The verdict in three sentences
A successful website migration rests on an exhaustive 301 redirect plan, URL by URL. Without it, the traffic-loss window lasts 4-8 weeks and recovery stays uncertain. In 2026, budget EUR 1,200-3,500 for 200-600 URLs, with Search Console monitoring that brings 90 % of traffic back within 60-90 days.
The migration plan step by step
Migrating is a phased project, not a simple export/import. Here is the typical structure.
| Phase | Content | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| URL mapping | Inventory 200-600 URLs, prioritise | 3-5 days |
| Redirect mapping | Old URL to new, 1:1 | 4-7 days |
| Staging & tests | Check 301s, tags, sitemap | 5-8 days |
| Go-live | Switch, robots.txt, XML sitemap | 1-2 days |
| Post-migration monitoring | Search Console, 404s, rankings | 4-8 weeks |
| Project total | 3-5 weeks |
What a rigorous plan costs (or avoids)
The budget is justified by preserved traffic, especially if organic is your top channel.
| Metric | Rushed migration | Planned migration |
|---|---|---|
| 301 redirects | partial | 100 % of useful URLs |
| Traffic-loss window | 8-16 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
| Max traffic drop | -35 to -50 % | -10 to -18 % |
| 90 % ranking recovery | uncertain | 60-90 days |
| Corrective budget | EUR 2,000-5,000 | EUR 0 |
| Initial plan cost | 0 | EUR 1,200-3,500 |
Mini case study
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Thomas, e-marketing director of a B2B SME, migrates from WordPress to a headless CMS. His site drives 12,000 organic visits/month. A rushed migration would have cost 40 % for 12 weeks: 4,800 visits/month x 3 months = 14,400 lost visits. With a EUR 2,800 plan, the loss is capped at 15 % over 6 weeks and 90 % of traffic returns in 75 days. The saved traffic, valued at EUR 1.20 per visit in equivalent acquisition cost, represents over EUR 12,000 saved.
FAQ
How much does an SEO migration cost in 2026? Expect EUR 1,200-3,500 for 200-600 URLs, including URL mapping, redirect mapping, testing and post-migration monitoring.
How long does the project take? Usually 3-5 weeks to go-live, plus 4-8 weeks of close monitoring in Search Console.
Will I lose traffic even with a good plan? A temporary 10-18 % drop over 4-8 weeks is normal while Google reindexes. With a clean plan, 90 % of rankings return within 60-90 days.
Are 301 redirects enough? They are the core of the setup, but you also need to update the XML sitemap, robots.txt, internal links and watch for 404 errors.
How do you monitor the migration after go-live? Via Search Console: index coverage, crawl errors, average positions, plus a weekly crawl to catch broken redirects.
Let's scope your project. Send us your URL count and current/target CMS, and we'll quote the migration 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.
