Search engine rankings can fluctuate when moving or redesigning your website, regardless of the platform you choose. Here's how to minimize the impact on your SEO:

Before Moving Your Site

Create a spreadsheet to document your current URL structure while your old site is still online. This will help you track and maintain your links after migration.

Key Steps to Preserve SEO

1. Keep Your Domain Name

• Maintain your existing domain if possible
• Transfer the domain to your new platform or use domain mapping
• This ensures visitors and search engines can still find your site

2. Match URL Slugs

• Preserve your existing URL structure where possible
• Example: Keep "yourdomain.com/about" instead of changing to "yourdomain.com/about-us"
• Update URLs in your page settings as needed

3. Implement 301 Redirects

• Set up redirects for URLs that can't match exactly
• Example: Redirect old blog posts from "domain.com/post-title" to "domain.com/blog/post-title"
• This helps maintain link equity and user experience

4. Create a Custom 404 Page

• Design an informative error page
• Include navigation options for visitors
• Explain recent platform changes if relevant

Post-Migration Steps

1. Use Search Console Tools

• Submit your site for indexing in Google Search Console
• Register with Bing Webmaster Tools
• Monitor for crawl errors and address them promptly

2. Monitor Performance

• Track rankings for key terms
• Watch traffic patterns
• Address any significant drops quickly

By following these practices, you can minimize ranking fluctuations and potentially improve your site's search performance long-term.

Remember to continuously monitor your site's performance and make adjustments as needed to maintain and improve your search rankings.

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