Website migration checklist: 22 printable checks
A tick-list rather than a guide: use it when a redesign will change page addresses, platforms or domains. Tick items as you go. Ticks stay in this browser so you can come back, and you can download the list as a text file.
The checklist
With JavaScript off, this works as a printable list. Ticks are not saved and the counter is hidden.
0 items ticked
Before you start
Content and structure
Redirect map
Before launch
After launch
Ticks are saved in this browser only, so you can come back later. Nothing is sent to us.
Why each stage matters
Before you start
Everything later depends on knowing what you have now. A full list of live addresses is the raw material for the redirect map. Analytics and Search Console figures form the baseline you will compare against after launch. Google Search Console's Performance report keeps sixteen months of data1, so exporting it before a redesign gives you a year-on-year view through the launch period. A note of every form, booking tool and tracking script stops them from quietly disappearing. A full backup means nothing is lost for good.
Content and structure
Each page needs a decision. Pages that already rank and bring in visitors deserve particular care: their titles, headings and main content should only change where there is a reason. Dropping a page without a replacement loses whatever traffic and links it had. Image alt text is easy to lose when content is moved by hand, so check it as you go.
Redirect map
Google's documentation on site moves recommends mapping old addresses to new ones and using permanent server redirects2. It describes 301 and 308 redirects as permanent and JavaScript redirects as a last resort3. Chains of redirects slow things down and can lose signals along the way, so each old address should point straight to its final destination. Google advises keeping redirects for "generally at least 1 year"2. Our redirect mapping guide walks through building the map.
Before launch
Staging is where problems are cheap to fix. Test every redirect, not a sample. Update internal links so they point to new addresses directly instead of relying on redirects. Build a fresh sitemap that lists only live, indexable pages. One of the most common launch mistakes is leaving the staging site's "noindex" setting or password in place, which can hide the new site from search engines entirely. Test every form all the way to the email inbox, because a form that looks fine but never delivers is easy to miss.
After launch
Submit the new sitemap and watch for errors. A spike in "page not found" responses usually means a missed redirect. Because Google's site move guidance warns that rankings can wobble for a while2, compare against the baseline at sensible intervals, such as two and six weeks, rather than daily. Keep the old backup until the new site is settled.
Using the checklist
The checklist works best as a shared reference. If several people are involved, agree who owns each item. Download the text file to attach to a project plan or email.
Ticks are saved in your browser's local storage on this device only. They are not sent to us, and clearing your browser data removes them. The "Clear all ticks" button resets the list.
With JavaScript turned off, the list still shows and can be printed, but ticks are not saved and the counter and download button are hidden.
When to get help
If your site has more than a few dozen pages, an online store, years of blog posts or significant search traffic, a migration is worth planning carefully. Our SEO-preserving migration service covers every item on this list, plus six weeks of monitoring after launch.
Checklist questions
Do I need this if my page addresses are not changing?
Fewer items apply, but some still matter: a baseline, testing forms, removing staging restrictions and checking for errors after launch.
Where are my ticks stored?
In your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Another browser or device will show an empty list.
Can I print the checklist?
Yes. Use your browser's print option. The download button also gives you a plain text version with your ticks marked.
Sources
Each source was opened and checked against the sentence it supports on 3 November 2026.
- [GA4] Queries report Platform documentation
- Site Moves and Migrations Platform documentation
- Redirects and Google Search Platform documentation
Ready to plan your redesign?
Tell us what your current site does well and what holds it back. You get a written, fixed quote in NZD before any work starts.