Are you thinking of moving your WordPress site but worried about missing something important?
Website migration can be tricky, with lots to consider. Using a checklist ensures you cover all bases and avoid costly mistakes.
What is Website Migration?
Website migration involves moving your site to a new platform, server, or domain. Reasons vary from upgrading technology to redesigning for better user experience. It’s crucial for improving site performance and security.
How Does Migration Impact WordPress SEO?
Migration can boost SEO if done right. For instance, moving to faster hosting can improve site speed and rankings. However, errors like broken links can harm SEO.
Website Migration Checklist: Preparing Your Site for Migration
- Plan Your Migration and Inform Your Users: Decide why and when to migrate. Inform users to maintain trust.
- Put Your WordPress Site in Maintenance Mode: Use tools like SeedProd to show visitors your site is under maintenance.
- Create a Backup of Your WordPress Website: Use plugins like Duplicator to safeguard your site data.
- Perform a Website SEO Audit: Check for SEO issues before migration using plugins like All in One SEO.
- Disable Caching, Firewall, and Redirect Plugins: Deactivate plugins temporarily to avoid issues during migration.
- Prevent Search Engines from Indexing Your New Site: Use settings in WordPress to prevent search engines from finding your site prematurely.
Website Migration Checklist: Starting the Migration Process
- Ensure Your Domain is Pointing to the New Web Host: Update DNS settings to connect your domain to the new host.
- Make Sure WordPress is Installed on Your Site: Ensure WordPress is set up on your new hosting server.
- Set Up and Test Redirects when Migrating to New Domain: Use tools like All in One SEO to redirect traffic from old URLs to new ones.
- Make Sure the New Site is Indexable and Crawlable: Remove blocks preventing search engines from crawling your new site.
Website Migration Checklist: Monitor and Test Migration
- Test the Overall Functionality of Your Site: Check all site functions, from forms to checkout processes, to ensure they work smoothly.
- Check for 404 Errors: Use tools to track and fix any pages that users can’t reach after migration.
- Perform a Speed Test to See the Performance: Measure site speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to ensure optimal performance.
- Run an SEO Audit Again to Check for Errors: Reassess SEO health post-migration to fix any new issues.
- Track Keyword Positions, Traffic, and Conversions: Monitor changes in keyword rankings and site traffic after migration.
- Ensure Your Old Hosting is Closed: Close the old hosting account once migration is complete to avoid confusion with search engines.
By following this checklist, you can ensure a smooth and successful migration of your WordPress site
