By Hridoy Ahmed | Last updated: October 2026 | 7 min read
Short answer: After you move a WordPress site, check that search engines are allowed to index it, that every old URL still works or redirects, that your sitemap and Search Console are updated, and that there are no new errors. Watch Search Console for a few weeks. Skipping these checks is how many sites lose traffic after a move.
Before you start
This checklist is for after the move. For the full plan, including what to do before and during, read my guide on how to migrate WordPress without losing SEO.
The post-migration SEO checklist
- Make sure the site is not blocked. In Settings > Reading, “Discourage search engines” must be off. Also check your SEO plugin and your robots.txt for a leftover noindex or Disallow rule from a test site. This mistake is common.
- Check your URLs. The page addresses should be the same as before. If any changed, set up 301 redirects from old to new. See my guide on how to check redirects.
- Use HTTPS everywhere. Check that the SSL certificate works, and that HTTP redirects to HTTPS without chains.
- Test the key pages. Open your homepage, top service pages, top posts, contact form and, for a store, the checkout. Check on mobile too.
- Crawl the site. Run a crawler to find 404 errors, redirect chains, missing images and broken internal links.
- Check canonicals and titles. Page titles, meta descriptions and canonical tags should be the same as before, and should not point to a staging domain.
- Regenerate and submit your sitemap. Follow my guide on how to create an XML sitemap and submit it to Google.
- Update Search Console. If your domain or protocol changed, add the new property and use the change of address tool when it applies. Request indexing for key pages.
- Check analytics and tracking. Make sure Google Analytics and other tags still fire, and that forms send emails.
- Check speed. A new server can be faster or slower. Test the main pages and fix any new problems.
- Keep the old hosting for a while. Do not cancel it until you are sure everything works.
- Monitor for 2 to 4 weeks. Watch the Pages and Crawl stats reports in Search Console, and compare clicks and impressions with before.
For a wider check, use my technical SEO checklist for WordPress.
What is normal after a move?
Small ups and downs for a short period can happen while search engines re-crawl your pages. A steady, large drop is not normal. If you see one, look first for a noindex tag, missing redirects or blocked crawling.
Common mistakes
- Leaving noindex on after launch
- Changing URLs without redirects
- Canonical tags pointing to the old or test domain
- Not updating the sitemap
- Cancelling the old host too early
If you are planning a move and want it done carefully, see my WordPress migration and maintenance service.
FAQ
How long should I monitor after a migration?
Two to four weeks is a good minimum. Check Search Console every few days at first.
Will my rankings drop after migration?
Not always. With the same URLs, content and proper redirects, many sites see little change. Mistakes cause the big drops.
Do I need to submit my sitemap again?
Yes, if the sitemap URL or domain changed. It is a quick step that helps Google find your pages.
What if my traffic drops?
Check indexing settings, redirects and robots.txt first. Then look at Search Console for errors.
Moving your WordPress site soon? See my WordPress migration and maintenance service.
About the author: Hridoy Ahmed is an SEO specialist and WordPress security expert based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has 8+ years of experience and works with clients worldwide.