The verdict in three sentences
A rebuild with no SEO method loses on average 30 % of organic traffic in the three months after go-live. With a structured SEO migration in Montreal in 2026 (full crawl, 301 redirect plan, content freeze, 8-week monitoring), the loss drops below 5 % and traffic often rises. The total budget sits between 2,500 and 6,000 EUR depending on the volume of URLs to redirect.
The costed methodology, step by step
A successful migration is a checklist executed in order. Skip the crawl or the redirect plan and you guarantee the drop.
| Step | 2026 price (EUR) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Full crawl of old site | 500 | Inventory of URLs and traffic |
| 301 redirect plan | 1,500 - 3,000 | Old -> new URL mapping |
| Content freeze (pre-migration) | included | No changes during cutover |
| Technical QA (robots, sitemap) | 400 | Verify indexability |
| Post-migration monitoring 8 weeks | 800 | Catch losses early |
| 404 / missing-redirect fixes | volume-based | Plug the leaks |
The 301 redirect plan is the heart of the project: every old indexed URL must point to its equivalent. Its cost depends directly on the URL volume (see next table).
Budget by URL volume
| Site size | URLs | 301 plan | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochure site | < 50 | 1,500 EUR | 2,500 EUR |
| SME / mid catalogue | 50 - 300 | 2,000 EUR | 3,500 EUR |
| Content-rich / big blog | 300 - 1,000 | 2,500 EUR | 4,800 EUR |
| E-commerce / high volume | 1,000 - 5,000 | 3,000 EUR | 6,000 EUR |
The 8-week monitoring is non-negotiable: this is when Google recrawls and a forgotten redirect turns into a ranking drop. Catching a leak in week 2 costs a few hundred euros; finding it in month 4 can cost years of SEO.
Mini case study
David, head of a B2B services SME in Montreal, was rebuilding his 280-URL site for a more modern design. Without a method, he risked -30 % traffic, i.e. about 1,800 visitors/month lost and around ten fewer leads. Approved quote: 500 EUR crawl, 2,000 EUR 301 redirect plan, 400 EUR QA and 800 EUR monitoring, i.e. 3,700 EUR.
Result: traffic loss limited to 4 % in the first month, back to the initial level by week 6, then +12 % at month 3 thanks to the technical improvements. By preserving his 10 monthly leads at an average value of 4,200 EUR and a 20 % close rate, David protected roughly 100,000 EUR of annual pipeline for a 3,700 EUR investment.
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FAQ
Why does a rebuild drop traffic?
Because URLs often change without redirects, the internal structure shifts and content is sometimes trimmed. Without a 301 plan, Google loses the link between the old indexed page and the new one: positions collapse, hence the classic -30 %.
When should the SEO migration start?
From the design phase, not after. The old-site crawl and URL mapping must be ready before go-live. An improvised day-of migration is the main cause of lasting losses.
How long to keep the 301 redirects?
At least 12 months, ideally permanently. Google can take several months to transfer all authority; removing 301s too soon reactivates 404s and cancels the benefit.
Is the 8-week monitoring really necessary?
Yes. It is the critical recrawl window. At 800 EUR, it lets you detect and fix missing redirects before they cost lasting positions. It is the cheapest insurance in the project.
Can you migrate with zero loss?
A 0 % loss is rare, but under 5 % is achievable with the full method. Many well-run migrations even end in a net gain thanks to the associated technical improvements.
Let's scope your project. Send us the number of URLs on your current site and the target go-live date: we will price the crawl, redirect plan and monitoring. 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.
