Keep Old Website Links Working During a Migration in Hurdland
Capture the old URL inventory, keep stable paths where possible, and redirect only genuine moves to their closest real replacements.
Old links should keep working after a migration whenever the underlying content still exists.
A migration should start with the current URL inventory, not with a new set of routes invented from scratch.
Capture the existing URLs before launch
Use the current site, sitemap, analytics, Search Console where available, and known inbound links to build a list of important addresses.
Do this before the old site is replaced.
Keep the same path when it still fits
If the new page serves the same purpose and the destination platform can reproduce the route cleanly, keep the URL unchanged.
A new CMS, framework, or visual design does not require a new address.
Redirect genuine moves directly
When an old URL has a real new replacement, redirect it directly to that destination.
Google's current migration guidance recommends preparing URL mappings and using permanent server-side redirects for moved resources.
Avoid redirect chains when one direct mapping will do.
Let truly removed pages be removed
Not every old page needs a redirect.
If content was intentionally retired and there is no relevant replacement, an appropriate not-found response may be more accurate than sending the visitor somewhere unrelated.
Blanket homepage redirects can create confusion.
Update internal links too
The new site should link directly to final URLs rather than relying on redirects for its own navigation.
After launch, check important legacy URLs and monitor genuine 404s that reveal a missed mapping.
For a related next step, see Migrate a Website Without Losing Important URLs in Granger and Move a Website Without Unnecessarily Changing Every URL in Novelty.
For authoritative guidance on this subject, see Google's guidance on site moves.
See Also
Switchboard can help Hurdland and Northeast Missouri businesses preserve useful old links through a migration without turning redirects into a catch-all for every retired page.
- Categories: Website Migration
- Tags: #Redirects, #Broken Links, #URL Preservation