In the dynamic world of the web, SEO migration is not just a technical process, but a true art that requires a set of skills and a lot of experience.
At Qreativa, we are SEO specialists. With over 10 years of experience, we have witnessed numerous evolutions in the field of Search Engine Optimization, and we have refined our skills to guarantee our clients efficient solutions and lasting results.
Our team is composed of passionate specialists who dedicate themselves to each project with meticulous care.
We are well aware of the complexity behind every SEO migration and know exactly how to maneuver the delicate SEO mechanisms to ensure that your new website not only maintains but improves its search engine ranking during and after the migration.
If you’re looking for a reliable partner to guide you through the delicate process of SEO migration, don’t hesitate to contact us for a professional and tailored SEO consultation. One of our SEO consultants will help you resolve any doubts.
Our history and successes speak for themselves. Trust us for a smooth SEO migration and watch your business thrive online.
Discover what our clients say about us on Trustpilot.
What “is SEO migration? A” very delicate activity. Find out why
SEO migration refers to the process of moving or modifying a website while maintaining or improving its visibility in search engines. This can include changes such as:
- Transferring the site from one domain to another.
- Switching from HTTP to HTTPS.
- Changing the CMS platform.
- Reorganizing the site structure or its content.
During an SEO migration, it’s essential to ensure that all previously applied SEO optimizations are not lost and that search engines correctly understand the changes made.
If managed incorrectly, a migration can lead to a drastic loss of traffic, as pages could lose their previous positions in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
When should you rely on our SEO agency for site migration? Read here
SEO migration is necessary in various circumstances, some of which can be planned, while others may arise due to unforeseen necessities.
Here are some of the most common situations where you might need to consider an SEO migration:
- Domain change: if you’ve decided to change your domain name or move to a new domain, an SEO migration will be necessary to ensure that the traffic and visibility of your old domain are transferred to the new one.
- Website restructuring: if you’re planning a complete revision of your website’s design or structure, you’ll need to consider an SEO migration. This is particularly important if page URLs change or if the site hierarchy is modified.
- Platform change: if you want to change your website platform, for example, switching from WordPress to Shopify or vice versa, you need an SEO migration.
- Migration from HTTP to HTTPS: security is a priority for both users and search engines. If you decide to make your site more secure by switching from HTTP to HTTPS status code, you need to perform an SEO migration.
- Mergers and acquisitions: if your company merges with “another, or acquires another website, you might want to combine the content or redirect traffic from one site to the” other.
- Internationalization: if you’re expanding your business internationally and creating localized versions of your website, an SEO migration is necessary to properly manage the different language versions.
- Content removal: If you’re planning to remove a significant amount of content, or entire sections of your site, you’ll need to properly manage redirects and migration.
An SEO migration should not be taken lightly. Migration involves risks and can have a significant impact on your traffic and your search engine rankings, if not managed correctly. Therefore, consult or rely on experienced SEO specialists like us!
Beware of SEO migration done by non-professionals: what can happen?
Performing an SEO migration without adequate know-how can be truly harmful. Even a small mistake can have serious repercussions on a website’s visibility and traffic.
Here are some of the most significant risks associated with an SEO migration not managed by specialists:
- Traffic loss: The most immediate risk is the potential loss of organic traffic. If, for example, 301 redirects are not implemented correctly, visitors will encounter 404 error pages. This can have a direct impact on user satisfaction and your site’s credibility.
- Decrease in ranking: Google and other search engines evaluate the quality and relevance of web pages. If, during a migration, content is altered or removed without proper precautions, your site will lose positions in search results and thus decrease its ranking. Imagine, for example, having a page that ranks first for a strategic keyword and, following a poorly managed migration, that page loses its relevance. The damage in terms of visibility will be enormous.
- Problems with backlinks: Backlinks are fundamental for SEO. If you change a page’s URL without proper redirects, the external links pointing to your page will no longer have value, and will damage your authority and trust in the eyes of search engines.
- Content duplication: Without a proper strategy, you might end up with duplicate content. This can confuse search engines and dilute the SEO value of your pages. For example, if you launch the mobile version of your site without correct directives, you could have two versions of the same page indexed, compromising the clarity and authority of your site.
- Technical problems: A poorly managed migration can cause issues such as slow loading times, compatibility problems across different devices or malfunctions in some sections of the site. These problems not only affect the “user” experience but also suffer penalization by search engines.
Remember, SEO migration is a delicate process that requires expertise, precision, and an in-depth understanding of search engine mechanisms.
Doing it alone without having the skills, or relying on the wrong people, is equivalent to endangering the entire digital ecosystem of a brand. Don’t risk it! Trust our team.
The phases of an SEO migration: how we operate in our SEO agency
SEO migration is a complex and multifaceted procedure. Each phase requires attention and expertise to ensure that the site maintains, or even improves, its position in search engines.
Here’s a detailed description of each phase, to which our team dedicates attention and professionalism:
Initial analysis and planning: clarifying what needs to be done
- Evaluation of the current site: First of all, it’s fundamental for us to have a clear understanding of the current site structure, content, traffic, and keywords for which it ranks.
- Defining objectives: We decide what type of migration we want to carry out, for example, domain change, switching to HTTPS, platform change.
- Tools and resources: We select SEO tools and decide which of our team members will manage the migration.
Website inventory: no grey areas
- We create a list of all the pages on the site, including URLs, titles, meta tags, meta descriptions, and content. Tools like Screaming Frog, Semrush, SEOZoom are very useful at this stage.
- We identify and note the most important external backlinks.
Technical preparation and creation of a test environment
- We create a test environment: before implementing any changes, it’s important for us to have an environment where we can test modifications without impacting the live site.
- URL restructuring (if necessary): for example, if we’re changing the site structure, we need to plan how the new URLs will be formed.
Implementation of redirects to avoid non-existent pages
Whenever a URL changes, we need to implement a 301 redirect to redirect traffic from the old page to the new one. This preserves SEO value and “user experience”.
On-page optimization: attention to even the commas!
- We ensure that each page has optimized meta titles, meta descriptions, and content.
- We verify that images have alt attributes and that the site is mobile-friendly.
Testing the migration on the staging environment: is everything okay?
Before making the migration live, we test everything on the “staging environment. This includes navigation, functionality, redirects, and”SEO optimization.
Website launch: we’re ready
Once everything has been tested, we proceed with the actual migration.
Post-launch monitoring: is everything going well or is there something to review?
- Error check: we verify, using tools like Google Search Console, if there are any 404 errors or crawling issues.
- Traffic analysis: we monitor traffic to identify any significant drops.
- Redirect check: we verify that all 301 redirects are working.
Communication to search engines: we update the sitemap
- We update the sitemap and submit it to the main search engines.
- If the domain has changed, we use the tools provided by search engines to inform them of the transfer.
Long-term monitoring: beware of thinking it’s a one-time job
We continue to monitor the site for several weeks to ensure that everything ultimately works as expected and to intervene promptly in case of problems.
The fundamental role of the robots.txt file in SEO migration. Don’t underestimate it
During SEO migration, many aspects of your website will change. One of the often overlooked, but fundamentally important elements is the robots.txt file.
This simple file has a significant impact on how search engines interact with the new site.
The robots.txt file serves as a guide for search engines, as it indicates which pages or sections of the site should be excluded from crawling and indexing.
During a migration, it’s crucial to ensure that this file is adequately updated to reflect any structural or content changes.
For example, if during the site migration we move, change, or delete certain pages, the robots.txt file must be updated accordingly.
If a certain section of the site is still under development and we don’t want it to be indexed, we need to block it through the robots.txt file.
Additionally, if the site has a publicly visible staging or test version, we must completely block its crawling through the robots.txt file to avoid duplicate content issues or indexing of non-final pages.
An error in the robots.txt file can have disastrous consequences on search engine visibility. That’s why we at Qreativa thoroughly review and test the robots.txt file every time we perform an SEO migration, to ensure it correctly indicates to search engines which parts of the site to explore and which to avoid.
What happens after the SEO migration and what do we monitor at Qreativa?
After performing an SEO migration, it’s not time to relax. On the contrary, we need to intensify our attention and monitoring.
Migrating a website, from an SEO perspective, is like moving to a new house. Everything has been organized and moved, but then you need to make sure that everything is in its place and functioning. Here’s what happens and what needs to be done:
Temporary fluctuations in traffic and rankings: no cause for alarm
You might notice fluctuations in your traffic and search engine rankings. This is normal, don’t worry.
Search engines take time to recognize, index, and re-rank your old site based on the changes made.
Intensive monitoring to keep an eye on the website’s health
- We use tools like Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to monitor indexing, any errors, and the overall health of the site.
- We regularly check traffic metrics through Google Analytics 4 or other analytics tools to identify unexpected drops or spikes.
Verification of 301 redirects and attention to accessibility issues
We ensure that all redirects, particularly 301 redirects, are implemented correctly. This way, we avoid accessibility problems or loss of link juice, which is the SEO value transmitted through internal links.
Content and usability verification: users and search engines will thank you
- We navigate the site as a user would and verify that all pages load correctly, content is visible, and navigation is smooth.
- We conduct usability tests to ensure a good user experience.
Gathering feedback and resolving any emergencies
We listen to users. If they report problems or difficulties in navigating, we take note of the situation and intervene quickly.
Proactive communication: don’t keep the website migration hidden. Talk about it to clients
Inform your community, clients, and visitors about the migration, and reassure them that you’re monitoring and optimizing the new site to ensure the best possible experience. Don’t know how to do it? We’ll explain it to you!
We verify the internal and external links of the website and check if the URLs are okay
We ensure that all internal links function correctly and that external backlinks lead to the right pages, especially if the URL structure has changed.
Continuous optimization: in web marketing and SEO, everything changes at the speed of light
An SEO migration is often an opportunity to identify areas for improvement. For this reason, we continue to optimize the site based on collected data and new opportunities that emerge.
We also migrate your eCommerce site. Find out how
Migrating an eCommerce site is a delicate and complex operation. Unlike an informational website or a blog, an eCommerce site has multiple facets and interactions, including shopping carts, payments, order management, product reviews, and much more.
A poorly managed migration affects not only visibility in search engines but can also cause economic losses.
Here’s how we at Qreativa manage the migration of an eCommerce site:
Detailed planning of moves to make. Nothing is left to chance
Before starting, we prepare a detailed plan that identifies all phases of the process, the desired objectives, and potential obstacles.
Complete backup to never have unpleasant surprises
We perform a complete backup of your site, including databases, images, products, and all related information. In case of problems, a backup allows us to restore the previous situation.
Mapping of old URLs and redirects to ensure everything is in its place
If the structure of your site or product URLs change, we ensure we have a complete map of old URLs and where the new ones should redirect.
301 redirects are crucial for maintaining the SEO value of pages and ensuring customers reach the correct product pages.
Functionality testing: does everything work within the site?
In addition to normal usability tests, we test all e-commerce specific functionalities, such as the purchasing process, account creation, password recovery, thank you pages, email notifications, and order management.
Monitoring traffic and conversions in the online shop
We use analytics tools to monitor traffic and conversions before, during, and after migration. We carefully observe any drops to intervene promptly.
We verify content and images
We ensure that all product descriptions, reviews, images, and specifications are in place and displayed correctly. A product without an image or description can demotivate a potential buyer.
Specific SEO to optimize your eCommerce
To do SEO on your e-commerce site, we check that product pages are optimized for search. This includes meta tags, images, schema markup for reviews, ratings and availability, and unique and relevant content.
Continuous testing of activities to check for issues
Even after migration, we continue to test and monitor the site regularly. We fix any bugs or issues as soon as we identify them.
Communication with customers: transparency is everything
Inform your customers before migration, especially if there will be downtime. We’ll explain how to ensure assistance and support for your customers during the transition.
And now the question that perhaps interests you most of all. What is the cost of an SEO migration with our web agency?
The exact cost of an SEO migration depends on a series of variables, including the complexity, size, and specific needs of each project. On average, with us, the cost for an SEO migration starts from €990 and up.
Here are some key factors that determine the cost of an SEO migration:
Website size: a determining factor
The number of pages and the complexity of the site influence the cost. A site with thousands of pages will require more planning, mapping, and testing compared to a smaller site.
Complexity of website migration: each case is unique
Not all migrations are the same. Changing only the design of a site is less complex than moving to a new CMS platform or completely restructuring the site’s structure.
Current state of the site: is it a headache or does everything work correctly?
If your website has pre-existing issues, such as indexing errors, duplicate pages, or speed problems, the migration will require more work to resolve these issues.
Specific technical needs to be evaluated case by case
Special features, such as e-commerce, third-party integrations, or custom server configurations, increase the complexity and, consequently, the cost of migration.
Project duration: will it take days or months?
A project that requires months of planning, implementation, and testing costs more than a quicker migration.
Post-migration training and support
If you need post-migration training to manage your new site, or ongoing support in case issues arise, we will evaluate the cost on a case-by-case basis.
Request your personalized and free quote now. A first free consultation for you!
At Qreativa, we distinguish ourselves by offering tailored solutions, rather than generic approaches. Once we’ve completed the SEO Audit and listened to your needs, we propose an action plan that exactly reflects what you need.
This offers you complete transparency, with zero hidden surprises or unexpected costs. Moreover, our willingness to provide a free quote underlines our commitment to building a relationship of trust with you. If you’re wondering what the SEO costs are, don’t hesitate to contact us.
But it’s not just a matter of transparency. It’s also a matter of optimization. By ensuring you receive a proposal tailored to your real needs, we guarantee that every euro invested will have a significant return for your website.
Your online success is at the core of our mission. And the path to this success begins with a clear understanding of your needs. So, why leave such an important decision as SEO migration to chance? Trust us and request your personalized and free quote today.
