The Ultimate Shopify Migration Guide: Moving Your Store Successfully

Take a deep breath. We've got you covered.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Shopify migration, from the initial planning stages to post-launch optimization. Whether you're moving from WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, or any other platform, this step-by-step approach will help you migrate smoothly and successfully.

What you’ll find in this guide:

• Why businesses migrate to Shopify

• The three-phase approach to Shopify migration (planning, execution, optimization)

• Addressing common migration concerns like data loss and SEO performance

• When to consider professional migration help

• Steps for pre-migration planning

• Details on the data migration process, including different migration methods

• Design and content migration strategies

• App and integration setup

• Payment and shipping configurations

• Testing your migration

• SEO preservation and redirect mapping strategies

Why Businesses Are Migrating to Shopify

One of Shopify's biggest selling points is its ability to scale alongside your business. Whether you're a startup selling your first product or an enterprise processing thousands of orders daily, Shopify can handle it. You won't outgrow the platform anytime soon.

It also comes with a user-friendly interface. Shopify's intuitive admin panel makes store management accessible to anyone, regardless of their technical background. You can update products, process orders, and manage customers without needing a computer science degree.

You get a comprehensive feature set that makes a complete e-commerce ecosystem which includes:

• Professional website themes

• Integrated payment processing

• Inventory management

• Shipping logistics

• Marketing tools

• Analytics and reporting

With over 8,000 apps in the Shopify App Store, you can customize your store to do almost anything. Need advanced SEO tools? There's an app for that. Want to set up a loyalty program? Covered. Looking for better analytics? You've got options.

Understanding the Migration Journey

Think of Shopify migration like moving to a new house. You wouldn't just throw everything in boxes without a plan, right? A successful migration requires careful planning, systematic execution, and thorough testing.

The Three-Phase Approach

Phase 1: Pre-Migration Planning

This is your foundation phase. You'll audit your current store, set clear goals, plan your budget, and create comprehensive backups. It might not be the most exciting part, but it's absolutely critical.

Phase 2: Migration Execution

This is where the magic happens. You'll transfer your data, set up your new design, implement SEO redirects, and configure all your apps and integrations.

Phase 3: Post-Migration Optimization

Your store is live, but the work isn't done. This phase focuses on testing, monitoring performance, and continuous improvement.

Addressing Your Biggest Migration Concerns

Let's tackle the elephant in the room, or the fears keeping you up at night.

"What if I lose my data?"

It's natural to worry about losing your crucial business data like your product catalog, customer details, and order history. However, with good planning and execution, data loss is highly unlikely.

The solution:

• Always create comprehensive backups before starting

• Use reliable migration tools or professional services

• Validate your data thoroughly after migration

• Test everything multiple times before going live

“Could the Shopify Migration hurt my SEO performance?”

Search engine optimization drives significant traffic for most businesses, making ranking protection a top migration priority. Fortunately, implementing proper URL redirects and following SEO migration protocols allows you to retain your current visibility while often achieving even better search performance.

• Map all your old URLs to new Shopify URLs

• Implement 301 redirects for every changed URL

• Migrate all meta titles, descriptions, and alt text

• Submit your new sitemap to search engines immediately after launch

"How long will my store be down?"

Nobody wants to lose sales due to extended downtime. The reality is that with careful planning, most migrations can be completed with minimal disruption.

• Schedule your go-live during low-traffic periods

• Use staging environments for testing

• Have a rollback plan just in case

• Consider professional migration services for complex stores

"What about my customers' passwords?"

Here's something that surprises many store owners: customer passwords cannot be migrated for security reasons. This means your customers will need to reset their passwords on your new Shopify store.

• Plan a clear communication strategy

• Send password reset instructions immediately after launch

• Consider offering a small incentive to encourage password resets

• Make the reset process as simple as possible

When to Consider Professional Help

While smaller, simpler stores can often be migrated using DIY methods or automated tools, there are times when bringing in the experts makes sense.

Consider hiring a Shopify migration agency if you have:

• Complex data structures or custom fields

• Large product catalogs (thousands of products)

• Critical third-party integrations

• Custom-coded features that need replication

• Limited internal technical resources

• High-stakes migration where downtime must be minimized

Setting Realistic Expectations When Pre-Migration Planning

Let's be real about what migration involves:

Timeline: Most migrations take 2-8 weeks, depending on complexity. Don't rush it – good things take time.

Investment: Beyond Shopify's monthly fees, factor in migration tools, design work, app subscriptions, and potentially professional services.

Learning curve: Your team will need time to get comfortable with Shopify's interface and features. Plan for training and adjustment periods.

Ongoing optimization: Migration isn't a "set it and forget it" process. You'll want to continuously monitor and optimize your new store.

About 80% of migration success is determined before you transfer a single piece of data. Businesses that skip or rush through planning often face:

• Data loss or corruption

• Broken functionality

• SEO ranking drops

• Extended downtime

• Budget overruns

• Team frustration

So, how can you avoid all of these pitfalls? 

Step 1: Conduct a Comprehensive Store Audit

Before migrating, inventory everything in your current store.

Document these key areas:

• Products: All SKUs, images, descriptions, pricing, inventory levels

• Customers: Contact info, addresses, purchase history, segments

• Orders: Historical data, payment details, shipping info

• Content: All URLs, meta data, blog posts, static pages

• Integrations: Current apps, payment gateways, third-party tools

Data Migration: The Heart of Your Move

Data migration is like carefully packing and moving your most precious belongings. You want everything to arrive safely and in the right place. The good news is that you have several options for how to handle this transfer.

Choosing Your Migration Method

Option 1: DIY Manual Migration (CSV Import/Export)

Best for: Small stores with straightforward data structures, limited budgets, and some technical comfort.

How it works: You'll export data from your current platform as CSV files, format them according to Shopify's requirements, and import them through Shopify's admin panel.

Pros:

• Cost-effective (essentially free)

• Complete control over the process

• Great learning experience

Cons:

• Time-intensive for larger stores

• Prone to human error

• Limited to basic data types

• Requires technical knowledge of CSV formatting

Perfect for: Stores with under 500 products, simple product structures, and team members who don't mind getting into the technical details.

Option 2: Automated Migration Tools

Best for: Small to medium-sized stores looking for a balance between cost and convenience.

Popular tools:

• Cart2Cart: Supports 80+ platforms, demo migrations available

• LitExtension: Known for accurate data transfer and good customer support

• Matrixify: Powerful tool for complex data structures

How it works: These tools connect to both your old platform and Shopify, automatically transferring data with minimal manual intervention.

Pros:

• Much faster than manual methods

• Built-in data mapping assistance

• Support for complex data structures

• Demo migrations let you preview results

• Usually includes customer support

Cons:

• Costs range from $50-$500+ depending on data volume

• Less control over the process

• May require some manual cleanup afterward

Perfect for: Most small to medium businesses that want reliability without breaking the bank.

Option 3: Professional Migration Agency

Best for: Complex stores, large enterprises, or businesses that need custom development.

What they provide:

• End-to-end migration management

• Custom data mapping for complex structures

• Design and development services

• SEO preservation strategies

• Post-migration support and training

Pros:

• Highest success rate

• Comprehensive service including design and SEO

• Minimal time investment from your team

• Expert problem-solving for complex issues

• Usually includes post-launch support

Cons:

• Higher investment ($1,000-$10,000+)

• Less direct control over timing

• Need to vet agencies carefully

Perfect for: Businesses with complex data structures, custom features, large product catalogs, or limited internal technical resources.

The Data Migration Process

Regardless of which method you choose, the actual data transfer follows a similar pattern:

Step 1: Data Preparation

• Clean and format your exported data

• Ensure data matches Shopify's import requirements

• Create data mapping between old and new field structures

• Test with a small data sample first

Step 2: Product Migration 

Start with products since they're the foundation of your store:

• Product names, descriptions, and SKUs

• High-resolution images and videos

• Pricing information and any special pricing rules

• Product variants (sizes, colors, materials)

• Inventory levels and supplier information

• Categories and collections

Step 3: Customer Migration 

Next, move your customer data:

• Customer names and contact information

• Shipping and billing addresses

• Order history (this is crucial for customer service)

• Customer tags or segments

• Account creation dates

Step 4: Order History Migration 

Finally, transfer historical order data:

• Order numbers and dates

• Customer information for each order

• Products purchased and quantities

• Payment and shipping details

• Order statuses and fulfillment information

Data Validation: Your Quality Control

Thorough post-migration validation protects your business from costly errors and ensures customers encounter a seamless shopping experience from day one.

Quantity Checks

• Compare the number of products, customers, and orders

• Verify that counts match between old and new platforms

• Investigate any significant discrepancies immediately

Spot Checking

• Randomly select 20-50 products and verify all details are correct

• Check customer accounts and order histories

• Test product variants and pricing

• Ensure images display properly

Functionality Testing

• Test product search and filtering

• Verify inventory levels are accurate

• Check that customer accounts work (after password reset)

• Confirm order history is accessible

Design Migration: Creating Your New Storefront

Here's something that surprises many businesses: you can't simply transfer your existing theme to Shopify. Themes are platform-specific, which means you'll need to either select a new Shopify theme or have your design recreated.

Free Shopify Themes 

Shopify offers several high-quality free themes that work well for most businesses:

• Clean, professional designs

• Mobile-responsive

• Regular updates and support

• Good performance optimization

Premium Shopify Themes ($100-$300) 

The Theme Store offers hundreds of premium options:

• More customization options

• Unique design elements

• Industry-specific features

• Advanced functionality

Custom Theme Development ($1,000-$5,000+) 

For unique branding or complex requirements:

• Completely custom design

• Specific functionality requirements

• Brand-perfect aesthetics

• Unique user experience features

When to Consider Professional Help

While smaller, simpler stores can often be migrated using DIY methods or automated tools, there are times when bringing in the experts makes sense.

Consider hiring a Shopify migration agency if you have:

• Complex data structures or custom fields

• Large product catalogs (thousands of products)

• Critical third-party integrations

• Custom-coded features that need replication

• Limited internal technical resources

• High-stakes migration where downtime must be minimized

Design Migration Strategy

Option 1: Close Recreation 

Work with a developer to recreate your existing design as closely as possible in Shopify. This maintains brand consistency but may require custom development.

Option 2: Design Evolution 

Use migration as an opportunity to improve your design. Choose a modern Shopify theme and customize it to match your brand while improving user experience.

Option 3: Complete Redesign 

Start fresh with a new design that takes advantage of Shopify's capabilities and modern e-commerce best practices.

Design That Converts: Getting Your New Shopify Store Right

Your Shopify design directly impacts your bottom line. A beautiful store that's hard to navigate or slow to load will cost you sales, while a well-optimized design turns browsers into buyers.

Mobile-first is non-negotiable

Most customers shop on their phones, so mobile optimization drives revenue. Speed matters most as mobile users bounce after 3 seconds. Design for thumbs with large, easy-to-tap buttons and links. Streamline mobile checkout with guest options and one-tap payments like Apple Pay.

Speed wins every time 

Even a one-second delay reduces conversions by 7%, so compress images without losing quality as they're usually the biggest speed killer. Limit apps to essentials since each one slows loading. Choose performance-built themes over purely decorative ones.

User experience drives conversions 

Great UX feels effortless to customers, so you need an intuitive navigation with clear categories and logical organization. Easy product discovery through good search and helpful filters. Simple checkout with minimal required fields. Consistent branding that builds trust throughout the shopping journey.

The goal: customers should find what they want and complete their purchase without friction or frustration.

Content Migration: Moving Your Digital Assets

Your content tells your brand story and builds customer trust. Losing it during migration means starting from scratch with SEO and brand recognition.

Static pages that matter 

These pages might seem boring, but they're conversion drivers.

• Essential pages like About Us, Contact, and FAQ answer customer questions before they ask. 

• Policy pages (shipping, returns, terms, privacy) build trust and reduce support tickets. 

• Landing pages from past campaigns contain valuable SEO juice you don't want to lose.

Blog Content = SEO Gold 

Your blog posts are traffic magnets that took time to build, so transfer all posts with their images to maintain visual appeal. Preserve categories and tags to keep organization intact. Don't forget downloadable resources that customers bookmark and share.

Media files: More than pretty pictures 

Product images and videos directly impact sales—missing or broken media kills conversions. Brand assets (logos, banners) maintain visual consistency. Promotional graphics from successful campaigns can be repurposed.

Pro tip: Clean as you migrate. This is your chance to remove outdated content, update old information, and consolidate similar pages without losing SEO value.

App and Integration Setup

Modern e-commerce stores rely heavily on apps and integrations. This is where you'll replicate (and often improve) your store's functionality.

Essential App Categories

SEO and marketing

• SEO optimization tools

• Email marketing platforms

• Social media integrations

• Review and rating systems

Customer service

• Live chat applications

• Help desk integrations

• FAQ and knowledge base tools

Analytics and reporting

• Advanced analytics beyond Shopify's built-in reports

• Heat mapping and user behavior tools

• Conversion tracking and optimization

Operations

• Inventory management

• Order fulfillment automation

• Accounting software integration

• Shipping and logistics tools

Integration Strategy

Audit current integrations

• List all current apps and integrations

• Assess which are essential vs. nice-to-have

• Research Shopify equivalents

• Plan for any data migration between apps

Configuration priority

1. Critical Operations: Payment processing, shipping, taxes

2. Customer Experience: Search, reviews, live chat

3. Marketing: Email marketing, SEO tools, analytics

4. Nice-to-Have: Advanced features, convenience tools

Payment and Shipping Setup

These are absolutely critical and need to be configured correctly before launch:

Payment gateway configuration

• Shopify Payments (if available in your region)

• Third-party payment providers (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)

• Alternative payment methods (Buy now, pay later options)

• Currency settings for international sales

Shipping configuration

• Shipping zones (where you ship)

• Shipping rates (flat rate, weight-based, or real-time calculations)

• Free shipping thresholds

• Local delivery and pickup options

Tax settings

• Automatic tax calculations based on location

• Manual tax rates for specific regions

• Tax-exempt customers or products

• Digital product tax handling

Testing Your Migration

Before going live, comprehensive testing is non-negotiable. This is your safety net.

Functionality Testing

Customer journey testing

• Browse products and collections

• Add items to cart and modify quantities

• Go through complete checkout process

• Test both guest and account checkout

• Verify order confirmation emails

Account management

• Create new customer accounts

• Test password reset functionality

• Access order history

• Update account information

Payment processing

• Process test orders with different payment methods

• Verify transaction amounts are correct

• Check that inventory is properly updated

• Confirm order appears in admin panel

Cross-Device and Browser Testing

Device testing

• Desktop computers (various screen sizes)

• Mobile phones (iOS and Android)

• Tablets

• Different operating systems

Browser testing

• Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

• Both current and one previous version

• Mobile browsers

Performance Testing

Page speed analysis

• Use Google PageSpeed Insights

• Test key pages (homepage, product pages, checkout)

• Aim for scores above 70 (preferably 90+)

• Identify and fix any performance bottlenecks

Protecting Your SEO During Shopify Migration

You've spent years building your search rankings and organic traffic, so losing them during migration is like burning your marketing investment. Get this wrong, and you could see a 50%+ traffic drop overnight. Get it right, and you'll often see improved rankings and better user experience.

The URL Challenge Every Migration Faces 

When you move to Shopify, your URLs will change. Here's what typically happens:

• Products: yourstore.com/products/red-handbag.html → yourstore.com/products/red-handbag

• Categories: yourstore.com/category/handbags/ → yourstore.com/collections/handbags

• Blog: yourstore.com/blog/2023/style-guide.html → yourstore.com/blogs/news/style-guide

Without proper redirects, these changes break everything—search engines can't find your content, backlinks die, and customers hit 404 errors.

Your SEO Safety Net: 301 Redirects 

Think of 301 redirects as forwarding addresses for your web pages. When someone visits your old URL, the redirect automatically sends them to the new location while preserving 90-99% of your SEO value.

What you need to migrate

• Title tags and meta descriptions that are already working well

• Image alt text for all product photos, banners, and blog images

• Internal links throughout your content and navigation

Shopify SEO setup essentials

• Global settings: Homepage title, meta description, social sharing (Online Store → Preferences)

• Individual pages: Unique titles and descriptions for every product, collection, and blog post

• URL handles: Clean, keyword-friendly URLs where possible

Testing before you go live 

Use tools like Redirect Checker or Screaming Frog to verify:

• High-priority redirects work correctly

• Different page types redirect properly

• No broken links or 404 errors

Post-Launch Monitoring 

First 2 weeks: Check Google Search Console daily, monitor organic traffic, and watch for crawl errors.

First 3 months: Weekly SEO reviews and monthly ranking reports to catch any issues early.

Common Mistakes That Kill SEO

• Treating SEO as a one-time setup instead of ongoing optimization

• Forgetting to optimize images and alt text

• Ignoring mobile SEO performance

The Critical Testing Phase

Testing is your insurance policy against post-launch disasters. Here's the uncomfortable truth: even with perfect planning, things can go wrong. A thorough testing phase catches these issues before your customers do.

Comprehensive Functionality Testing

Start by putting yourself in your customer's shoes and walk through every possible scenario.

Product discovery:

• Search for products using various terms

• Browse through different collections

• Test filtering and sorting options

• Verify product recommendations work

• Check that out-of-stock items display correctly

Product pages:

• Verify all product information displays correctly

• Test product image galleries and zoom functionality

• Check that variant selection works (size, color, etc.)

• Ensure pricing displays accurately, including sale prices

• Test quantity selectors and add-to-cart functionality

Shopping cart experience:

• Add multiple products to cart

• Modify quantities and remove items

• Test discount codes and promotions

• Verify shipping calculations

• Check tax calculations based on location

Checkout process:

• Test guest checkout

• Test registered customer checkout

• Try different payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, etc.)

• Test different shipping options

• Verify order confirmation process

Account Management Testing

Customer account functionality:

• Create new customer accounts

• Test password reset process (crucial since old passwords don't migrate)

• Verify order history displays correctly

• Test account information updates

• Check wishlist functionality (if applicable)

Admin dashboard testing:

• Process test orders from the admin side

• Test inventory management

• Verify customer data is accessible

• Check reporting and analytics

• Test order fulfillment processes

Payment and Transaction Testing

This is absolutely critical – you cannot afford payment processing issues. A single payment processing bug discovered after launch could cost you thousands in lost revenue and damage your brand reputation.

Test different payment scenarios:

• Small orders under $10: Different payment processing fees and minimum thresholds

• Large orders over $500: High-value transaction security checks and limits

• International orders: Currency conversion, cross-border fees, and compliance requirements

• Orders with discounts: Percentage and fixed-amount discounts, BOGO offers, bulk pricing

• Complex tax scenarios: Multiple tax jurisdictions, tax-exempt customers, digital vs. physical products

Payment methods:

• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)

• PayPal and other digital wallets

• Buy now, pay later options (if configured)

• International payment methods

Cross-Device and Browser Testing

Your customers use various devices and browsers, so your store needs to work perfectly on all of them. 

Device testing

• Desktop computers (various screen sizes)

• iPhones (multiple models and iOS versions)

• Android phones (multiple manufacturers)

• Tablets (iPad and Android)

• Smart TVs and other devices (if relevant)

Browser testing

Chrome (most popular)

• Safari (important for iOS users)

• Firefox

• Edge

• Mobile browsers

What to test on each

• Page loading speed

• Navigation functionality

• Product image display

• Checkout process completion

• Form submissions

Performance and Speed Testing

Site speed directly impacts conversions and SEO rankings. 

Use these tools:

• Google PageSpeed Insights

• GTmetrix

• Pingdom Website Speed Test

• WebPageTest

Test these pages:

• Homepage

• Product pages (multiple examples)

• Collection/category pages

• Cart and checkout pages

• Blog posts

Target scores:

• PageSpeed Insights: 70+ (preferably 90+)

• Load time: Under 3 seconds

• Core Web Vitals: All "Good" scores

Email and Communication Testing

Don't forget about automated communications.

Test all email notifications:

• Order confirmation emails

• Shipping notifications

• Password reset emails

• Newsletter signup confirmations

• Abandoned cart emails (if set up)

Check email content

• Correct branding and formatting

• Working links to your store

• Accurate order information

• Professional appearance across email clients

SEO and Technical Testing

Final SEO verification

• Test redirects using online tools

• Verify meta titles and descriptions display correctly

• Check that canonical tags are properly set

• Ensure XML sitemap is generated correctly

• Test robots.txt functionality

Technical health check

• Check for broken links using Screaming Frog

• Verify all images load properly

• Test form submissions

• Check social media integration

• Verify analytics tracking is working

Planning Your Launch Strategy

Timing is everything when it comes to going live. A well-planned launch minimizes disruption and maximizes success.

Best Practices for Launch Timing

• Off-peak hours: Late evening or early morning when traffic is lowest

• Avoid busy days: Stay away from Mondays (high email volume) and Fridays (people are distracted)

• Consider your audience: If you serve international customers, consider time zones

• Avoid peak sales periods: Don't launch during Black Friday, holiday seasons, or major sales events

Recommended Launch Windows

• Tuesday-Thursday between 10 PM - 2 AM in your primary market

• Outside of major shopping seasons

• When your team is available to monitor and respond to issues

Pre-Launch Communication Strategy

Internal team preparation

• Brief all team members on the launch timeline

• Assign specific monitoring responsibilities

• Prepare troubleshooting contact lists

• Have rollback procedures documented and ready

Customer communication planning

• Draft announcement emails (but don't send yet)

• Prepare social media posts

• Create customer support scripts for common questions

• Plan password reset communication strategy

DNS Changes and Going Live

This is the moment of truth – pointing your domain to Shopify:

DNS configuration

• Update A record to point to Shopify's IP address (currently 23.227.38.65)

• Update CNAME record for www subdomain to shops.myshopify.com

• Consider adding AAAA record for IPv6 if your DNS provider supports it

DNS propagation

• Changes can take 5 minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate

• Use online DNS checker tools to monitor propagation

• Different locations may see changes at different times

Final go-live teps

1. Make DNS changes during your planned launch window

2. Monitor DNS propagation using online tools

3. Remove Shopify store password once DNS is propagated

4. Perform final smoke tests on the live site

5. Monitor for any immediate issues

Post-Launch Monitoring and Optimization

The first 48 hours after launch are critical. Think of this as the "warranty period" where you need to be extra vigilant.

Immediate Post-Launch Monitoring (First 48 Hours)

Traffic and performance monitoring

• Watch Google Analytics for traffic patterns

• Monitor conversion rates compared to pre-migration benchmarks

• Check for any significant drops in performance

• Track bounce rates and user behavior

Technical Monitoring:

• Google Search Console for crawl errors

• Server response times and site speed

• Payment processing success rates

• Email delivery rates

Customer Experience Monitoring:

• Customer support tickets for migration-related issues

• Social media mentions and feedback

• Return visitor behavior

• Shopping cart abandonment rates

Customer Communication Post-Launch

Password Reset Communication: Since customer passwords don't migrate, this is crucial:

• Send clear, helpful instructions for password reset

• Include direct links to the password reset page

• Consider offering a small incentive for completing the process

• Provide customer support contact information

Store Announcement:

• Send email to your customer list announcing the new store

• Highlight improvements and new features

• Address any known issues or changes proactively

• Include customer support contact information

SEO Performance Monitoring

Week 1-2 Intensive Monitoring:

• Daily checks of Google Search Console

• Monitor organic traffic levels

• Track keyword ranking changes

• Watch for 404 error spikes

• Check indexing status of important pages

Month 1-3 Regular Monitoring:

• Weekly SEO performance reviews

• Monthly comprehensive ranking reports

• Ongoing redirect effectiveness analysis

• Competitor comparison analysis

Long-Term Optimization Strategies

Migration is just the beginning. Here's how to ensure long-term success:

Performance Optimization

Ongoing Speed Improvements:

• Regular image optimization

• App performance audits (remove unused apps)

• Theme code optimization

• CDN optimization for global audiences

Conversion Rate Optimization:

• A/B testing for key pages

• Checkout process improvements

• Product page optimization

• Mobile experience enhancements

SEO Continuous Improvement

Content Strategy:

• Regular blog posting schedule

• Product description optimization

• Category page content enhancement

• Internal linking improvements

Technical SEO:

• Regular site audits using tools like Screaming Frog

• Schema markup improvements

• Site structure optimization

• Page speed improvements

Customer Experience Enhancement

User Experience Improvements:

• Regular usability testing

• Mobile experience optimization

• Site search functionality improvements

• Customer feedback implementation

Customer Service Integration:

• Live chat optimization

• FAQ improvements based on support tickets

• Self-service option enhancements

• Return and exchange process improvements

Post-Migration Success Metrics

Track these metrics to measure migration success:

Traffic and engagement metrics

• Organic traffic levels (compare to pre-migration baseline)

• Direct traffic (indicates brand strength)

• Session duration and pages per session

• Bounce rate improvements

Business performance metrics

• Conversion rate changes

• Average order value

• Customer lifetime value

• Return customer rate

Technical performance metrics

• Page load speeds

• Mobile performance scores

• Search console error rates

• Uptime and reliability

Common Post-Launch Issues and Solutions

Issue: Customers Can't Log In

Cause: Passwords don't migrate for security reasons
Solution: Proactive communication about password reset, clear instructions, and excellent customer support

Issue: Traffic Drop in First Few Days

Cause: DNS propagation delays, search engine re-indexing
Solution: Monitor closely, be patient with DNS changes, submit updated sitemap to search engines

Issue: Some Images Not Loading

Cause: Image paths or uploads not completed properly
Solution: Systematic image audit and re-upload of missing files

Issue: Payment Processing Issues

Cause: Gateway configuration errors
Solution: Test all payment methods again, check gateway settings, contact payment provider support