Hi, I'm Colin Noble. I've been working in SEO and web development for 20 years, both as a freelance consultant and as a lead SEO strategist on the agency side. I'm based in Bournemouth, and work with clients nationwide.
I've migrated websites of all shapes and sizes across WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace and occasionally, a custom CMS.
If you're planning a migration, and you're worried about wrecking your Google rankings, you're in the right place. Call me on 07517 495 339 to discuss your SEO migration.
97% Organic Traffic Growth Following SEO Migration
While leading SEO strategy on behalf of a digital agency, I managed the complete migration of a large WordPress site with 5,000+ indexed URLs. The result? Combined with keyword research and site IA planning, no loss in rankings, and a 97% increase in organic traffic, from 38k to 75k monthly sessions. 💪🚀
What I Do During an SEO Migration
I run full-site crawls before and after the move to identify any issues that could impact your search performance. I'll work alongside your developers and designers to identify issues early, address them, and prevent SEO from slipping through the cracks. I stay involved from planning to post-launch reporting, helping you set things up in a way that supports growth.
My SEO Migration Services (step by step)
Here's how I handle migrations, from preparation to launch to fixing what others often overlook.
1. benchmarking
We start by examining your current standing: which keywords are driving traffic, where your visitors are coming from, and which pages are most important. I use tools like SEMrush, Google Search Console, and your analytics to build the before picture.
2. redirect planning
This is the make-or-break bit. I've put together a comprehensive redirect plan, mapping every old URL to the closest equivalent on your new site. No redirect chains. No dead ends. Everything is tested and double-checked.
3. review scripts & add-ons
Analytics. Conversion tools. Third-party widgets. These often get left behind during a migration, and then no one notices until three months later when the data's a mess. I check it all and tell you if something's slowing you down or needs to be replaced.
4. content & meta data
This involves checking aligning previously ranking content, meta tags, resolving duplicate pages, implementing schema, and identifying gaps in internal linking. Often, this is where significant SEO gains can be made.
5. pre-migration checklist
I'll work with your developer, designer, or project manager to prepare everything for launch day. DNS updates, XML sitemaps, robots.txt files, and redirects, all are reviewed and confirmed. You don't need to chase five people to get things done. I do that bit.
6. post-migration checklist
For three months after launch, I will closely monitor your rankings, crawl statistics, and performance to ensure optimal results. If anything drops, I investigate fast. You'll get updates, graphs, fixes, and answers. Not silence.
What's an SEO Migration and Why You Should Care
What is an SEO migration, what can go wrong, and why ignoring it could cost you rankings, traffic, and sales.
When things start moving around
An SEO migration occurs when you move or rebuild your website and want to continue appearing in Google search results. A migration could involve a platform switch (such as from WooCommerce to Shopify), a domain change, or a complete redesign or theme change. It sounds simple. It's not.
Done right? You retain rankings and organic traffic. Done badly? Your traffic packs its bags and leaves. I've seen small changes, like a new theme or navigation design tweak, wipe out rankings and tank sales. Leads dry up, traffic drops, and you're left wondering what went wrong. Don't let that happen.
What can go wrong
Plenty. Ranking URLs vanish. Pages drop out of the index. Metadata disappears. CTR drops. Backlinks get wasted. Rankings that took years to earn can vanish in a week.
This is where a solid migration process matters. Think of it like moving house, if you don't label your boxes and triple-check your keys, it's chaos. That's what I help people avoid. Read Google's advice on site moves.
Why hire me for a website migration?
I do the work
It's me doing the work, and you won't be handed off to a junior. I've handled migrations for SaaS companies, eCommerce stores, agencies, and niche service sites. I know what to expect and how to sidestep the pitfalls
I keep you updated
Expect weekly updates, shared documents, and clear communication via Slack, Google Meet, Teams, or email, whatever suits you. No vague reports. Just straight answers at every step.
I deliver a proper plan
I don’t deal in empty promises. You get a clear plan, full SEO benchmarks before and after, and straight answers backed by real data, not guesswork
Chris Witt, Director at BH1 Promotions
Colin and the Digital Mad team have been fantastic to work with over the years. We've gone through a few re-designs, new features being added and a woocommerce migration from magento, which was particularly scary. But the whole experience has been great throughout, even when a few outside challenges we're thrown in our way too.
Doug Belchamber, Director at TopSpin Pro
Really impressed with Colin. We had 2 tough (but hugely profitable) keywords that we were struggling to get ranked higher than page 3 on Google, and had worked with 2 other (incredibly expensive!) local agencies over the course of a year on our SEO campaign with absolutely no results. I was losing faith in the possibility of ranking for them, but after a consultation with Colin he laid out a clear, pragmatic plan for us.
Platform-Specific SEO Migrations
No two migrations are the same. The quirks of WordPress differ from those of Shopify. Here's how my SEO migration services handle some of the common ones:
Shopify Migration Services (whether joining or leaving)
Shopify is clean and fast, but it plays by its own rules. The URL structure, templates, and product setup often clash with those from your current system. That's where I step in.
Here's what I handle as part of a Shopify SEO migration:
- Remapping all key URLs so nothing valuable gets lost
- Setting up 301 redirects to pass authority
- Migrating collections and product categories without breaking structure
- Checking and carrying over your metadata
- Reapplying schema markup for products, reviews, and breadcrumbs
- Checking everything plays nicely with search engines once live
Whether you're moving to Shopify or heading elsewhere, I'll make sure your rankings come with you.
Learn more about my Shopify SEO services.
WooCommerce Migration Services (In and Out)
Whether you're moving to WooCommerce for more control or switching to something easier to maintain like Shopify, I'll help you do it without wrecking your SEO.
Instead of just copying content over and hoping for the best, I focus on the stuff that matters for search:
- Keeping your top-performing pages visible in Google
- Making sure product and category structures make sense post-move
- Carrying across titles, descriptions, and schema without breaking things
- Replacing messy internal links and avoiding duplicate content traps
- Setting up redirects that work (and don't turn into redirect chains)
- Running complete SEO checks before and after launch to catch anything missed
Need help making the move without losing your rankings? Get in touch and I'll take a proper look at what's involved.
Learn more about my WordPress SEO services.
Moving a WordPress site to a new host
I've helped dozens of businesses migrate their WordPress sites to more reliable hosting setups, without compromising rankings, losing data, or causing downtime.
Here's what I focus on during a WordPress migration:
- Keeping your site online during the move
- Migrating themes, plugins, and databases safely
- Retaining all your metadata and structured data
- Avoiding URL changes that can wreck visibility
- Sorting out redirects, caching, and speed setup
Thinking of moving hosts? Let me handle the SEO side so you don't lose sleep or traffic.
Website Migration Costs
It depends on the size of your site, the complexity of the move, and the level of involvement you want me to have. Some sites are straightforward, while others require in-depth audits, content cleanup, and ongoing support for weeks post-migration.
Please feel free to contact me by phone or email, and I'll be happy to review it.
Ready to stop stressing about your site migration?
Give me a call on 07517 495 339 or drop me an email and let's get things sorted.
Post SEO Migration Services
A migration is the perfect time to keep the momentum going. Once the new site's live and stable, I can help with ongoing SEO, whether that's content, technical fixes, or product optimisation. It's a clean slate, and a great time to grow.
Can someone take a proper look? I'll go through everything and give you a prioritised list of fixes.
Product pages feeling flat? I’ll write copy that ranks, sells, and actually sounds like your brand.
Not sure what your customers are searching for? I’ll find the terms that drive traffic and sales.
SEO Migrations FAQ
It's the process of moving your site from one place to another, such as switching platforms, changing domains, or redesigning, without losing organic visibility in search engines.
It's part technical, part strategic, and if you skip the SEO part, things can go downhill fast. That's where I come in.