So you are in the process of getting a new website, or maybe you would like to move from your old, dated html to a new platform/technology in which you can finally edit the content yourself without having to bother your web designer ever 5 minutes.

Here are a few things we recommend to make a smooth transition from your old html website to a new content management system (cms):

One of the common questions we get from our clients is: Am I going to lose my search ranking with the new website?

Here are a few steps that will help you keep your website steady, will not affect the search ranking as much, and will ensure a smooth transition.

1. Keep the same structure 
   The architecture of your website, most commonly called the navigation, should stay the same at launch and progressively change as your familiarizing yourself with the new system.
2. Layout
   If possible, keep a similar layout, meaning your copy should be organized the same way. The reason is that some search engine robots have an organized way of reading the page.
3. Keep the web page name
   Name your pages exactly the same as your old website, so you don’t lose the inbound links that you’ve acquired over the years.
4. Create a 404 page redirect
   If you’re getting rid of old pages that have inbound links, make sure your new website has a designed 404 page that is redirected towards your homepage.
5. Don’t launch everything at the same time 
   If you have a lot of news pages, don’t launch everything at once. We recommend you spread it overtime so that search engine keep coming back to your page and archive it little by little.
6. Keep your old H1 header 
   Keep your new headers consistent with your old website You can always change them later to increase your rank, when search engines have already archived the rest of your site.

7. Keep Same Meta Description
   Make sure all the pages have the same Meta descriptions and keywords.

8. Use the right technology
   Finally, double-check with your webmaster or design company that you are able to do all of the things above. Base on our experience, a lot of cms platforms are limited and need module enhancements or hard coding customization.

Remember: If the task seems too complicated and you don’t know where to start, let us know and we will be glad to help your business stay up-to-date with the latest technology.