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Web Development
Migration
Digital Marketing
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Data-Driven Roadmap
ARTICLE #27
A data-driven roadmap for website migration
Web Development
Migration
Digital Marketing
Development
Data-Driven Roadmap
Written by:
5 Minute read
Updated on: April 19, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Do you plan to migrate your website? The transition to a new platform may include both a thrill and the terror of confusion. Starting with the process of putting a roadmap data-oriented for a secure transition needs to be done before going 100% into it.
Using a data-driven approach, you can influence decisions with valid information that came from the current level of their website performance. This involves evaluating the state of those metrics by looking at current SEO rankings, sources of traffic, user habits, and conversion rates. With this in mind, you would be able to arrange the activities, recognize possible issues, and perform a detailed migration plan that would be useful in having a successful site migration.
Do you plan to migrate your website? The transition to a new platform may include both a thrill and the terror of confusion. Starting with the process of putting a roadmap data-oriented for a secure transition needs to be done before going 100% into it.
Using a data-driven approach, you can influence decisions with valid information that came from the current level of their website performance. This involves evaluating the state of those metrics by looking at current SEO rankings, sources of traffic, user habits, and conversion rates. With this in mind, you would be able to arrange the activities, recognize possible issues, and perform a detailed migration plan that would be useful in having a successful site migration.
Do you plan to migrate your website? The transition to a new platform may include both a thrill and the terror of confusion. Starting with the process of putting a roadmap data-oriented for a secure transition needs to be done before going 100% into it.
Using a data-driven approach, you can influence decisions with valid information that came from the current level of their website performance. This involves evaluating the state of those metrics by looking at current SEO rankings, sources of traffic, user habits, and conversion rates. With this in mind, you would be able to arrange the activities, recognize possible issues, and perform a detailed migration plan that would be useful in having a successful site migration.
Migration preparation: Conducting a thorough audit
Migration preparation: Conducting a thorough audit
Migration preparation: Conducting a thorough audit
Taking a complete audit of the website before the migration is the first and foremost step to help the entire process flow smoothly. Here's a summary of key steps:
Analyze performance metrics
Review organic search rankings, traffic sources, user behaviour, and conversion rates to understand the current performance of the website and find out places that need attention
Content review
Pages that are outdated or redundant should be consolidated or temporarily removed and holes in content filled as planning for new content creation takes place.
Technical infrastructure evaluation
Perform a reliability test of the hosting provider, and configuration of the servers as well as the CMS and see whether any changes need to be made.
Design and UX assessment
Take a look at the website design and user experience as far as visual attractiveness, simplicity of navigation, and usability improvements are concerned.
Backlink profile analysis
Check backlink quality and redirect to the proper page to avoid losing search engine rankings and organic visitors.
Taking a complete audit of the website before the migration is the first and foremost step to help the entire process flow smoothly. Here's a summary of key steps:
Analyze performance metrics
Review organic search rankings, traffic sources, user behaviour, and conversion rates to understand the current performance of the website and find out places that need attention
Content review
Pages that are outdated or redundant should be consolidated or temporarily removed and holes in content filled as planning for new content creation takes place.
Technical infrastructure evaluation
Perform a reliability test of the hosting provider, and configuration of the servers as well as the CMS and see whether any changes need to be made.
Design and UX assessment
Take a look at the website design and user experience as far as visual attractiveness, simplicity of navigation, and usability improvements are concerned.
Backlink profile analysis
Check backlink quality and redirect to the proper page to avoid losing search engine rankings and organic visitors.
Taking a complete audit of the website before the migration is the first and foremost step to help the entire process flow smoothly. Here's a summary of key steps:
Analyze performance metrics
Review organic search rankings, traffic sources, user behaviour, and conversion rates to understand the current performance of the website and find out places that need attention
Content review
Pages that are outdated or redundant should be consolidated or temporarily removed and holes in content filled as planning for new content creation takes place.
Technical infrastructure evaluation
Perform a reliability test of the hosting provider, and configuration of the servers as well as the CMS and see whether any changes need to be made.
Design and UX assessment
Take a look at the website design and user experience as far as visual attractiveness, simplicity of navigation, and usability improvements are concerned.
Backlink profile analysis
Check backlink quality and redirect to the proper page to avoid losing search engine rankings and organic visitors.
Implementing migration plan: A 10-step guide
Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth and successful migration
1. Create a staging environment
Set up a separate staging site for the migration testing, with no impact on the live site. This brings you the opportunity of you having to pinpoint and troubleshoot any difficulties before the launch of the website.
2. Install and configure the new platform
If you are migrating to an entirely separate platform or a new hosting provider, install and configure the systems that will meet your needs. Ensure that all the required plugins, themes, and customizations are in place and working perfectly.
3. Migrate your content
Move your content or posts from the old website to the new platform. It includes pages, posts, images, videos, and other media files too. Make sure to take into account any changes in the URL structure and that all URLs are being forwarded properly to their new pages.
4. Implement 301 redirects
Establish 301 redirects to make sure that all formerly arriving addresses are re-directed to their properly defined places. This practice will ensure that your SEO ranking remains unchanged and your users will have a great time on the website. Test the redirects to verify that they are working flawlessly.
5. Test and troubleshoot
Perform a detailed test with the new website on the staging domain. Make sure all links are correct, and pages are not missing, and stop potential problems with usability. Be sure to run a test on your site's performance on different devices and browsers to address issues of compatibility.
6. Content optimization
A good option here is to optimize your content during the migration process. This includes the optimization of meta tags, headings, and image alt tags for increased SEO. Make sure your content is correctly formatted and relevant to the keywords used.
7. Set up tracking and analytics
Set up tracking codes and analytics tools on the new website for measuring its success post-migration. This will include the installation of Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other associated monitoring mechanisms.
8. Communicate the migration to users
Ensure that your website's users and visitors are informed about the migration. This can be done across your email newsletters, social media announcements, and such notifications on our current website. Give clear directions about any new rules they must follow.
9. Launch the new website
Make sure that after intensive checks and confirmation that every detail is well-planned, you are now ready for the actual launch. Create a final copy of your old website before starting working on migrating to the new one.
10. Monitor and evaluate
Keep a close eye on the performance or behaviour of the new website following the migration. Keeping an eye on crucial metrics like natural rankings, traffic, and conversions. And in case there are any issues or discrepancies during the implementation, take the necessary actions and adjust accordingly.
Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth and successful migration
1. Create a staging environment
Set up a separate staging site for the migration testing, with no impact on the live site. This brings you the opportunity of you having to pinpoint and troubleshoot any difficulties before the launch of the website.
2. Install and configure the new platform
If you are migrating to an entirely separate platform or a new hosting provider, install and configure the systems that will meet your needs. Ensure that all the required plugins, themes, and customizations are in place and working perfectly.
3. Migrate your content
Move your content or posts from the old website to the new platform. It includes pages, posts, images, videos, and other media files too. Make sure to take into account any changes in the URL structure and that all URLs are being forwarded properly to their new pages.
4. Implement 301 redirects
Establish 301 redirects to make sure that all formerly arriving addresses are re-directed to their properly defined places. This practice will ensure that your SEO ranking remains unchanged and your users will have a great time on the website. Test the redirects to verify that they are working flawlessly.
5. Test and troubleshoot
Perform a detailed test with the new website on the staging domain. Make sure all links are correct, and pages are not missing, and stop potential problems with usability. Be sure to run a test on your site's performance on different devices and browsers to address issues of compatibility.
6. Content optimization
A good option here is to optimize your content during the migration process. This includes the optimization of meta tags, headings, and image alt tags for increased SEO. Make sure your content is correctly formatted and relevant to the keywords used.
7. Set up tracking and analytics
Set up tracking codes and analytics tools on the new website for measuring its success post-migration. This will include the installation of Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other associated monitoring mechanisms.
8. Communicate the migration to users
Ensure that your website's users and visitors are informed about the migration. This can be done across your email newsletters, social media announcements, and such notifications on our current website. Give clear directions about any new rules they must follow.
9. Launch the new website
Make sure that after intensive checks and confirmation that every detail is well-planned, you are now ready for the actual launch. Create a final copy of your old website before starting working on migrating to the new one.
10. Monitor and evaluate
Keep a close eye on the performance or behaviour of the new website following the migration. Keeping an eye on crucial metrics like natural rankings, traffic, and conversions. And in case there are any issues or discrepancies during the implementation, take the necessary actions and adjust accordingly.
Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth and successful migration
1. Create a staging environment
Set up a separate staging site for the migration testing, with no impact on the live site. This brings you the opportunity of you having to pinpoint and troubleshoot any difficulties before the launch of the website.
2. Install and configure the new platform
If you are migrating to an entirely separate platform or a new hosting provider, install and configure the systems that will meet your needs. Ensure that all the required plugins, themes, and customizations are in place and working perfectly.
3. Migrate your content
Move your content or posts from the old website to the new platform. It includes pages, posts, images, videos, and other media files too. Make sure to take into account any changes in the URL structure and that all URLs are being forwarded properly to their new pages.
4. Implement 301 redirects
Establish 301 redirects to make sure that all formerly arriving addresses are re-directed to their properly defined places. This practice will ensure that your SEO ranking remains unchanged and your users will have a great time on the website. Test the redirects to verify that they are working flawlessly.
5. Test and troubleshoot
Perform a detailed test with the new website on the staging domain. Make sure all links are correct, and pages are not missing, and stop potential problems with usability. Be sure to run a test on your site's performance on different devices and browsers to address issues of compatibility.
6. Content optimization
A good option here is to optimize your content during the migration process. This includes the optimization of meta tags, headings, and image alt tags for increased SEO. Make sure your content is correctly formatted and relevant to the keywords used.
7. Set up tracking and analytics
Set up tracking codes and analytics tools on the new website for measuring its success post-migration. This will include the installation of Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other associated monitoring mechanisms.
8. Communicate the migration to users
Ensure that your website's users and visitors are informed about the migration. This can be done across your email newsletters, social media announcements, and such notifications on our current website. Give clear directions about any new rules they must follow.
9. Launch the new website
Make sure that after intensive checks and confirmation that every detail is well-planned, you are now ready for the actual launch. Create a final copy of your old website before starting working on migrating to the new one.
10. Monitor and evaluate
Keep a close eye on the performance or behaviour of the new website following the migration. Keeping an eye on crucial metrics like natural rankings, traffic, and conversions. And in case there are any issues or discrepancies during the implementation, take the necessary actions and adjust accordingly.
Monitoring and evaluating migration success
After completing a website migration, it's crucial to assess its success. Here's a summary of key steps:
Monitor key metrics
Consistently measure organic search rankings, traffic, and conversion rates and compare them with the previous metrics before the migration is done to assess the impact.
User behaviour analysis
Analyze the user behaviour parameters like bounce rate, time on page, and conversion rate to gain insights into how users interact with the newly launched website.
Content review
Repeatedly update and improve the website content by determining the pages that are underperforming in a view to either optimize or remove them.
Collect user feedback
Get user feedback via surveys, forms, or live sessions to understand the satisfaction levels and to further improve the areas of concern.
Communicate results
Share migration outcomes and observations with stakeholders, applauding successes and reflecting on the problems met.
After completing a website migration, it's crucial to assess its success. Here's a summary of key steps:
Monitor key metrics
Consistently measure organic search rankings, traffic, and conversion rates and compare them with the previous metrics before the migration is done to assess the impact.
User behaviour analysis
Analyze the user behaviour parameters like bounce rate, time on page, and conversion rate to gain insights into how users interact with the newly launched website.
Content review
Repeatedly update and improve the website content by determining the pages that are underperforming in a view to either optimize or remove them.
Collect user feedback
Get user feedback via surveys, forms, or live sessions to understand the satisfaction levels and to further improve the areas of concern.
Communicate results
Share migration outcomes and observations with stakeholders, applauding successes and reflecting on the problems met.
After completing a website migration, it's crucial to assess its success. Here's a summary of key steps:
Monitor key metrics
Consistently measure organic search rankings, traffic, and conversion rates and compare them with the previous metrics before the migration is done to assess the impact.
User behaviour analysis
Analyze the user behaviour parameters like bounce rate, time on page, and conversion rate to gain insights into how users interact with the newly launched website.
Content review
Repeatedly update and improve the website content by determining the pages that are underperforming in a view to either optimize or remove them.
Collect user feedback
Get user feedback via surveys, forms, or live sessions to understand the satisfaction levels and to further improve the areas of concern.
Communicate results
Share migration outcomes and observations with stakeholders, applauding successes and reflecting on the problems met.
It's tough. It doesn't have to be
Website migration is a complex process that is certainly not a piece of cake. Therefore, careful planning, implementation, and evaluation are necessary to make sure the mission is accomplished. Want a seamless migration experience where you sit back and watch our orchestra work its magic? Get in touch with FOR Agency!
Website migration is a complex process that is certainly not a piece of cake. Therefore, careful planning, implementation, and evaluation are necessary to make sure the mission is accomplished. Want a seamless migration experience where you sit back and watch our orchestra work its magic? Get in touch with FOR Agency!
Website migration is a complex process that is certainly not a piece of cake. Therefore, careful planning, implementation, and evaluation are necessary to make sure the mission is accomplished. Want a seamless migration experience where you sit back and watch our orchestra work its magic? Get in touch with FOR Agency!
ARTICLE #27
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Work with us
Click to copy
work@for.co
FOR® Industries
- FOR® Brand. FOR® Future.
We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
Helsinki, FIN
info@for.fi
Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
uae@for.co
Click to copy
Kyiv, UA
kyiv@for.co
Click to copy
Lagos, NG
lagos@for.ng
Copyright © 2024 FOR®
Work with us
Click to copy
work@for.co
FOR® Industries
We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
Helsinki, FIN
hel@for.co
Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
uae@for.co
Click to copy
Kyiv, UA
kyiv@for.co
Click to copy
Lagos, NG
lagos@for.ng
Copyright © 2024 FOR®