Website migration SEO
Website Migration SEO
Reduce the risk to your search visibility during a website move.
Redesigns, platform changes and domain moves can lose rankings if old URLs, content and signals are not carried across. Tangensys plans and checks migrations before and after launch, to reduce risk to your visibility.
How the work fits together
What does migration SEO involve
- InventoryURLs and links
- Redirect mapOld to new
- Pre-launch checksOn staging
- MonitoringAfter launch
In short
What does migration SEO involve?
Migration SEO protects search visibility when a site changes design, platform, URL structure or domain. It covers inventorying current URLs and links, mapping redirects, checking the new site before launch and monitoring after.
- VisitorArrives on a phone or desktop
- NavigationFinds the right page quickly
- Form or integrationEnquiry, booking or order
- Your teamReceives it in the right place
Who it helps
Most migration losses are preventable.
Missing redirects, removed content and blocked staging settings are common causes of post-launch drops. A structured plan catches them before they reach customers.
Website redesigns
New design and structure.
Platform changes
For example, to Shopify or WordPress.
Domain changes
Rebrands and mergers.
Common problems
What causes migration losses?
Missing or wrong redirects
Old URLs lead nowhere.
Content removed
Pages that ranked are gone.
Staging settings go live
Noindex or blocks left in place.
Nobody monitors after launch
Problems go unnoticed.
Starting point
Where we usually begin
We usually begin months or weeks before launch.
Inventory current URLs and value
Traffic, links and rankings.
Map and test redirects
On staging.
Monitor closely after launch
And fix quickly.
Deliverables
What the service includes
URL and content inventory
Every important page and its value.
Redirect map
One-to-one mapping from old to new.
Pre-launch checks
Redirects, indexing settings and metadata on staging.
Launch-day checks
Crawl and redirect tests.
Post-launch monitoring
Search Console, traffic and errors.
Fixes
Rapid correction of issues found.
Treat the migration as a controlled change
A migration needs an inventory of useful URLs and a clear description of what is changing. A platform move, URL restructure and domain change have different dependencies. Search checks should be included before release, not added after traffic falls.
Map changed pages to relevant destinations and review content that is being merged or retired. Test important templates and links on staging where available. The release plan should name who deploys redirects, indexing controls and tracking.
After launch, review live destinations, crawl access, canonical references and important customer journeys. Keep a recovery route and monitor search observations over a suitable period. A careful migration reduces avoidable problems but cannot guarantee unchanged rankings.
Free SEO website audit
Get a free SEO audit and a quote tailored to your business.
Share your website. We’ll review key SEO issues, recommend priorities and provide a quote for the work your business needs.
The audit is free. Any ongoing SEO work is quoted separately.
Related approaches
Local visibility and AI search
Local SEO for nearby customers
If customers visit you or need you nearby, local SEO supports your wider website strategy.
Explore local SEO
Clearer content for AI search
Accessible pages, clear business facts and helpful answers support organic search and Google’s AI features; Google decides when a site appears.
Explore AI search optimisationProcess
How the work runs
URL mapping
Inventory current URLs and map each to its new address.
Pre-launch checks
Redirects, indexing settings and metadata on staging.
Launch checks
Crawl and redirect tests on launch day.
Post-launch monitoring
Search Console, traffic and errors for several weeks.
Measurement
How a migration is measured
Redirects working
Old URLs reaching the right new pages.
New URLs indexed
Important pages indexed at their new addresses.
Visibility against baseline
Compared with pre-migration levels.
- Contact clicksCall and WhatsApp clicks show interest, not a confirmed conversation
- Completed enquiriesA form submitted or a contact confirmed
- Qualified outcomesWhere your records or CRM allow
What if the new site has fewer pages?
Fewer pages can be sensible when content is consolidated usefully. Review the purpose and evidence for each important old URL, then map relevant replacements. Sending every removed page to the homepage is not a substitute for that decision.
How long does it take to see results?
Planning should start weeks or months before launch; monitoring continues for several weeks afterwards while search engines process the changes.
Will rankings drop during a migration?
We plan redirects and migration checks to reduce risk; rankings can still fluctuate for a while after any migration.
When should we involve you?
As early as possible, ideally before design is final.
How is migration SEO priced?
By site size and complexity; custom quote within 2 working days.
Do you work with our developers?
Yes; we provide the redirect map and checks.
What do you need to get started?
Your website, main services, target customers and markets. During onboarding we agree access to your website, Search Console and analytics.
Related services and locations
Let’s work out what your website needs.
Send us your website and tell us which services you want more enquiries for. We’ll discuss the priorities and recommend the next step.
Custom quote within 2 working days