Introduction
Migrating your WordPress website doesn’t have to mean risking your SEO progress. Done right, it can actually improve performance while keeping your rankings safe. This guide walks you through how to move your website the right way—without hurting search visibility, traffic, or revenue.
Before You Migrate
- Full Backup First: Secure your files, database, and settings with reliable plugins like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault.
- SEO Audit: Track important SEO metrics in Google Search Console and Analytics before you migrate.
- URL & Meta Inventory: Use Screaming Frog to map all important URLs and metadata.
- Fast, Reliable Hosting: Make sure your new host is optimized for WordPress speed, SSL, and security.
How to Migrate
- Plugin Method: Ideal for simple sites. Use tools like Duplicator or Migrate Guru.
- Manual Migration: Best for large or complex websites. It takes more work but gives you full control.
Protect SEO with Redirects
- Keep URLs Same: Avoid changing URLs if possible.
- 301 Redirects: If you must change URLs, implement 301 redirects to pass SEO authority.
- Test Everything: Use online tools to confirm redirects are working with no errors or loops.
Fix Links & On-Page SEO
- Check Internal Links: Use Broken Link Checker to repair broken internal links.
- Optimize Meta Tags: Make sure all titles, descriptions, and headers are intact.
- Schema Check: Double-check that your structured data (schema) is still in place.
Post-Migration Cleanup
- Speed Up the Site: Optimize images and caching for faster load times.
- HTTPS Check: Confirm your SSL is installed and working.
- Mobile First: Test responsiveness on multiple screen sizes.
Tell Google You’ve Moved
- Resubmit Sitemap: Upload your sitemap to Google Search Console.
- Check Indexing: Use URL Inspection to confirm crawlability.
- Watch Analytics: Track traffic for any sudden drops and troubleshoot fast.
Avoid SEO Mistakes
- Skipping redirect tests.
- Forgetting to noindex your staging site.
- Missing canonical URL updates.
- Misconfiguring robots.txt.
Conclusion
Moving your website shouldn’t cost you your SEO. Follow these steps for a smooth, SEO-friendly migration. Want expert help with your next migration? Integriti Studio has you covered.
Want Help Setting This Up? Let’s optimize your forms
Let’s Fix ItShare
.svg)
.svg)
.png)
