Solving Common Problems Associated with eCommerce Website Migration

Staring down the prospect of an eCommerce website migration, there are a lot of things that need to be taken into account. It is not only a technical process, but also a strategic and tactical one. While there are many potential benefits to be gained from website migration, there are also some unexpected challenges that can occur. This post will cover some of the more common among them, as well as the ways in which an eCommerce digital agency can help you avoid them.

1. Data Loss

One of the biggest and most unexpected challenges associated with website migration is the potential for data loss. When migrating a website, all data must be transferred from the old site to the new one. This includes content, images, customer information, and other data. If any of this data is not properly transferred or is corrupted during the process, it can lead to a significant loss of data which can throw a massive wrench into business operations. 

2. SEO Issues

Another big challenge associated with website migration is SEO issues. When transferring a website, it is important to maintain consistent SEO elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs. If any of these elements are changed during the migration process, it can have a negative impact on the website’s search engine rankings. Additionally, changes to the website’s structure can cause issues with the website’s internal linking structure, which can also lead to SEO problems.

Another problem can arise from unexpected URL changes. If a URL changes at all during the migration process, it will result in a broken link whenever someone clicks on a link that hasn’t been updated with the new link address. This will create 404 errors all over your website which will tank your SEO scores. 

While this latter problem is common, an eCommerce digital agency with a well-establish migration process will implement 301 redirects for all of your old URLs, thus preventing a loss of SEO value or a drop in traffic. 

3. Security Issues

Website migration also carries the potential for security issues. When transferring a website, all of the old site’s security measures must be transferred and implemented on the new site. This includes setting up secure protocols, such as HTTPS, and ensuring that all user data is encrypted. If the new site’s security measures are not properly implemented, it can leave the website vulnerable to security threats.

4. Performance Issues

One of the most unexpected challenges associated with website migration is performance issues. When transferring a website, it is important to ensure that all of the new website’s elements are optimized for performance. This includes optimizing images, minifying code, and ensuring that the website is being served from the most efficient server. If the website’s performance is not optimized, it can lead to slow loading times, which can have a negative impact on the user experience.

5. Compatibility Issues

Another potential challenge associated with website migration is compatibility issues. When transferring a website, it is important to ensure that all of the new website’s elements are compatible with the various browsers, devices, and operating systems that the website will be viewed on. If the new website’s elements are not compatible with these elements, it can lead to issues such as layout problems and broken links.

Website migration is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. While there are many potential benefits to be gained from website migration, there are also some unexpected challenges that can occur. 

Understanding these challenges is half the battle, as some eCommerce businesses may not even be aware that these hurdles and roadblocks exist. Being aware can help you prevent them, or at least enable you to search for a qualified eCommerce digital agency partner that has an established process for website migrations, who can effectively prevent these issues for you. 

How Can an eCommerce Digital Agency Help Prevent or Solve These Challenges?

An eCommerce website migration is not a challenge you should take on by yourself, especially if you have no technical abilities. Migrating an eCommerce website is a complex process that requires time, resources and expertise. It can be a difficult task to undertake, and if done incorrectly can lead to serious issues, some of which we have covered in this article. A qualified, experienced eCommerce digital agency can help ensure that the migration process goes smoothly and without any problems.

When it comes to web migrations, there are a variety of issues that can arise. For example, a website may suffer from a decrease in traffic and sales, or there may be a decrease in rankings due to search engine optimization errors. Additionally, incompatibilities between the new platform and existing systems can cause problems, as can issues with user experience and functionality.

To prevent these issues, an experienced eCommerce digital agency can help ensure that the migration process is done correctly. They can provide advice and assistance throughout the process, helping to ensure that all steps are completed correctly and in a timely manner. They can also provide assistance with the technical aspects of the migration, such as setting up the new platform and ensuring that it is compatible with existing systems.

The agency can also help to ensure that the website is optimized for search engine performance. This includes making sure that the website is properly indexed, optimized for the correct keywords, and that the content is properly structured. This will help to ensure that the website is properly ranked in search engine results and that it will reach the maximum number of potential customers.

The agency can also help to ensure that the website is secure and that any data is securely stored. This includes making sure that all passwords are secure, that any data is backed up, and that any sensitive information is kept confidential. This will help to prevent any potential data breaches or other security issues.

Finally, the agency can help to ensure that the website is optimized for user experience and functionality. This includes making sure that the website is easy to navigate, that it is accessible to all users, and that it is optimized for mobile devices. This will help to ensure that the website is usable and that customers are able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

Overall, an experienced eCommerce digital agency can help to ensure that the website migration process goes off without a hitch and avoids the problems covered here. They can provide assistance and advice throughout the process, helping to ensure that all steps are completed correctly and in a timely manner. They can also help to ensure that the website is optimized for search engine performance, secure, and optimized for user experience and functionality. By working with a reputable eCommerce digital agency, businesses can be confident that their website migration will be completed successfully.

Don’t stay on an eCommerce platform that limits the functionality of your business. It might be comfortable, but comfort can destroy user experience as well as your digital marketing initiatives. If your platform is too clunky to change easily, too slow, or doesn’t offer good scalability or security, it may be time to move. 

We have performed over 100 successful eCommerce website migrations in our history and our many happy customers are a testament to our rock-solid, watertight web migration process. If you’re considering a migration but still would like to consult an expert about the possibilities, please reach out to us at 888-982-8269 or at Sales@1DigitalAgency.com.