The website migration process depends on many factors, and the migration type is crucial in determining this. Some are relatively straightforward and take no more than a few days, while others can take months to complete. The most common migration types are:
Hosting change
This type of website migration involves simply changing hosting providers and is relatively easy to implement. For example, if we feel that a given company's server space fees are too high or the hosting itself doesn't meet our expectations, we can choose a competitive offer and simply relocate the website, placing all content and files on a different server. This change is invisible to the user and doesn't involve any site redesign, so it presents the fewest migration challenges.
Domain change
This is a much more complex type of website migration, involving changing the website's URL. In this case, you must first create permanent 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones for all subpages within the site. However, this is just the beginning – a domain change requires many more steps. You also need to change all internal linking within the page and verify the correct functioning of external links acquired throughout the site's lifespan. It's also necessary to update the sitemap.xml, Google Ads campaigns, and settings in Google Analytics and Google Search Console. As you can see, changing a domain in Google Search is a very busy time for any SEO specialist, and we're happy to take on the challenge!
CMS system change
Another example of website migration involves switching to a new CMS, or content management system. If your current CMS is outdated or dysfunctional and you want to use a different one, a series of migration preparations are necessary. First and foremost, all content, files, photos, user accounts, comments, and other elements previously on the website must be transferred to the new system. The new CMS requires creating a structure for the entire website that perfectly mirrors the existing one, and ensuring that the URLs are entered exactly the same to avoid 404 errors. This is a very complex process, usually requiring thorough preparation and a significant amount of work.
Changing the appearance of the page
This involves changes visible to the user, such as a new graphic design, including changes to the menu and page structure, text formatting (e.g., headers), and other elements important for SEO. The difficulty of such a migration when implementing a new website depends on many factors, such as the size of the page and the number of changes being made.
Merging sites or splitting a subdomain
The first situation occurs when we want to merge two websites into one. This is a demanding migration type, as it involves migrating from two domains. The second type of migration is essentially the reverse of a merger—it involves separating part of a website into a separate domain. This might happen, for example, when you're developing a brand and your product or service line evolves into a subsidiary, or when you want to separate a blog from your website. This is a much simpler migration type.
Of course, there are many different types of website migrations, and they often intertwine, making the process even more complex. Therefore, thorough preparation, a detailed plan, and the involvement of all stakeholders (e.g., web developer, SEO specialist, analyst, UX specialist) are crucial.
