SEO Migration Checklist
SEO Checklist for Website Transition
Prepared by: [Your Name]
This SEO Migration Checklist guides you through the crucial steps of efficiently transitioning a website, ensuring the preservation of its existing search engine optimization. By following this checklist meticulously, you can minimize the risk of losing traffic and rankings during the transition to a new website. Regular monitoring and optimization post-migration will help ensure sustained organic visibility and success in the long term.
Pre-Migration Preparation:
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Task |
Description |
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Website Audit: |
Conduct a comprehensive audit of the current website, including its content, structure, backlinks, and technical aspects. |
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Keyword Research: |
Identify relevant keywords for the new website and ensure alignment with the existing SEO strategy. |
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301 Redirect Mapping: |
Create a mapping of old URLs to new URLs to ensure proper redirection of traffic and link equity. |
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Content Inventory: |
Compile a list of all existing content and prioritize it based on relevance, traffic, and importance. |
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XML Sitemap Generation: |
Generate XML sitemaps for both the old and new websites to facilitate search engine crawling and indexing. |
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Robots.txt File Review: |
Review and update the robots.txt file to control search engine access to the website during migration. |
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Mobile Optimization: |
Ensure the new website is mobile-friendly and optimized for different devices and screen sizes. |
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Technical SEO Review: |
Check technical aspects such as site speed, crawlability, indexability, and structured data markup. |
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During Migration:
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Task |
Description |
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Backup Data: |
Take backups of all website data, including files, databases, and configurations, to prevent data loss. |
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Implement 301 Redirects: |
Implement 301 redirects from old URLs to corresponding new URLs using server-side redirects. |
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Update Internal Links: |
Update internal links across the website to point to the new URLs. |
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Update Meta Tags: |
Ensure meta tags (title tags, meta descriptions) are optimized for the new website. |
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Verify SSL Certificate: |
If applicable, ensure that the SSL certificate is properly installed and configured on the new website. |
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Check for Duplicate Content: |
Avoid duplication of content by setting up canonical tags and ensuring each page has unique content. |
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Test Functionality: |
Test all website functionalities, including forms, navigation, and interactive elements, to ensure they work as expected. |
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Monitor Traffic: |
Monitor website traffic, rankings, and indexing status during and after migration using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. |
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Post-Migration:
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Task |
Description |
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Submit XML Sitemap: |
Submit the new XML sitemap to search engines to expedite the indexing of the new website. |
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Monitor 404 Errors: |
Monitor for any 404 errors and address them promptly by redirecting or updating links. |
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Monitor Rankings: |
Keep track of keyword rankings and organic search traffic to identify any fluctuations or issues post-migration. |
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Update External Links: |
Reach out to external websites linking to the old URLs and request them to update their links to the new URLs. |
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Content Optimization: |
Continuously optimize content on the new website based on user engagement, feedback, and search engine performance. |
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