How to save site positions when changing CMS

Changing the content management system (CMS) can be fraught with the loss of current positions. This is where the page URLs change, and this is what leads to the loss of “achieved heights” in search results and a reduction in overall traffic. Therefore, the transition to a new control system cannot be carried out without proper planning.

How to properly prepare?

In how to maintain the position of the site, the lion's share is still preparation. First of all, it is necessary to assess the feasibility of "relocation". All the pros and cons of such a solution are evaluated - including the approximate costs of a complete relocation and the implementation of the necessary changes to the existing CMS.

You can also try to leave the old pages (that is, their addresses and content will remain unchanged). However, this can only be realized if the CNC scripts of the new control system work identically with the old one. In practice, this rarely occurs. Therefore, a “soft” move is provided with the help of a 301 redirect. In this case, the URL of the page in the search remains, but users are automatically redirected to a new one, while the redirect is performed by the server.

However, the organization of a mass redirect can be too complicated and costly a routine process, so it is used only for important pages with good conversion. On those pages that do not attract visitors from traffic, the redirect can not be configured. For them, it is enough to set a 404 error with links to the main pages or to the directory. Over time, the number of "by mistake" transitions will decrease as search engines index new pages.

What should I pay attention to when transferring?

Here's how to keep your website ranking while migrating and make sure it functions better after the move:

• Perform a deep analysis of the current state of the web resource and evaluate the possibility of saving old URLs for pages;
• Determine which of the old pages are receiving the main traffic and external links in order to set up a 301 redirect on them without using a bulk redirect;
• Enable a 404 error page for all pages that are not redirected.

it is the page-to-page redirect that helps save the most clicks. But don't forget about control. To do this, you need to create a Sitemap file with a list of new URLs.