Migrating a website is one of those tasks that sounds simple on the surface… move your files, switch DNS, and done, right? In reality, migrations are packed with potential pitfalls that can hurt performance, disrupt SEO, and damage user experience if you don’t plan carefully.
Whether you’re upgrading from a shared host, consolidating sites, or switching platforms, here’s a look at the most common website migration challenges and how to overcome them.
1. Downtime During the Migration
The challenge:
Even a few minutes of downtime can frustrate users and disrupt conversions. If your migration isn’t carefully timed and managed, visitors may encounter errors or broken pages.
The solution:
- Schedule migrations during low-traffic windows (often overnight or weekends).
- Use a temporary holding page if needed, with clear messaging.
- Leverage DNS TTL management: reduce your TTL values ahead of time so DNS changes propagate faster when you switch servers.
- Ensure your destination environment is fully tested before you point DNS.
2. Data Loss or Incomplete Transfers
The challenge:
From missing media files, broken databases, to lost form submissions, data loss is one of the biggest headaches during a migration.
The solution:
- Take a full backup before doing anything else (database + files + media library).
- If you’re migrating WordPress, ensure your export process captures everything: posts, pages, settings, widgets, plugins, themes, and uploads.
- After migration, do a side-by-side comparison to confirm everything transferred.
3. Broken Links and Missing Assets
The challenge:
Hardcoded URLs pointing to the old domain or path can result in 404 errors post-migration, harming SEO and user experience.
The solution:
- Run a crawl of your site before migration to identify internal links that might break.
- Use search-and-replace tools to update URLs in your database (like WP-CLI or a plugin such as Better Search Replace for WordPress).
- Check assets like images and scripts for path issues on the new server.
4. SEO Disruptions and Ranking Loss
The challenge:
Migrations can confuse search engines if they’re not handled carefully. Lost backlinks, changed URLs, or incorrect redirects can cause ranking drops.
The solution:
- Maintain URL structure whenever possible (don’t change permalink formats unless necessary).
- If URLs change, implement 301 redirects for every page you move.
- Monitor Google Search Console post-migration for crawl errors or indexing issues.
- Submit a new sitemap right after migration to help Google discover the “new” site structure.
5. Inconsistent Performance on the New Host
The challenge:
Even after a “successful” migration, performance issues can crop up if your new host isn’t properly configured or if it’s not optimized for your platform.
The solution:
- Test your site’s performance before and after migration.
- Check PHP version compatibility, caching configuration, and database performance on the new server.
- Avoid “default” configurations that aren’t tuned for your specific CMS or traffic profile.
For a deeper dive into what a well-planned migration looks like, check out this website migration checklist from Moz.
6. Email Service Disruption
The challenge:
If your domain’s DNS records change during migration and you’re hosting email with that domain, you could disrupt email delivery.
The solution:
- Use separate, reliable services for email (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365) so mail isn’t tied to your web server.
- Double-check your MX records during DNS updates to avoid interruption.
- Test email flow right after DNS propagation.
7. DNS Propagation Delays
The challenge:
After pointing DNS to your new host, changes can take hours (sometimes up to 48 hours) to propagate globally, meaning some visitors see the old site, others the new.
The solution:
- Reduce DNS TTL (Time To Live) settings 24-48 hours before migration so that when you switch, propagation happens quickly.
- Leave the old server running temporarily to serve traffic during the transition window.
Final Word: Successful Migrations Require More Than Just Moving Files
Website migrations come with risks, but every single one can be managed with the right preparation and process. A seamless migration keeps your site online, your SEO intact, and your users happy.
If your site is growing, underperforming on an old host, or simply needs a fresh start, it’s worth doing right.
* Pro tip: Always test your migrated site in a staging environment before going live. Or skip the hassle entirely with our managed WordPress migration help for businesses.