A website migration SEO service moves your site to a new platform, host or domain and keeps what already ranks. The SEO protection is the part that matters: a map of every old URL, permanent redirects, updated sitemaps and monitoring after launch. At WebUncles, migrations start from US$49 (₹3,000) depending on complexity, and we offer a free consultation before any migration.
This page explains what to expect from the service, what changes the price, and how rankings are protected. If you already know where you are moving from and to, see our migration service page for the platforms we handle.
What a website migration SEO service should include
Not every quote covers the same work. Use this table to see what is in yours.
| Step | What it means | Why it matters for SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Audit of the old site | List of pages, posts, products, images, forms, plugins and integrations | You cannot protect what you have not listed |
| URL map | Every old URL matched to its new address | Redirects need a destination for each page |
| Content and media transfer | Pages, posts, products, users, images and files | Missing content means lost rankings |
| Design and functions | Theme, menus, forms, checkout, tracking codes | Broken forms and tracking lose leads |
| Server-side redirects | Permanent (301) redirects from old to new URLs | Passes visitors and search signals to the new address |
| Metadata and links | Titles, descriptions, canonicals and internal links carried over | Keeps what already ranks |
| Sitemap and Search Console | New sitemap submitted, both sites verified | Helps Google find the new URLs |
| Testing | Links, forms, speed, mobile view, redirects checked before launch | Errors found before visitors find them |
| Post-launch monitoring | Errors, indexing and traffic watched after go-live | Problems are fixed while they are small |
If a quote lists only “move the site”, ask which of these are left out.
How SEO is protected, step by step
Google publishes its own guide for moving a site with URL changes. A good migration service follows the same sequence.
- Prepare the new site. Set it up, move the content and check that both old and new sites are verified in Google Search Console.
- Map the URLs. Build the old URL list from your sitemaps, analytics, Search Console and the CMS, then match each page to its new address. Update canonical tags and internal links on the new site.
- Use server-side redirects. Google recommends permanent redirects (301 or 308) straight to the final page. It warns against chains and against sending many old pages to one unrelated page, such as the home page.
- Update the sitemap. Submit one with the new URLs.
- Monitor. Watch the Search Console sitemap and indexing reports, server logs and analytics to confirm that traffic moves across.
- Keep the redirects. Google says to keep them as long as possible, generally at least one year. Google’s John Mueller gave the same advice in December 2021, saying a redirect should stay for at least a year so Google sees it several times.
Google also says to expect temporary ranking changes during a move, which settle over time. For a medium-sized site, it can take a few weeks or more before Google shows the new addresses. No honest provider can promise that traffic will not dip at all. What you can ask for is a plan that reduces the risk and a way to catch problems fast.
When the Change of Address tool applies
Google’s Change of Address tool is for moving from one domain to another. It is not needed for a switch from http to https, for a www to non-www change, for moving pages inside the same site, or for changing hosts when your URLs stay the same. Many platform moves keep the same domain, so this step often does not apply.
Change one thing at a time
Google advises doing the URL move first and making other changes, such as a redesign, separately. A new platform, a new design, a new domain and rewritten copy all at once make it hard to find the cause if traffic drops. If your budget allows only one project, move first and redesign later.
What changes the price
- Number of pages, products and posts. Moving 30 pages is not the same job as moving 3,000 products.
- Platform pair. Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, OpenCart and BigCommerce each store content differently. Some export cleanly. Some need custom transfer scripts.
- Store data. Orders, customers, reviews and subscriptions take more care than pages.
- URL changes. If URLs stay the same, redirects are simpler. If the structure changes, the URL map is larger.
- Design. Copying the design as it is costs less than rebuilding it in a new theme.
- Custom features. Memberships, booking, custom plugins and integrations need testing.
- Media volume. Thousands of images add transfer and checking time.
- Downtime limits. A store that cannot go offline needs a staged cut-over.
What WebUncles charges
| Migration | India | Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Website migration | From ₹3,000, depending on complexity | From US$49, depending on complexity |
| BigCommerce to WooCommerce | From ₹50,000 | From US$499 |
These are starting prices. We agree the scope and a final figure in a free consultation before migration. See our WordPress website migration page for moves into WordPress, and our WooCommerce development page if you are moving a store.
If you are only moving hosts and not changing platform or URLs, read our guide to moving a WordPress site to a new host.
Red flags in a migration quote
- No mention of redirects or URL mapping.
- “SEO is not our department.”
- No testing before launch, or no staging site for the new build.
- Old site switched off on go-live day, with no copy kept.
- A promise that you will not lose any traffic.
- No named person who owns the job.
- Redirecting everything to the home page to save time.
Before you start: your checklist
- Take a full backup of the old site, including the database and media.
- Export a list of your top pages from Google Search Console and Analytics.
- Note your current rankings for your main pages.
- List every form, tracking code, integration and payment method.
- Decide whether the domain and the URLs will change.
- Pick a low-traffic week for the cut-over.
- Keep the old site available until the new one is checked.
- Plan a review of the new site in Search Console after launch. For ongoing help, our SEO services can handle it.
Talk to us before you move
Tell us where you are moving from and to. We will look at the size of the site, point out the risks and give you a scope and price before you commit. Book a free consultation before migration.
FAQ
How much does a website migration service cost?
At WebUncles it starts from US$49 (₹3,000), depending on complexity. Page count, platform, store data and custom features move the price. A BigCommerce to WooCommerce migration starts from US$499 (₹50,000).
Will I lose my Google rankings after migrating?
Rankings can move for a while after any migration, as Google recrawls your pages. Careful URL mapping, 301 redirects and monitoring reduce the risk. No one can promise zero change.
How long should I keep redirects?
Google recommends at least one year. For a domain change, Google’s guidance says to keep them at least 180 days, and longer if old URLs still bring search traffic.
Do I need the Change of Address tool?
Only if you move to a different domain. It is not used for http to https, www changes or a host change with the same URLs.
Should I redesign my site at the same time?
Google advises doing the move first and the redesign later. Changing everything at once makes problems hard to trace.
Can my site stay live during the move?
Usually yes. The new site is built and tested separately, then switched over. Stores with live orders need extra planning for the switch.
What do you need from me to start?
Access to the old site and hosting, a list of integrations, and your goals for the new site. We go through the rest on the free consultation.
