Before migrating your website, create a spreadsheet documenting your current URL structure. This will help you track and maintain SEO rankings during the transition process.

To minimize SEO impact during migration:

1. Keep Your Domain Name

• Maintain your existing domain
• Transfer it to Squarespace or use domain mapping
• Register new domains if needed (free first year with annual plans)

2. Preserve URL Structure

• Match existing URL slugs where possible
• Update page URLs in settings to match old structure
• Document all URL changes for tracking

3. Implement 301 Redirects

• Set up redirects for changed URLs
• Ensure old links point to new content
• Maintain inbound link value

4. Optimize Technical Elements

• Create a custom 404 error page
• Request site indexing via Google Search Console
• Monitor Bing Webmaster Tools for errors

For blog posts, pay special attention to URL formatting differences. For example:

• Old format: www.yourdomain.com/post-title
• New format: www.yourdomain.com/blog/post-title

Monitor your site's performance after migration using search tools to identify and fix any indexing issues or errors promptly. Regular checks of redirects and site structure will help maintain your SEO ranking during the transition period.

Remember that temporary ranking fluctuations are normal during migration. Focus on maintaining consistent, high-quality content and proper technical implementation to recover and potentially improve rankings over time.

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