Make an inventory before making changes
A migration starts by understanding the current website. That means its pages, media, forms, connected services, hosting, domain registration and search data. It also means knowing who has access to each account.
We use that inventory to agree what is moving, what stays, what can be retired, and who is responsible for anything outside the website scope.
Keep addresses stable where practical
Useful existing URLs are worth preserving. When an address has to change, it needs a relevant destination and a permanent redirect. Redirects should be tested individually, including important deep links rather than just the homepage.
- Map important old URLs to the correct new pages.
- Check internal links and remove unnecessary redirect chains.
- Preserve page intent when consolidating or rewriting content.
- Review canonical URLs, sitemap entries and robots instructions.
- Check real 404 behaviour for pages with no replacement.
Protect the email setup during DNS changes
Domain registration, website hosting and email hosting are separate services. Moving a website does not automatically mean moving a business mailbox.
Before a DNS change, we inspect the existing records and preserve those needed for email and other services. The cutover plan should identify the new website destination, required records and a practical rollback route.
Check the website after the move
Launch checks include HTTPS, primary and alternate domain versions, forms, redirects, mobile layouts and the pages that matter to the business. Search Console and analytics help identify problems after the move.
Search engines need time to process changes, so nobody should promise zero movement in rankings. A careful migration reduces avoidable mistakes and creates a clear basis for investigation if something changes.
A few things you might be wondering.
Can I keep the same domain name?
Usually, yes. A website can move to new hosting while the domain remains registered with your existing registrar. We check access and configuration first.
Will my site be offline during the move?
We aim to keep the current site available while preparing and checking the replacement. The exact cutover depends on the existing platform, DNS and any integrations.
Does a migration guarantee I keep every ranking?
No. Search results can change after a migration. Keeping useful content, mapping redirects and monitoring the move helps reduce avoidable risk, but cannot guarantee rankings.
Explore real Spray Media projects, see how redesign pricing works or read our redesign planning checklist.