Now that your site migration is complete, it’s time to focus on monitoring and optimizing the performance of the new website. While the first few weeks following the migration can be a critical period, don’t expect all data to be fully stable right away. Performance metrics may take time to settle, but these early weeks are still crucial for conducting necessary tests and addressing any issues that arise.
First Few Weeks: Technical Tests and Monitoring
During the initial phase, you’ll want to focus on:
- Technical Tests: Conduct thorough testing to identify any problems or issues with the site’s performance, like broken links, slow load times, or unexpected errors.
- Crawl and Indexation Status: Regularly monitor crawl activity and indexation status to ensure that the site is being indexed properly by search engines.
- Initial Performance Analysis: Review early data and performance metrics, though remember that they might not fully reflect the long-term impact of the migration. This is more about identifying potential issues than drawing final conclusions.
One Month In: Review and Next Steps
After the first month, you should have enough data to begin more detailed analysis. By this point, you can:
- Conduct a full analysis of site performance, focusing on key metrics such as traffic, load speed, and functionality.
- Identify areas for improvement and fine-tune the site to ensure it’s fully optimized for users.
- Plan your next steps, based on what you’ve learned during the initial monitoring phase.
Post Migration Checklist
- Remove old sitemaps
- Keep control of the old domain(s)
- Keep hold of your old hosting
- Keep the Old GSC properties
Ensuring a Successful Transition
The post-migration phase is an ongoing process of monitoring, testing, and fine-tuning. While early performance data can be enlightening, the real value in this phase lies in your ability to conduct thorough technical checks, address any issues that come up, and continue optimizing the site as needed.
By following the steps outlined in this series, you should now have a strong foundation for a smooth and successful migration process, from start to finish. Keep monitoring performance, be prepared for necessary adjustments, and ensure your site is functioning at its best for both users and search engines.
