Website Migration

On the surface, moving a website sounds straightforward. In practice, it's one of the more technically demanding things you can do to a live site. Files need to transfer completely. Databases need to export and import cleanly. DNS records need to update in the right order. Redirects need to be in place before traffic hits the new location.

When any of those steps go wrong, the result is downtime, broken pages, lost search rankings, or a site that looks fine on the surface but has invisible problems underneath.

I handle website migrations for small businesses in Prescott, Chino Valley, Prescott Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt from simple host transfers to full platform switches  so the move happens cleanly and your site comes out the other side working correctly. My goal on every migration is the same: minimize downtime, protect your data, and make sure the site performs as expected in its new environment.

Moving to a New Hosting Provider

Your current host is slow, unreliable, overpriced, or has support that doesn't respond. Whatever the reason, leaving is the right call but the move needs to be handled correctly.

I transfer your complete site to the new host, including all files, databases, email configurations, and SSL certificates. DNS is updated in the right sequence to minimize downtime. Once the migration is complete, I verify the site is fully functional on the new server before the old one is decommissioned.

Moving to a New Domain Name

Rebranding, a business name change, or simply trading up to a better domain moving to a new URL carries real SEO risk if it isn't done properly. Every old URL needs a permanent redirect to its new counterpart so search engines transfer the ranking value you've built, and so visitors who bookmarked old pages still land somewhere useful.

I set up proper 301 redirects, update internal links, resubmit the site to Google Search Console, and monitor for crawl errors after the move.

Platform Migrations

Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder, and similar platforms are convenient to start on and limiting to stay on. When your business outgrows what the platform can do or you want to own your site rather than rent space on someone else's platform moving to WordPress is the right next step.

Platform migrations are more involved than host transfers. Content needs to be moved page by page, layouts need to be rebuilt, and the new site needs to match or improve on what existed before. I handle the full rebuild in WordPress and Divi so the result is a site you own and can grow with.

Post-Migration Cleanup

Sometimes a migration has already happened and the aftermath is the problem. Broken internal links, missing images, pages returning errors, redirects that weren't set up, search rankings that dropped after the move these are all fixable, but they need to be tracked down systematically.

If your site was migrated by someone else and something isn't right, I can audit what happened and clean up what's broken.

Rebranding, a business name change, or simply trading up to a better domain moving to a new URL carries real SEO risk if it isn't done properly. Every old URL needs a permanent redirect to its new counterpart so search engines transfer the ranking value you've built, and so visitors who bookmarked old pages still land somewhere useful.

I set up proper 301 redirects, update internal links, resubmit the site to Google Search Console, and monitor for crawl errors after the move.

The risks are real and worth understanding before you attempt a migration on your own or hand it to someone who doesn't do it regularly:

• Downtime: if DNS is changed before the new server is ready, your site goes offline for everyone
• Broken pages: incomplete file transfers leave some pages returning errors while others load fine
• Lost SEO rankings; changing URLs without proper redirects tells Google your old pages no longer exist, and the rankings built on those pages disappear
• Database errors; WordPress sites rely on a database that stores all your content; an incomplete export means missing posts, pages, or settings
• SSL problems; certificates tied to the old host don't automatically follow the site to the new one

None of these are catastrophic if caught and fixed quickly. All of them are avoidable with a methodical migration process.

Before anything moves, I take a full backup of the existing site. That backup is the safety net if something unexpected happens during the migration, the original site can be restored quickly.

From there, the migration follows a defined sequence: set up and test the new environment, transfer all files and databases, update DNS configuration, install and verify the SSL certificate, then run performance and stability checks before touching live traffic.

Once the site is live in its new home, I verify the details that actually determine whether a migration succeeded:

• Contact and lead forms submit correctly
• Navigation menus and internal links work
• Mobile display renders properly
• SSL security is active and valid
• Site speed and overall performance hold up

For platform migrations, the process is longer. I map out every existing page, rebuild the site in WordPress, and do a side-by-side review before the old platform is shut down.

Website migration is available as a standalone service if you just need the move handled.

It's also included when you move your hosting to me. If you're bringing a site over to my hosting environment, the migration is part of that process you don't pay separately for the transfer.

Leaving a bad host: Performance is poor, support is unresponsive, or you're paying too much for what you're getting. I move the site cleanly and get it running on a faster, more reliable server.

Escaping a proprietary builder: You built your first site on Wix or Squarespace because it was easy to start. Now you need more control, better SEO options, or a site that a developer can actually work with. I migrate the content and rebuild the site properly in WordPress.

Rebranding to a new domain: Your business name changed, or you found a better domain and want to make the switch without losing the search visibility you've built. I handle the full redirect structure and Search Console update.

Cleaning up after a migration gone wrong: Someone moved the site and things aren't right. I audit the damage and fix what's broken.

A website migration shouldn't disrupt your business. I'll guide the process from start to finish, communicate each step clearly, and make sure your site is functioning properly in its new home before the project is complete.

Call (503) 888-6844 or use the contact form below.