Website SEO Migration Checklist
Protect discoverable pages through a website redesign or platform move. Inventory URLs, map redirects, test the launch and monitor Search Console.
Before changing a website, list the URLs and pages that matter, decide where each one will live, and set permanent redirects for URLs that change. After launch, check the live pages, links, forms, canonical tags, sitemap and Search Console. Search rankings can fluctuate during a move, even when it is well planned.
Record the current site before rebuilding
Export the current URLs, titles, important content, internal links, images and analytics or Search Console performance. Mark the pages that bring relevant visitors and enquiries. This gives the new site a reference point and helps the team avoid deleting a useful page by accident.
Map each changed URL to the closest useful destination
Keep URLs when practical. For pages that move, use a permanent server-side redirect to a relevant new page. Do not send every old URL to the homepage. Update internal links and canonical references, then make sure the new sitemap lists the destination URLs.
Test before and after launch
Check the most important pages on phones and desktops. Submit test enquiries, inspect status codes and redirect chains, and check that the public site is not blocked by a staging noindex rule. Verify the canonical URL and structured data against what visitors can actually see.
Monitor, then fix the specific gaps
Review indexing, crawl errors, queries and landing-page performance in Search Console after the move. Keep the redirects in place and correct broken paths. Some volatility is normal while search engines recrawl; investigate sustained drops by page and query rather than assuming every change caused the same problem.
What to keep in view.
01URL inventory
02Redirect mapping
03Canonical review
04Internal-link updates
05Sitemap generation
06Post-launch Search Console checks
Further reading
Original documentation for the search and performance guidance in this guide.