The hosts discuss the challenges and impact of website migrations, including the consequences on search traffic and rankings. They highlight the importance of managing backlinks and tracking data, as well as the potential impact of using performance max in online advertising. They also emphasize the importance of testing redirects and landing pages during a website migration.
Proper planning and preparation are crucial for a successful website migration, as it can significantly impact organic and paid search traffic.
Setting up redirects correctly is essential during a website migration, preserving link equity and preventing broken links.
Deep dives
Website migration and its importance
Website migration refers to the process of moving from one web platform to another or making significant changes to a website, such as a redesign or change in structure. It is crucial to plan and prepare for website migration as it can have a significant impact on organic search traffic and even paid search campaigns. Poorly executed migrations can lead to a drop in search engine rankings and visibility, affecting both organic and paid search results. To minimize the negative effects, it is recommended to set realistic expectations and communicate with the organization about the potential dip in traffic during the migration process. Additionally, setting up proper redirects, auditing internal and external links, and regularly monitoring search console and web analytics can help ensure a smoother migration process.
The importance of setting up proper redirects
During website migration, it is essential to set up redirects correctly. Redirects ensure that old URLs are properly directed to equivalent or relevant new URLs, preserving link equity and preventing broken links. To set up redirects effectively, it is recommended to create a master list of all the old URLs that are linked externally or internally. This list can be used to set up permanent 301 redirects, which inform search engines that the content has permanently moved to a new location. It is also crucial to consider any tracking codes or parameters in URLs when setting up redirects, ensuring that they are properly maintained to avoid issues with analytics and campaign tracking.
Minimizing the impact on PPC campaigns
Website migration can have a significant impact on PPC campaigns, reducing impression share and visibility. It is important to anticipate this and prepare alternative marketing channels to compensate for the potential drop in paid search performance. Diversifying marketing channel mix by utilizing social media ads, display campaigns outside of Google Search, or exploring performance-maximized campaigns can help maintain visibility and mitigate the impact on PPC efforts. Additionally, continuous monitoring of impression share and making adjustments based on performance trends in Google Search Console can aid in optimizing PPC campaigns during and after the migration process.
Auditing and testing the new website
After the website migration, it is crucial to audit and test the new website to identify any issues or broken links. Tools like Screaming Frog can be valuable for auditing the internal and external links, checking for broken links, and ensuring that redirects are functioning correctly. It is also important to review the website's performance and SEO factors, comparing the before and after scores using auditing tools like SEMrush. Auditing the new website's performance and functionality helps identify any areas that require further optimization and ensure a smooth transition.
If you're not changing domains anytime soon, you might think this podcast episode is not relevant for you. Actually, migrations come in many different forms (structural changes, hierarchy changes, navigation changes, any major website changes) and we can guarantee these top tips are essential to know. Based off Ciaran and Daniel's learnings from seeing website migrations go horribly wrong, today's podcast episode will talk you everything you need to know and do before hitting the switch. Join us as we discuss the impact website migrations can have on search rankings, paid search and more and the steps you can take to minimise the effect. We also have a gold pass giveaway to the Revenue Marketing Summit in London in November. Details to enter: Show notes: Have feedback on the show? We really would love to hear from you. , tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you are really enjoying the show, please
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