Moving your website to a new hosting provider can feel like moving your business to a new location—you want everything to stay the same, but better. The last thing you want is for your hard-earned Google rankings and traffic to drop because of a misstep during the transfer. The good news? With careful planning, you can migrate your site smoothly and protect your SEO in the process.
Here’s a complete guide to help you do it right.
A Step-by-Step Checklist for a Safe Migration
To transfer your website without disrupting your SEO, follow these essential steps:
- Choose the Right Time
Plan your migration during a slow period for your business. Avoid peak seasons to minimize potential disruption if something unexpected happens. - Backup Your Entire Site
Before touching anything, create a full backup of your website files and database. This acts as your safety net in case something goes wrong. - Set Up Your New Hosting Environment
Work with your new host to configure the server correctly. Make sure it meets the technical requirements of your website and supports SSL (HTTPS). - Move Your Files and Database
Transfer all website files and databases to the new server. If you’re using WordPress, there are plugins that can simplify this process. - Update Your DNS Settings
Point your domain name to the new host by updating your DNS records. Keep in mind it may take 24-48 hours for these changes to fully propagate. - Test Your Website Before Launch
Use a temporary URL or staging environment to test the site on the new host. Check all pages, forms, and functionality. - Set Up 301 Redirects If Needed
If any URLs are changing during the migration, set up 301 redirects to guide search engines and users to the correct pages. - Submit Your Site to Google Search Console
Let Google know about the move by submitting your sitemap and monitoring any crawl errors. - Monitor Traffic and Rankings Closely
Keep a close eye on your website traffic and keyword rankings for the next few weeks to catch any issues early.
Common SEO Issues to Watch For During Transfers
Even with careful planning, there are common pitfalls that can harm your SEO:
- Broken Links: After the move, some internal links may break if URLs change. Use a tool like Screaming Frog to scan for broken links.
- Lost Metadata: Title tags and meta descriptions can sometimes go missing during migrations. Double-check your key pages.
- Downtime: Extended downtime during the migration can signal to Google that your site isn’t reliable. Choose a host with minimal transfer downtime.
- Incorrect Redirects: Improperly configured redirects can lead to 404 errors and lost SEO value.
- Missing Robots.txt or Sitemap: Don’t forget to move these files—they guide search engines on how to crawl your site.
By addressing these issues proactively, you can keep your SEO intact.
When to Involve a Professional
While some business owners are comfortable handling a migration themselves, there are times when calling in an expert is the smartest choice:
- Your site gets most of its traffic from Google and SEO is critical to your business.
- You’re moving from an old platform (like Wix or Squarespace) to WordPress.
- You don’t have experience managing DNS settings or server configurations.
- You suspect that URLs may change during the migration.
Hiring a professional ensures that the process is seamless and your SEO stays protected. At Digital Donkey Marketing, we help local businesses migrate websites with zero SEO headaches.
FAQs About Hosting Transfers
If done correctly, downtime should be minimal or non-existent. A professional can help you set up a seamless transfer.
Yes, but you’ll need to plan carefully. Make sure your email setup (like G Suite or Microsoft 365) isn’t tied to your old hosting.
Usually within a few days. However, DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide.
Ready to move your website without sacrificing SEO? Let Digital Donkey Marketing handle the migration so you can focus on your business.
Contact Digital Donkey Marketing today for your website development and digital marketing needs. Let us handle your online marketing so you can focus on growing your business. Visit DigitalDonkeyMarketing.com or call us at 512-942-6108 to get started!
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