hello@kootenaymade.ca
Castlegar, BC. Serving the Kootenays and beyond.
9 min
Key takeaways
- Forward every old page address to its closest new page with a permanent 301 redirect, one old address to one new address.
- Pages that bring in visits keep the words that earn them. Improve the page around those words.
- Submit the new sitemap on launch day. Use the Change of Address tool only if the domain changes.
- Google says rankings may fluctuate during a move and settle over time. Keep redirects for generally at least a year.
- Wix sites and Wix blog posts cannot be exported, so plan to copy that content by hand.
On this page
How do I switch website platforms without losing SEO?
To switch website platforms without losing SEO, forward every old page address to its new match with a permanent 301 redirect, one old URL to one new URL. Keep the words that earn your rankings on the new pages. Submit the new sitemap in Search Console. Expect rankings to wobble for a few weeks, then settle.
Google calls this a site move with URL changes, and it publishes a full guide to it. Even when your domain stays the same, a new platform usually builds page addresses its own way. Every address that changes needs a redirect, or the visits it earned end at an error page.
How do I build a redirect map for a new website?
A redirect map is a list with two columns. The left column holds every old page address. The right column holds the one new page that answers the same question. Your developer, or the new platform, turns each row into a permanent redirect.
- 01List every old page address. Start with the old sitemap, then add the pages Search Console shows getting clicks.
- 02Pair each old address with the one new page that answers the same question.
- 03Set each pair up as a permanent redirect, a 301 or a 308. Google treats a permanent redirect as a sign the new page should replace the old one.
- 04Send a page you are dropping to its closest related page. Avoid sending a pile of old pages to the home page, which Google warns against.
- 05Test every old address after launch. Each one should land on its new page in one hop.
- 06Leave the redirects in place. Google says to keep them for generally at least a year.
| What is being compared | Old address | New address |
|---|---|---|
| Home page | /home | / |
| A service page | /services-1 | /services/furnace-repair |
| A blog post | /post/winter-furnace-tips | /blog/winter-furnace-tips |
| A page you are dropping | /spring-promo-2024 | /services/furnace-repair |
The table is a made-up furnace company, to show the shape. Your map will be longer. A site with a blog adds one row for every post.
Which pages need to keep their words?
Keep the words on the pages that bring in visits from Google. Open the Performance report in Search Console, sort the pages by clicks, and mark the top ones. On the new site, those pages keep their main heading, their answers and the phrases people search.
A redesign is a good time to improve a page. Add a clearer answer, a better photo, a stronger next step. Leave the parts that match what people type into Google. A page that ranked for “furnace repair in Nelson” should still say furnace repair in Nelson after the move.
The redirect carries the visitor to the new page. The words on that page decide whether Google keeps sending them.
What can I take with me from Wix, Squarespace and WordPress?
WordPress lets you take the most. The builders keep more behind than you might hope. Check what your platform will export before you plan the move, because anything it keeps has to be copied by hand.
- Leaving Wix
- Wix says a Wix site must run on Wix servers, so the site itself cannot be exported. Its help centre also says blog posts cannot be exported to other platforms. Products do export, to a CSV file of up to 5,000 rows. Plan to copy page text and blog posts by hand.
- Leaving Squarespace
- Squarespace exports a WordPress-format file with layout pages, one blog page and its posts, text and image blocks, and gallery pages. Store pages, product blocks, video and audio blocks, a second blog, style settings and custom CSS stay behind.
- Leaving WordPress
- The Export tool under Tools saves one file with your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, tags and users. The file holds content only. The theme and plugins stay behind, so the new site does their jobs another way.
Each of those moves has its own guide on this site. Wix versus a custom website covers when leaving Wix makes sense. The Squarespace alternative guide and when to leave an aging WordPress site cover the other two.
What do I change in Google Search Console after a move?
Submit the new sitemap, watch the old addresses fade out, and fix any that show as not found. The Change of Address tool is only for a new domain. Most platform moves keep the same domain and never need it.
- 01Keep the Search Console property you already have. If the domain stays the same, the property carries on.
- 02Submit the new sitemap on launch day, and watch both the old and new addresses in the indexing reports.
- 03Use the Change of Address tool only if the domain itself changes. You must own both properties under the same Google account, and the old home page must already redirect.
- 04Check the Pages report each week for old addresses showing as not found. Each one is a missing redirect.
- 05Compare clicks for your top pages week by week for the first month.
What does a normal ranking dip look like after a site move?
Google says visibility may fluctuate for a while during a move, and rankings settle over time. A normal dip is small and short. A page that loses most of its clicks and stays down is a problem to fix.
Normal, and worth waiting out:
- Some pages drop a few places for a couple of weeks, then climb back.
- Old addresses still show in Google for a while, and redirect when clicked.
- Impressions dip, then return as the new pages get indexed.
A problem, and worth fixing this week:
- A top page loses nearly all its clicks and stays down. Check that its old address redirects to the right new page.
- Search Console lists old addresses as not found. Those redirects are missing.
- New pages are marked noindex. A setting left on from testing can hide the whole site.
- A page lost the words it ranked for. Put the answer back on the page.
What happens when I move a site to a new platform?
When one of my builds replaces an existing site, four things happen. Each one protects the traffic the old site already earns.
Every old address is mapped and forwarded to its new home. The old site stays live until the new one is built and walked through with you. Pages that already rank keep the words that earn those rankings. Then I watch the search results for the first month after the move.
I build from Castlegar for businesses across the Kootenays and anywhere else. The packages and what each one includes are on my website builds page.
Sources and further reading
- Google Search Central: site moves with URL changes
Last updated August 20, 2026, read September 23, 2026. The redirect map, permanent redirects, no mass redirects to the home page, keeping redirects generally at least a year, and temporary fluctuation during a move.
- Google Search Central: redirects and Google Search
Last updated April 14, 2026. Permanent redirects signal that the target should be canonical. Temporary redirects do not.
- Search Console Help: Change of Address tool
Read September 23, 2026. For moves from one domain or subdomain to another. Needs ownership of both properties and a 301 from the old home page. Its actions continue for 180 days.
- Wix Help Center: exporting or embedding your site elsewhere
Read September 23, 2026. A Wix site must run on Wix servers.
- Wix Help Center: exporting blog posts to other platforms
Read September 23, 2026. Wix states it is currently not possible to export blog posts to other platforms.
- Wix Help Center: exporting your product list
Read September 23, 2026. Products export to a CSV file, up to 5,000 rows per file.
- Squarespace Help Center: exporting your site
Read September 23, 2026. What the WordPress-format export includes and what stays behind.
- WordPress.org: Tools Export screen
Read September 23, 2026. The export file holds posts, pages, custom post types, comments, custom fields, categories, tags, custom taxonomies and users.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Google rankings if I change website platforms?
You can expect some movement for a while. Google says visibility may fluctuate during a site move and settles over time. A full redirect map and pages that keep their ranking words protect what you have earned.
How long does it take Google to recognize a site move?
Google says a medium-sized site can take a few weeks or more before the new addresses show in place of the old ones, and larger sites take longer. Watch the Pages report in Search Console. The old addresses fade out as the new ones get indexed.
What is a 301 redirect?
A permanent redirect. When someone or something visits the old address, the server sends them to the new one. Google treats a permanent redirect (301 or 308) as a sign that the new page should replace the old one in search. A temporary 302 redirect does not send that signal.
Do I need the Change of Address tool in Search Console?
Only if your domain changes, for example from a .com to a .ca. You must own both properties with the same Google account, and the old home page must already redirect. If you keep the same domain and only change platforms, you do not need it.
How long should I keep redirects after switching platforms?
Google says to keep them for as long as possible, generally at least a year. For a domain change using the Change of Address tool, Google says to keep them at least 180 days, and longer while Google Search still sends visits to the old addresses.
Related pages
- Retail and ecommerce websites
- Lodging and hotel websites
- Professional services websites
- Web design across British Columbia
- Remote web design worldwide
Kootenay Made Digital
I build websites, local presence, and calm AI setups for Kootenay small businesses. Plain language, published prices, and clear work that makes you easier to find and easier to choose.
