Moving your website to a new web host can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to potential impacts on SEO. Google, the search engine giant, offers some key insights to keep in mind:
Minimal Impact if Done Right
Google’s Gary Illyes assures that switching web hosting platforms shouldn’t negatively affect your rankings if you follow best practices. The key lies in a smooth transition with minimal downtime and proper configuration.
Focus on These Two Aspects:
- Resolvable Domain: Ensure your website’s domain name continues to resolve correctly to the new server location. This avoids confusing search engines and visitors.
- Minimal Downtime: Strive for as little downtime as possible during the migration. Google may temporarily slow down crawling during the switch, but extended outages can cause ranking dips.
Beyond Google’s Guidelines
While Google focuses on technical aspects, there’s more to the SEO story:
- New Host Quality: Choose a reliable web host with a good reputation for uptime and performance. A slow or unreliable server can hurt your SEO.
- 301 Redirects (if URLs Change): If your website’s URLs change during the migration, set up proper 301 redirects to ensure search engines and visitors find the new locations.
Conclusion:
Overall, careful planning and execution are crucial to minimizing SEO impact when changing web hosting. By following Google’s advice and best practices, you can ensure a smooth transition that maintains your website’s search ranking.
