When your brand launches a new website, migrates platform, or releases a big update, the last thing anyone wants is for it to disappear off of search engine result pages. After going through all that effort, a proper site migration plan is designed to mitigate risk and retain website traffic. There is a risk of losing your organic search rankings if not done properly.
Common site migration issues we help avoid
- Missed or incorrect redirects leading to 404 errors and lost traffic
- Noindex or disallow tags left on live pages
- Broken internal links
- Missing meta data and alt tags
- Duplicate content issues
- Analytics and Tag Manager issues
- Page speed and mobile usability
Site migrations we manage
When it comes to site migrations and SEO, we've done more than most. We've performed site migrations for local businesses in Hampshire through to international brands and large e-commerce stores. If you fit into one of these categories, Bigger Picture can help retain and improve your SEO efforts.
- Domain migrations: We help preserve page authority and SEO by setting up redirects and handling change of address. We also offer NAP services to ensure your data is correct and consistent
- Platform migrations: Change of CMS needed? We offer technology stack migrations through our web development and SEO teams
- Design & structure changes: If you are launching a new web design look or have changed the architecture of your site, we help avoid issues like 404s and page speed
- International & language expansion: Growing into new markets? We make sure you declare the right thing to search engines with proper hreflang support
Our site migration SEO process
01
Discovery & Audit
Our SEO team carries out a full audit of your existing site, identifying top-performing pages, technical SEO issues, and valuable content that should be preserved. This ensures nothing critical is lost in the move affecting your SEO performance.
02
URL Mapping & Redirect Planning
Every old web page (URL) is mapped to its new destination, with 301 redirects set up to preserve page authority. We check for redirect chains, avoid orphaned pages, and ensure all high-value URLs are protected where possible.
03
Technical & Content Optimisation
We review your new site’s staging environment for crawlability, indexability, mobile experience, structured data, and Core Web Vitals. Content, metadata, and internal linking are optimised to maintain and enhance SEO. This retains and in most cases, improves your SEO rankings.
04
Pre-Launch Testing
Before go-live, we test all redirects, internal links, and technical elements, ensuring there are no issues. We also update Google Tag Manager, Google Search Console, and other monitoring tools.
05
Launch & Monitoring
On migration day, our team is hands-on managing and monitoring Search Console and indexation, rankings, and traffic in real time using clever logging and alert software. Any issues are identified and resolved immediately, minimising disruption and SEO/indexing issues.
06
Post-Migration Audit & Ongoing Support
After launch, we re-crawl and test your website in its production environment, comparing performance to pre-migration benchmarks. We provide detailed reports that include rankings, site health, and next steps to continue improving your SEO efforts.
Request a FREE SEO audit
Get in touch with our SEO experts today and we'll conduct a free, no obligation audit.
Uncover your current performance and how we can take your SEO to the next level.
Why choose Bigger Picture for your website migration?
Technical Expertise
Our in-house web developers and digital marketing experts live, breathe and sleep technical SEO including site migrations.
Local agency with global skills
We have a deep understanding of the Hampshire market and competitive landscape.
Cutting-Edge Knowledge
We stay ahead of marketing trends and technologies, bringing fresh perspectives to your SEO and digital marketing strategies.
Transparent Communication
Expect clear, regular reporting and direct access to our technical SEO specialists.
Site migrations are one of the most critical and often underestimated moments in a website’s lifecycle. At Bigger Picture, we treat every migration as a chance to strengthen your site for long-term growth. Our team plans every technical SEO detail, from redirect mapping to site structure and performance checks, ensuring your organic traffic and rankings are protected from day one. We don’t just launch websites, we safeguard your investment and set the stage for future success.
Site migration SEO FAQs
Request a FREE SEO audit
Get in touch with our SEO experts today and we'll conduct a free, no obligation audit.
Uncover your current performance and how we can take your SEO to the next level.
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Website performance directly impacts user experience (UX), Search Engine optimisation (SEO), and Conversion Rate optimisation (CRO).
CRO
We combine data and design to discover and test optimisations that will turn more visitors into actionable leads and customers.
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