Website migrations that protect your rankings
SEO migration planning for redesigns, platform moves, and domain changes, from the URL inventory to post-launch monitoring.
Result
88 to 6.7
average position after a platform rebuild for a friction stir welding manufacturer
A new website should build on the search history you already have.
Without a plan, a redesign can break the URLs that bring in your best leads, and it can take months to recover.
ThinkPod plans and runs website migrations for manufacturers, complex B2B companies, and healthcare organizations. Our developers can handle the move in house, or we can work alongside your developer or platform vendor with the redirect map, testing, and monitoring.
Our ThinkFWD process
Research, plan, execute, refine.
- ResearchEvery page with rankings, links, traffic, or leads, recorded before anything changes.
- PlanA one-to-one redirect plan, so every valuable URL points to its new home.
- ExecuteWe set up the redirects and check the new site before launch for tracking, forms, and metadata.
- RefineWe stay with the site after launch and fix issues until rankings and leads settle.
When to plan a migration
Moves that put rankings at risk
- A redesign that changes page URLs, navigation, or content
- A platform move, such as a custom CMS to WordPress
- A domain change, rebrand, or merging several sites into one
- Adding languages or country sections to an existing site
- Moving product catalogs, resources, or PDFs into a new structure
What’s included
Website migration services
Each step is documented, so your team can see what moved, where, and why.
URL inventory
A full crawl plus Search Console and analytics data, so we know which pages earn rankings, links, and leads.
Technical SEO services →
Redirect mapping
One-to-one permanent redirects from old URLs to the closest new page, with no redirect chains.
Technical SEO services →
Content and metadata carryover
Titles, descriptions, headings, schema, and key copy carried over, so ranking pages keep what made them rank.
SEO services →
Pre-launch testing
A crawl of the staging site to check redirects, internal links, indexing settings, tracking, and forms.
Analytics services →
Launch checks
Sitemaps, robots settings, Search Console, and analytics confirmed on launch day.
Website support services →
Post-launch monitoring
Rankings, indexing, and leads tracked through the transition, with issues resolved before they cost you business.
Website support services →
International and multilingual moves
Hreflang, country sections, and translated URLs planned together.
International SEO →
Tracking continuity
GA4, Tag Manager, and conversion tracking carried over, so you can compare before and after.
Analytics services →
What Google says
Why redirects matter
Google recommends server-side permanent redirects, such as 301s, and advises against chaining several redirects together. It also recommends keeping redirects in place for at least a year, according to its site move documentation.
Our redirect maps follow that guidance, and we keep a record of every redirect so future changes don’t undo the work.
What clients say
“The team brought vision, structure and a clear data-driven approach. We saw stronger visibility in the markets we serve and an increase in qualified leads.”
Owner, Bond Technologies
Results
Results after a rebuild
88
to 6.7 average position
A friction stir welding manufacturer’s average search position went from 88 to 6.7 after a platform rebuild and international SEO.
419%
more sessions
An accredited environmental lab grew from 5,300 to 27,600 sessions after a new website and SEO.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Will a website redesign hurt our rankings?
It can if the move isn’t planned. We inventory existing pages, map every URL with rankings or links to its new location, set up permanent redirects, and stay with the site after launch until rankings settle.
How long does it take Google to process a migration?
Google says it can take a few weeks or more for a medium-sized site, and longer for large sites. We stay with the site through that period and resolve issues as they appear.
Can you work with our developer or platform vendor?
Yes. We can handle the migration with our in-house developers, or provide the redirect map, testing, and monitoring while your team or vendor builds the site.
How long should redirects stay in place?
Google recommends at least a year. We usually recommend keeping redirects for important pages in place permanently.
What does a migration cost?
Most projects start at $10,000. Many clients begin with a Full Review and Recommendations, which starts at $3,500 and is credited 100% toward work that begins within 60 days.
Related reading
Migration guides
Related services
Services that work together
Website Design and Development
Websites planned around technical buyers and long sales cycles.
International SEO and Multilingual Websites
Search visibility in the markets and languages you sell into.
Next step
Planning a redesign or platform move?
Tell us what’s changing. We’ll show you which pages carry your rankings and what it takes to move them safely.
Most projects start at $10,000, and ongoing partnerships start at $5,000 a month.
