Website Migration SEO Checklist
Planning a redesign, a new domain, a move to HTTPS or a new platform? Follow this checklist before, during and after launch to protect your rankings and traffic. Progress is saved in your browser.
How to use the migration checklist
- Start weeks before launch, not on launch day.
- Work through the before sections and keep your URL map in a spreadsheet.
- Use the launch day list as a go-live checklist.
- Watch results closely for at least a month after launch.
Why migrations lose traffic
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Missing redirects | Complete URL map and testing |
| Noindex left on | Launch day check |
| Content removed or thinned | Carry over content from top pages |
| Broken tracking | Test analytics before launch |
| Slower new design | Check speed on staging |
What to expect
Even a well-run migration can see some ranking movement for a few weeks while Google recrawls and processes redirects. A careful plan keeps that short. If traffic drops sharply, check for missing redirects, noindex tags and robots.txt blocks first.
Related tools
Create redirects with the htaccess redirect generator, flatten them with the redirect chain checker, and build a new sitemap with the XML sitemap generator.
More free tools and guides
Practise tools like this on real projects in our digital marketing course in Faridabad, with weekday, weekend and online batches.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this site migration checklist free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and your progress is saved in your browser.
Will I lose rankings after a redesign?
Not necessarily. Most losses come from missing redirects, removed content or technical mistakes, which a checklist helps prevent.
How long does it take to recover after a migration?
Often a few weeks for Google to process changes, longer for large sites or domain changes.
Should I change URLs during a redesign?
Only if there is a clear benefit. Keeping URLs the same is the safest choice.