Website migration: 5 steps to successfully migrate your site

Migrating a website is a crucial step in the life of a digital project. Whether it's to change hosting, CMS or domain name, the website migration requires careful preparation and methodical execution. If done incorrectly, it can negatively impact the natural referencing (SEO) of your site or lead to data losses important.

In this article, our Webflow experts guide you through 5 essential steps to the success of your website migration without stress or unexpected events. Whether you are a novice or an expert, follow our advice to guarantee a transfer fluid, secured and efficient.

Why is website migration strategic?

A website migration isn't just a simple file transfer; it's a strategic operation. It includes technical elements such as search engine optimization (SEO), URL redirection, database management, and performance optimization. An error, even a small one, can have major repercussions, such as a fall in search engines like Google or a degraded user experience (UX), which can lead to a loss of traffic and income.

However, when properly planned and executed, migration can become a opportunity :

• Improve WebPerf : Take advantage of migration to adopt a faster, more modern infrastructure.
• Strengthen security : Integrate protocols SSL, a secure hosting and monitoring tools.
• Optimize design (UI) and user experience (THEM) : Update the design And the functionalities to meet the current needs of your visitors.

Whether you are doing a site redesign, go from a CMS to another one (like migrating a WordPress site to Webflow), or simply change domain name, a well-orchestrated migration can transform your site into a real growth driver.

Follow our detailed guide to avoid common pitfalls and maximize the potential of your website migration.

Step 1: Assess migration needs and goals

The first step to a successful website migration is to assess your needs and clearly define your goals. This will allow you to establish a strategic plan and avoid common mistakes that can impact your project.

Why migrate a website?

Migrating a website is a strategic decision that can transform the impact of your online presence. Here are the 4 main reasons justifying a website migration:

1) Improve performance

A migration is often motivated by the need to optimize the technical performance of a website. Changing accommodations or modernizing infrastructure can have significant impacts:

• Faster load time : Users expect a site to load in under 3 seconds. Modern hosting reduces latency, which improves the user experience (UX) and decreases the bounce rate.
• Better availability : By migrating to reliable and scalable hosting, you ensure that your site remains accessible, even in the event of traffic spikes or exceptional events.

For example, a fast and always accessible site doesn't just improve the user experience; it also boosts your business performance by increasing the conversion rate. To learn more, discover the 8 essential KPIs to follow to analyze your website in 2024

2) Adopting a new CMS

Moving from a traditional CMS like WordPress to a modern platform like Webflow can offer several advantages:

• Advanced features : Webflow is distinguished by its powerful design tools and its native SEO integration.
• Simplified maintenance : With Webflow, you manage your content and designs without constantly depending on developers or frequent updates.

If you are hesitating between these two popular CMS, we have prepared a Full Webflow vs WordPress comparison to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

3) Site redesign

A migration is often combined with a redesign to give a new lease of life to a website:

• Modernizing the design : Integrate powerful visuals and responsive design to meet the expectations of modern users.
• Improving the user experience (UX) : Intuitive navigation and smooth interactions increase visitor satisfaction and engagement.
• Add innovative features : For example, animations, interactive forms, or customization tools can transform the user experience.

4) Change domain name

A domain name change can be a strategic decision for:

• Aligning brand identity : A new domain name often reflects an evolution of the company or its strategy.
• Targeting a specific market : For example, switch to a domain with a geographic extension (.fr, .de) to strengthen your local presence.
• Improving memorability : A shorter or more relevant domain name can simplify access to your site and improve your branding.

Define your goals for a successful migration

To guarantee a successful website migration, you must:

• Establishing precise specifications : List items to be migrated, such as content, images, URLs, and databases.
• Analyze current performance : Identify what is working well (and should be maintained) and what needs to be improved on the new site.
• Assess the resources needed : Make sure you have the expertise, the budget and the right tools to manage the migration of your website.

The pitfalls to avoid during the evaluation

• Ignoring the impact on SEO : A change in structure or domain name can cause a temporary drop in traffic if the redirects are not properly implemented.
• Underestimating deadlines : Migrating a website can be complex, especially if the size of your site or database is important.
• Forget the user experience : Migration is not just a technical exercise; it should also improve the interface and navigation for your visitors.

Once your needs and goals are defined, you will be better equipped to plan each stage of your website migration successfully. Stay organized and methodical to avoid the unexpected and ensure that your new site will not only be efficient but also optimized for search engines.

Step 2: Perform a full backup of the current site

Before starting a website migration, doing a complete backup of your current site is an essential step. This minimizes risks and ensures that you can restore the site in the event of an error or unexpected event.

Why back up your site before a migration?

A complete backup is essential to maintain the integrity of your data, especially if the migration involves complex changes such as the transition to a new CMS, a change of hosting, or a major redesign. It provides security in case of technical problems or human errors during the migration process.

How do I do a full backup?

Export site files

Use an FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck) to download all files from your site. This includes:

• HTML, CSS, JS files.
• The media (images, videos, documents).
• Specific configuration files (such as .htaccess).

👉 With a CMS like Webflow, it is possible to export all the code HTML/CSS/JS of the site. This feature offers a flexible solution for technical teams who want to keep a copy of the site locally.

Save the database

If your site is based on a database (MySQL, SQL), make a backup via your hosting interface (cPanel, Plesk) or a tool like phpMyAdmin. This step is crucial to maintain:

• Contents (articles, pages, comments).
• User accounts.
• Site settings.

Save specific configurations

• Plugins and extensions : Export the list and settings of the plugins if you are using a CMS like WordPress. Some tools, like UpdraftPlus, allow you to save an entire site (files + database).
• CMS settings : Save all configurations, such as themes, widgets, or templates.

Store your backups safely

• Keep your backups on an external hard drive, a secure cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox), or a specialized platform.
• Double backups to ensure quick recovery in case of problems.

Tip: Before migrating, back up your current site. Once the migration is complete, Make a new backup to maintain a functional version of the site on its new infrastructure. This will allow you to document changes and provide additional security in case of a necessary rollback.

Step 3: Analyze the current structure and define an effective tree structure

The planning of a new tree is a key step when migrating a website. It guarantees not only an optimal user experience but also a clear organization for search engines, which promotes your natural referencing.

Why is this step essential?

• Understanding of the site by search engines: A hierarchical structure helps Google and other search engines better index your site, improving its visibility.
• Intuitive navigation: A clear tree structure makes it easier for your visitors to access information, increasing their satisfaction and reducing the bounce rate.
• Preparation of advertising campaigns: A well-thought-out structure makes it possible to create landing pages adapted to each service or product, ideal for campaigns Google Ads targeted.

The 3 steps to analyze and define the tree structure of your site

1. Analysis of the current structure:

• Use SEO tools like Semrush to audit all pages and URLs on your site. Identify which pages are performing well, which to merge, and which to delete.
• Identify existing internal links to understand the current user journey and detect possible orphan pages.

2. Identification of priorities:

• Rank your pages according to their strategic importance: pages generating the most traffic, pages with high conversion potential, etc.
• List the content that will need to be reworked or optimized on the new site.
  👉 tip : NeuronWriter is a tool designed to help you write successful articles that are aligned with research intentions.

3. Tree design:

• Develop a logical hierarchy with consistent main categories and subcategories.
• Make sure that each level of the tree is easily accessible with a maximum of 2 to 3 clicks from the home page.

Optimize the tree structure for SEO and user experience (UX)

Create thematic silos:

Organize your pages by grouping content around specific themes. For example, if your site includes a blog, group your posts by related topics. This approach improves the relevance of internal links and strengthens SEO.

Integrate strategic internal relationships:

Internal links enhance navigation and help search engines discover your important pages. Make sure to make connections between your main and secondary pages.

Plan URLs:

• URLs should be short, descriptive, and contain relevant keywords.
• Avoid unnecessary parameters or numbers in your URLs that make it difficult to read.

Some resources to deepen the subject of tree structures

If you want to go further on the creation of an efficient tree, discover our detailed articles:

• +30% conversions thanks to this Landing Page Template: The Complete Guide 🚀
• How do I create a website tree? Practical guide

Step 4: Prepare and set up URL redirects

Redirection management is an essential step in the migration of a website. It allows you to maintain your natural referencing, to redirect users to the right pages, and to avoid 404 errors that could impact your user experience.

Why are redirects crucial when migrating a site?

Maintaining SEO

Permanent redirects (301) transmit the SEO value from your old URLs to the new ones, thus avoiding a drop in rankings in search engine results.

Ensuring a good user experience (UX)

They ensure that visitors who access your old URLs are automatically redirected to the appropriate content on the new site.

Avoid 404 errors

These mistakes, which are often frustrating, can damage your image and lead to a loss of traffic.

How to prepare your redirects in 3 simple steps?

1. Create a complete list of current URLs

Use tools like Semrush to extract all the URLs from your current site. This includes main pages, sub-pages, and even media (images, files).

2. Identify URL changes

Note the matches between the old URLs and the new site URLs.

If some pages no longer have equivalent content, redirect them to a similar category or to the home page.

3. Set up redirects

301 redirects : Ideal for permanent change, they allow up to 90% of the SEO authority of the old URL to be transmitted.

302 redirects : To be preferred only for temporary changes.

Essential tools for managing redirects

• For Webflow sites : Redirections can be configured directly in the project settings. An intuitive interface makes it possible to add URL matches in a few clicks.
• For WordPress sites : Plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO simplify the management of redirects.

Things to check after setting up redirects

• Test all redirections : Use tools like HTTP Status Checker to make sure that each redirect is working properly.
• Monitor 404 errors : Configure Google Search Console to identify pages not found and correct them quickly.

Step 5: Start and monitor your site migration

Once all the preparatory steps have been completed, it is time to proceed with the actual migration. However, this launch must be accompanied of a rigorous follow-up to detect and correct potential problems.

Perform a controlled migration

• Plan the migration during a period of low traffic, such as at night or at the weekend.
• Test on a pre-production version to identify technical issues before it goes live.

Verify the proper functioning of the site

• Test key features : Forms, buttons, internal links, and other interactions.
• Analyze the loading speed : Compare the performance of the new site with that of the old one using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.

Update Google Search Console

• Declare the new site in the Google Search Console
• Submit a file sitemap.xml updated to speed up the indexing of new URLs.

Track post-migration performance

• SEO metric tracking : Analyze keyword rankings and organic traffic using tools like Semrush.
• Error monitoring : Continue to monitor for 404 errors or other issues through Google Search Console.

Connect to Noqode for a successful website migration 🚀

Website migration is a strategic challenge but with the help of real experts, you can turn it into an opportunity.

Take advantage of 30 minutes of consultation offered to define your priorities and build a winning digital strategy.

👉 Why Noqode?

✔️ Expertise in Webflow, SEO and UX/UI design for uncompromising migrations.
✔️ Personalized advice to optimize performance and maintain your natural referencing.
✔️ Concrete digital strategies to maximize the impact of your new site.