How to Migrate Without Losing Rankings
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for businesses and websites to attract organic traffic and achieve visibility in search engine results. However, many website owners and digital marketers worry about the potential impact on their hard-earned SEO efforts when it comes to changing web hosting providers.
Our web developers and SEO experts at Now Media Group explore whether changing web hosting affects SEO and provide actionable steps to ensure a smooth migration without compromising your search rankings. To learn more about our digital marketing services, call our office at (858) 333-8950 for a free strategy call!
Does Changing Web Hosting Affect SEO?
While changing web hosting providers itself doesn’t directly impact your SEO, there are several factors during the migration process that could potentially affect your search rankings if not handled properly:
- Downtime: If your website experiences significant downtime during the migration, search engines may perceive it as unavailable or unreliable, leading to a temporary drop in rankings.
- Website Performance: A new hosting environment can impact your website’s performance, including page load speed and server response time. Slower website performance can negatively impact user experience (UX) and potentially harm your SEO.
- URL Changes: If your website’s URLs change during the migration, search engines may initially struggle to find and index the new URLs, leading to temporary ranking fluctuations.
- Broken Links and Redirects: Improper implementation of redirects or broken internal and external links can confuse search engines and negatively impact your SEO.
Steps to Minimize the SEO Impact of Changing Web Hosting
Plan Ahead and Communicate
Coordinate with your current and new web hosting providers to minimize downtime and ensure a smooth migration process. Notify your team, stakeholders, and any relevant partners about the upcoming migration.
Minimize Downtime
Work closely with your web hosting providers to ensure minimum downtime during the migration. Ideally, aim for zero downtime by leveraging techniques like domain parking or DNS propagation.
Implement Proper Redirects
If any URLs on your website are changing, set up proper 301 redirects to seamlessly guide search engines and users to the new locations. Audit and fix any broken internal and external links.
Monitor and Optimize Website Performance
Closely monitor your website’s performance, including page load speed and server response time, after the migration. Optimize your website’s performance to ensure a smooth user experience.
Update External Links and References
Reach out to external websites or platforms that link to your website and request updates for any changed URLs or references.
Submit an Updated Sitemap
After the migration, generate and submit an updated XML sitemap to search engines, helping them discover and index the new or changed URLs efficiently.
Monitor Search Rankings and Traffic
Keep a close eye on your website’s search rankings and organic traffic in the weeks following the migration. Address any sudden drops or fluctuations promptly.
Best Practices for a Successful Web Hosting Migration
If you’re still a bit apprehensive about changing your web hosting provider, here are some practices to ensure a successful migration:
- Choose a Reputable Web Hosting Provider: Research and select a reliable and reputable web hosting provider with a proven track record of performance, security, and customer support.
- Backup Your Website: Before initiating the migration, create a complete backup of your website files, databases, and any other relevant data to ensure a smooth recovery in case of any issues.
- Test the New Hosting Environment: Once your website is migrated to the new hosting environment, thoroughly test its functionality, performance, and compatibility across different devices and browsers.
- Communicate and Coordinate: Ensure clear communication and coordination among your team, stakeholders, and web hosting providers throughout the migration process.
- Monitor and Adjust: After going live on the new hosting environment, continuously monitor your website’s performance, search rankings, and traffic. Make necessary adjustments and optimizations as needed.
Ask Us About a Worry-Free Web Hosting Change
If you’re planning to migrate your website to a new web hosting provider, it’s crucial to approach the process strategically to minimize the potential impact on your SEO and search rankings. Don’t leave your website’s visibility and organic traffic to chance. Consider seeking professional assistance to ensure a seamless and successful web hosting migration.
Call our San Diego, CA, office at (858) 333-8950 to schedule your consultation and learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your marketing goals.