CONTENT & CREATIVE / A PRACTICAL ANSWER
How do you plan website content migration?
The short answer
Content migration needs editorial decisions as well as a transfer mechanism. Decide which material remains useful, which needs updating and how it fits the new structure before moving it. Copying every old item can preserve confusion; removing everything can discard information that customers or search visitors still rely on.
What to prepare
Create an inventory with content owners, destinations and actions. Review text, images, downloads, metadata and internal links. Confirm permissions and identify content requiring expert approval. Keep the editorial map connected to the URL migration plan.
How to assess the work
Test a representative sample in the new publishing system before processing the full library. Check formatting, image descriptions, link destinations and editing behaviour. Plan how late changes are captured so the migration does not overwrite approved updates made during the project.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE / NOT A CLIENT RESULT
Make it concrete.
An old resource may combine several different topics and link to retired services. The migration decision could split or revise it, with relevant destination planning, instead of copying its formatting problems into the new site.
Before you commission
- Approve keep, update, merge and retire decisions.
- Test real content in the destination system.
- Coordinate editorial changes with URL and release plans.
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Further reading
FROM THE QUESTION TO THE WORK
A useful next step.
Bring the decision, the existing situation and the information you have. We can help define a scope before you commit to a wider project.
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