The verdict in three sentences
Changing domains without a rigorous plan risks losing 20 to 40% of organic traffic overnight. In 2026, a controlled migration costs 400,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA for the plan and 200,000 to 600,000 FCFA for the 301 redirects, with post-migration monitoring at 100,000-300,000 FCFA/month. Well executed, loss stays under 10% and recovers within 4 to 8 weeks.
What a domain migration involves
A domain migration (for example old-name to new-name) is not a single blanket redirect. Every old URL must point to its exact equivalent via a permanent 301 redirect, to pass "SEO juice." You must also update the sitemap, Search Console, major backlinks, Google Business listings and directory mentions.
| Migration step | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| URL mapping + plan | 400,000 - 1,200,000 | 1:1 mapping, prioritization |
| 301 redirects + testing | 200,000 - 600,000 | Passing ranking |
| Search Console reconfiguration | 80,000 - 200,000 | Change of address, sitemap |
| Backlink & directory updates | 150,000 - 400,000 | Major external links |
| Google Business + social | 60,000 - 180,000 | NAP consistency |
| Post-migration monitoring | 100,000 - 300,000 /month | 2-3 month watch |
2026 checklist and risks
Migration success hinges on completeness and timing. You ideally migrate in a quiet period, keep both domains active, and watch indexing and 404 errors for eight weeks. Here is the critical checklist.
| Checkpoint | Target status | Risk if neglected |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaustive 301 mapping (1:1) | 100% of URLs | -30% traffic |
| New-domain sitemap submitted | Before switch | Slow indexing |
| GSC change of address | Validated | Loss of signals |
| Major backlinks updated | Top 20 links | Loss of authority |
| 404 monitoring | 0 residual errors | Crawl leakage |
| Old domain retained | 12 months minimum | Broken redirects |
Mini case study
Mr. Ndiaye, director of a B2B services firm, rebrands his company and migrates domains. His 140-page site generates 5,500 organic visits/month, the source of 30% of his leads. He invests 950,000 FCFA (plan + 301) and 200,000 FCFA/month of monitoring over three months, i.e. 1,550,000 FCFA total. Thanks to the 1:1 mapping, loss is limited to 8% in the first month and traffic returns to 100% in seven weeks. A botched migration, by contrast, would have cost ~2,200 visits/month for months: a shortfall far exceeding the cost of the service.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
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How much traffic could I lose?
With an exhaustive 301 plan, loss stays under 10% and recovers in 4 to 8 weeks. Without a plan, 20 to 40% of traffic can vanish long term.
Should I keep the old domain?
Yes, for at least 12 months, so the 301 redirects keep passing authority. Renewal costs a few thousand FCFA a year, trivial against the risk.
How long does a domain migration take?
Between 3 and 6 weeks for preparation and switchover, plus 2 to 3 months of monitoring. URL mapping is the trickiest step.
Is a blanket redirect to the homepage enough?
No, it's the costliest mistake: Google treats those as soft 404s and rankings drop. Each URL must point to its exact equivalent.
What budget for a typical SME?
Budget 600,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA all-in for a 100-to-200-page site, monitoring included over three months.
Let's scope your project. Give us your old and new domains, page count and current traffic: we quote the plan, the 301s and monitoring with a preserved-traffic target. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
