang and the sitemap still point to old addresses.
- Analytics and conversion tracking are not moved, so nobody can see what happened.
Each of these can be prevented before launch, which costs far less than repairing the damage afterwards.
Redesign, new CMS or new domain: what changes
Redesign on the same domain
URLs may stay, but templates and internal links change. The risk is in what disappears from pages.
New CMS
URL patterns, pagination and filters usually change. Redirect mapping and checking the new templates matter most.
New domain
Every URL changes. Besides redirects you need the change of address tool in Search Console and closer monitoring.
Merging sites
Content overlaps, so we decide page by page what to keep, merge or retire. Cost depends on the number of URLs and templates; we quote it in EUR.
How the work runs, step by step
Brief
We learn what changes, the launch plan and who is responsible for design, content and development.
Inventory and mapping
We collect the URLs and data worth protecting and prepare the redirect map with your team.
Staging checks
We test the new site before launch and agree what must be fixed before go-live.
Launch and monitoring
On launch day and in the weeks after, we check redirects, indexing and traffic and fix issues in order of impact.
What we need from you
- Access to Search Console and analytics for the current site.
- Access to the staging version of the new site.
- The launch plan and a technical contact on the development side.
- A list of pages that matter most to the business.
What we don’t promise. We don’t promise that rankings will stay exactly the same: search engines need time to process changes, and nobody can guarantee the outcome. We promise a documented plan, checks before and after launch, and fast fixes.
When to bring SEO into a migration
- Structure stage: before URL patterns are fixed, so we keep what already ranks.
- Design: so templates keep the content and headings search relies on.
- Staging: to crawl the new site, test redirects and agree the launch checklist.
- Launch and after: to check live redirects and indexing while issues are still small.
Already launched and lost traffic? We start with damage control: missing redirects and lost content first.
What a migration can and can’t protect
Some fluctuation is normal while Google recrawls the site, especially after a domain change. A careful site migration keeps the dip small and short; a careless one turns it into a long loss. We don’t promise zero change in rankings. We promise a URL map you can check, a tested launch and a ranked list of anything that goes wrong. For a redesign that keeps the same domain, see website redesign SEO: a step-by-step plan.
New site, new catalogue
A company replaces its old website and reorganises its service catalogue. Before launch we map old service and article URLs to the right new pages, compare content and run the checklist on staging. After launch we watch the key pages until traffic settles.
A typical scenario, not a client case.
SEO website migration: common questions
How long should old redirects stay in place?
Permanently, if possible. Search engines and old backlinks keep using old URLs for a long time.
When should SEO join a redesign?
Before the new structure and URLs are fixed. Joining early makes it easier to keep valuable content and agree changes with designers and developers.
Can you guarantee no loss of rankings after a migration?
No. Some fluctuation is normal while search engines process the change. A careful plan and fast fixes keep the dip short and small.
Do we need to redirect every old URL?
Every URL with traffic, links or business value should go to the closest new equivalent. Truly obsolete pages can be removed deliberately.
Do you work with our developers or agency?
Yes. We prepare the URL map and checklists for your developers, review their work on staging and check the result after launch.
How is the cost of an SEO website migration calculated?
It depends on the number of URLs and templates, whether several sites are merged, how many languages are involved and how long we monitor after launch. We quote cost and timing in EUR after a short brief.
What access do you need for a site migration?
Search Console, analytics, the current CMS or a crawl of the site, and the staging version. We never ask for passwords by email; we agree a safe way to share access.
Platform reference: Google guidance for site moves
Read before you start
Short practical guides on the same subject.
- Since 2006
- Written scope before work starts
- One contact person
- Reply within 24 hours
Planning a redesign or a move?
Send a link to your current site and tell us what will change and when. We’ll suggest where to start.
The first conversation is free, with no obligation.