Website migration is a complex and multifaceted process that requires not only technical knowledge but also attention to detail. Mistakes at this stage can lead to reduced visibility in search engines, degraded user experience and even loss of traffic. Despite the importance of this step, many website owners neglect a number of critical aspects, which can end up costing them dearly. In this article, we will tell you about the most common mistakes that most often occur when migrating websites, and give recommendations on how to avoid them, so that the process goes as smoothly as possible and does not hamper the development of your online business.
Underestimating the importance of SEO
Moving a website without considering SEO factors can result in significant traffic loss and poor search engine rankings. Changes in URL structure, content or hosting can disrupt indexing, resulting in reduced site visibility. Even small mistakes, such as incorrect redirects or forgotten metadata, can affect search rankings.
How to avoid:
- Conduct an SEO audit before and after the migration Evaluate your current SEO settings such as URL structure, metadata, internal links, and load speed. This will allow you to migrate important settings correctly and avoid traffic loss.
- Set up 301 redirects If the URL structure changes, be sure to set up 301 redirects for all pages to redirect the old addresses to the new ones. This will help preserve link mass and prevent 404 errors.
- Check meta-data and titles Make sure that all important SEO elements (title, description, H1-H6) are transposed correctly. Errors in these elements can affect page indexing and search engine rankings.
Mistakes with redirects
When migrating a website, misconfiguring redirects can be one of the main reasons for loss of traffic and deteriorating search engine positions. If old pages are not redirected correctly to new URLs, users will encounter 404 errors and search engines will not be able to index the site properly, resulting in reduced visibility.
How to avoid:
- Set up 301 redirects for all pages that have been moved or changed For every page whose URL has changed, set up a permanent redirect (301). This ensures that traffic is redirected to the new pages, preserving links and their value.
- Test redirects before launching your site Test all redirects before launching your updated site to ensure they are working correctly and redirecting users to the right pages.
- Use bulk redirect checker tools Use tools like Screaming Frog or other redirect checkers to identify problems with redirects on all pages of the site. This will help uncover errors that may have been missed during the customization process.
Loss of user experience
A website migration can affect its accessibility and user interaction. Mobile adaptation issues, slow loading pages or incorrectly rendered content can seriously degrade the user experience. This will not only lead to a negative perception, but also to a loss of regular visitors and lower conversions.
How to avoid:
- Test the site on different devices and browsers Make sure the site displays correctly on all popular devices (smartphones, tablets, PCs) and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and others). This will help you avoid interface issues that may occur on certain devices.
- Use tools to check page load speed Check your page load speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify bottlenecks that are slowing down your site. Optimizing load speed will greatly improve user experience and positively impact SEO.
- Make sure the site is fully adapted for mobile devices Modern users often access websites from mobile devices, and the lack of a mobile version or adaptive design can cause them to abandon their visits. Make sure the site has an adaptive design that displays correctly on all screens.
Server and hosting problems
Choosing the wrong hosting or server when migrating a website can lead to serious performance issues. An unoptimized server or hosting with poor quality of service can cause slow page load times, website crashes, and consequently a negative impact on user experience and SEO.
How to avoid:
- Choose a hosting provider with a good reputation and sufficient capacity Make sure your hosting provider has a good reputation and provides servers with sufficient resources for your website. It is important to choose a hosting service that maintains high availability, stable performance and guarantees fast response times.
- Consider using cloud solutions to increase scalability Cloud solutions such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud offer high scalability and flexibility, making it easy to adapt server resources to changing workloads. This can help avoid performance issues, especially at peak times.
Ignoring security
Migrating a website without proper attention to security can lead to serious consequences such as data breaches, attacks and compromise of user information. Many website owners focus on the technical aspects of the migration, forgetting about security. Unupdated components, vulnerabilities in plugins, or lack of security protocols can target hackers as well as result in penalties from search engines for violating security standards.
How to avoid:
- Use up-to-date software versions and plugins One of the main ways attackers get in is by using old and vulnerable software versions. Update all components, including your CMS (e.g. WordPress, Joomla), server software and plugins to the latest versions. Check for known vulnerabilities using specialized services or security tools. This will help prevent possible attacks and ensure stable operation of the site after the migration.
- Install an SSL certificate Installing an SSL certificate is critical to protect data transmitted between users and the server. SSL encrypts information such as passwords, logins, and payment information, securing transactions. HTTPS is mandatory for sites that handle users’ personal and financial data. Moreover, using HTTPS also improves SEO, as Google takes site security into account when ranking a site.
- Set up a firewall and DDoS attack protection For added security, it’s important to use a firewall (such as Cloudflare) that helps block suspicious traffic and protects the site from attacks. Protection against DDoS attacks, where attackers try to overwhelm the server with millions of requests, will prevent downtime and outages. Such measures will ensure that your site is protected and stable even in the face of high traffic or potential threats.
- Regular backups Ensure that all site data and files are backed up regularly. Even if the site is hacked or encounters technical problems, having up-to-date backups will ensure that it can be restored quickly without data loss.
Securing your site when migrating it is not just a technical aspect, but a critical part of the process that ensures data protection, preserving your reputation and user trust. Don’t ignore this step to avoid threats and unintended consequences in the future.