What to Do Before Changing Website Platforms to Protect SEO
Switching website platforms can be exciting, but if you’re not careful, you could lose all the SEO work you’ve put in. Here’s how to protect your rankings before making the move.
1. Save Your URL Structure
Your URL slugs are like your digital address. Changing them is like getting a new phone number and not telling anyone. If a page has backlinks or brings in traffic, keep the exact same URL on your new site. If a page has no value, you can leave it behind, but for main pages, blog posts, and landing pages, don’t change a thing.
2. Check Keyword Density & Usage
Before switching, analyze your current keyword prominence using a tool like SEOQuake. Take note of your top keywords and how often they appear. If you're rewriting content, make sure your important keywords still appear naturally and in strong positions (titles, headers, and alt text).
✅If you’re keeping the exact same copy/text then you don’t have to stress a lot of that. Just titles, meta descriptions, and alt text.
3. Carry Over SEO Elements
Don’t forget to carry over the foundamentals:
✅ Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
✅ Alt Text on Images
✅ Header Tags (H1, H2, etc.)
✅ Schema Markup (If you have structured data, bring it over)
4. Transfer All Blog Posts & Articles
Some people move from a big website to a small one and forget to transfer valuable blog posts. If your articles were driving traffic or had backlinks, keep them! Removing them could tank your rankings or get rid of traffic you had coming to them.
Final Thoughts
A website platform change can be smooth if you plan ahead. Keep URLs the same, maintain your SEO structure, and don’t lose valuable content. Taking these steps will help ensure your rankings stay strong after the switch!