Website Migrations

Website migrations are one of the leading causes of lost rankings and organic traffic, but they do not have to be. With over 20 years of experience in web development and SEO, I help businesses move hosts, platforms, and domains without the costly setbacks that often come with it.

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Peace of Mind When Migrating Your Website

Website migrations are one of the most common causes of sudden drops in organic traffic. Missed redirects, broken internal links, changes to URL structures, and lost metadata can all undo years of SEO progress in a matter of days. Most of these issues are entirely preventable with the right planning and execution.

Over the last 20 years, I have helped many businesses migrate their websites without losing visibility in search engines. Combining my web development experience with a deep understanding of technical SEO, I make sure that nothing important is lost along the way, from individual page rankings and backlinks to tracking configurations and structured data.

To discuss how I can assist you with migrating your site, arrange a free initial consultation using my quick online form.

Expert Help From £200

My service is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with sites under 10,000 URLs. The cost for this service depends on the size of your site. For a more accurate quote, please:

Contact Me

Types of Website Migration I Can Help With

Every migration is different, and the right approach depends on what is changing and why. The main types of migration I assist with include:

Hosting migrations

If your current hosting is slow, unreliable, or no longer fit for purpose, I can help you move to a better managed hosting provider. I handle the full process, including recommending the most suitable host for your needs, setting up the new environment, transferring all files and databases, updating DNS records, and verifying that everything is working correctly before the switch goes live. Downtime is kept to a minimum, and I will always test thoroughly on a staging environment before pointing your domain to the new server.

Content management system (CMS) migrations

Moving from one content management system to another is one of the more complex types of migration, as not every element of a website can be transferred cleanly between platforms. Whether you are moving from a bespoke system to WordPress, migrating between WordPress and Shopify, or switching from Drupal to something more manageable, I will help you plan the move carefully, preserve as much of the existing content and structure as possible, and protect your search engine rankings.

SEO migrations for new website builds

If you are having a new website designed and built, either by me or by another agency, the SEO migration is arguably the most important part of the project. I will carry out a full audit of your existing site, map every important URL to its new equivalent, put in place a comprehensive redirect plan, and make sure that title tags, meta descriptions, structured data, internal linking, and other SEO signals are carried over correctly. After launch, I will monitor performance closely and address any issues that arise.

HTTP to HTTPS migrations

If your website is still running on HTTP, moving to HTTPS is long overdue. As well as being essential for security and user trust, HTTPS is a confirmed Google ranking signal. I will handle the full process, including installing and configuring an SSL certificate, updating internal links and references, implementing site-wide redirects from HTTP to HTTPS, fixing any mixed content warnings, and updating your setup in Google Search Console.

Domain migrations

Changing domain, whether as part of a rebrand or to move from a less suitable URL, carries a significant risk to your organic search visibility if not handled correctly. I will plan the move carefully, put in place a full set of 301 redirects from the old domain to the new one, update Google Search Console with the change of address, refresh your backlink profile where possible, and monitor rankings closely after launch.

We have worked with James for many years in our business and have always found him an outstanding professional and SEO expert who really knows what he is doing in an area where most do not. James is also always a pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Flor McCarthy

McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP

What My Clients Say

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 14 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Lauren Radford 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. James carried out a full SEO audit of our website, and I was extremely pleased with the report he produced. It was thorough, insightful and clearly presented, highlighting key areas for improvement and helping us make some important decisions about the future of our website. I would highly recommend James to any business looking for expert, practical SEO advice.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jovida Jakutiene 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have been extremely pleased with the work James Hubbard Consulting has done for our business. Over time, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in patients finding us online, which has highlighted the strength of the SEO and organic search presence James has built for us.

Professional, knowledgeable, and very easy to work with. We really appreciate the ongoing support and would highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mike Bannister 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was a pleasure working with James and I would have no hesitation in recommending his services. He helped me with various aspects of setting up a shop page for my website, as well as advising on other Wordpress related issues.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Flor McCarthy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have worked with James for many years in our business and have always found him an outstanding professional and SEO expert who really knows what he is doing in an area where most do not.  James is also always a pleasure to deal with.  I would highly recommend him to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rupert Jefferson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've been working with James for several years, and his regular audits of our website have helped us maintain strong visibility for many of the brands that we stock. We recommend him for anyone requiring assistance with web development or technical SEO issues.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mya Pearce 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. James recently carried out a detailed technical SEO audit of our new site. We're currently implementing his recommendations and already seeing a positive uplift in our organic traffic. We would definitely recommend him and very grateful for his expertise!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   John Kramer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the most talented SEOs I’ve worked with. James’ audits are so insightful, well-written and informative.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jonathon Monk 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been lucky enough to have James do two SEO Audits for me. He is a true leader in his field, and his insights have been extremely valuable. An extremely talented SEO, someone who will ensure your website is aligned for success.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   James Wyatt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. James is attentive to detail, prompt on delivery and a pleasure to work with. His auditing work and insight into SEO provides clear action and advice on how to better position a wesbite and rank organically for traffic that converts. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   David Borgogni 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. James is a reliable and very experienced SEO specialist. Our agency has worked with him on a number of client technical SEO audits and has so far always over delivered. Can't recommend him highly enough.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

James Hubbard - Freelance SEO consultant in Brighton

Contact Me – James Hubbard

Send me an email: info@jameshubbardconsulting.co.uk

Call or text: 07850 920369

Why Work With Me?

I am a highly experienced freelance SEO consultant based in Brighton, with more than 20 years of experience working on websites across a wide range of industries.

Working with me, you can expect:

Technical and SEO expertise combined

Many migrations go wrong because the developer and the SEO do not work closely enough together. I bring both skill sets to the table, so nothing falls between the cracks.

Minimal jargon

I explain what is happening at each stage of the migration in plain English, so you always know what to expect.

A careful, methodical approach

Good migrations are all about planning and attention to detail. I take the time to get things right, rather than rushing the process and risking your rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the common questions I am asked about this service.

Will my website lose rankings after a migration?

A well-planned migration should preserve the vast majority of your rankings, although it is normal to see some short-term fluctuation as search engines re-crawl and re-index the new site. Most sites stabilise within a few weeks to a few months. Poorly planned migrations, on the other hand, can cause significant and sometimes permanent losses, which is why getting the process right is so important.

How long does a website migration take?

It depends entirely on the type and scale of the migration. A simple hosting move can often be completed within a day or two. A full CMS migration or rebuild, by contrast, can take several weeks or even months, depending on the size of the site.

Can you work with my existing web developer or agency?

Yes. I often work alongside in-house teams, external developers, and agencies, providing the SEO migration expertise to complement their design and development work. This is a good way to protect your rankings while still working with people you already know and trust.

What happens if something goes wrong after launch?

I monitor every migration closely for several weeks after launch, tracking rankings, traffic, crawl errors, and any issues that arise. If something needs fixing, I will address it promptly. Because everything is thoroughly tested on staging before going live, problems after launch are rare, but I am always on hand to deal with them quickly if they do occur.

Will you keep my site online during the migration?

Yes. I always aim for zero or minimal downtime during a migration. By using staging environments and carefully managing the DNS switchover, most migrations happen with no visible impact to your visitors.