Here's your optimized search engine rankings migration guide that's concise and valuable:

Website migrations and redesigns can significantly impact your search engine rankings. Follow these essential steps to protect your SEO during the transition:

Pre-Migration Steps:

• Create a complete spreadsheet of all existing URLs
• Document your current site structure and navigation
• Export and backup all content, including metadata
• Track current search rankings and traffic data

Domain Management:

• Maintain your existing domain name whenever possible
• Use domain mapping if keeping your current host
• Update DNS settings carefully to avoid downtime
• Verify domain ownership in search console platforms

URL Structure Preservation:

• Match old URL slugs exactly where possible
• Keep your URL hierarchy consistent
• Preserve important keywords in URLs
• Document all URL changes for redirect mapping

301 Redirect Implementation:

• Create permanent 301 redirects for all changed URLs
• Test redirects thoroughly before going live
• Monitor redirect chains and fix any loops
• Update internal links to point to new URLs

Post-Migration Tasks:

• Submit new XML sitemaps to search engines
• Request fresh crawling and indexing
• Create custom 404 error pages
• Monitor search console for crawl errors
• Track rankings and traffic changes daily
• Fix any discovered issues immediately

Search Engine Tools:

• Use Google Search Console to track migration
• Submit URL changes through Bing Webmaster Tools
• Monitor indexing status regularly
• Address coverage issues promptly

By following these steps systematically, you can minimize ranking drops and recover search visibility faster after migration. Continue monitoring and optimizing your site's performance in the weeks following the transition.

Remember: Full recovery of search rankings typically takes 2-8 weeks, depending on site size and migration complexity.

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