What Happens When You Launch a New Website… and Forget the SEO
Launching a new website? Amazing.
Refreshing your website can do wonders for your brand.
But before you pop the champagne, there’s one critical thing you don’t want to overlook: your SEO. Because without it, your beautiful new site might be completely invisible.
We recently had a client go through exactly that, and let’s just say… it was a bumpy ride.
The warning signs were subtle until they weren’t
This client had been doing everything right. They’d built strong SEO over time, and their site was pulling in a consistent stream of visitors.
You could practically see the rhythm in their numbers: steady peaks, reliable traffic, happy days.
And then… February happened.
They launched a beautiful new website but didn’t transfer their SEO. And just like that, their traffic went from 800 plus visitors a week to… 3. Then 1. Then 0.
*Cue dramatic piano music*
So what went wrong?
In short: their SEO didn’t make the move with them.
Whether you’re rebranding, switching platforms, or just refreshing the look of your site, it’s crucial that your SEO settings (things like metadata, page structure, and redirects) come along for the ride.
If they’re left behind, search engines treat your new site like a stranger which means all your content, ranking, and visibility basically hit reset.
Can it be fixed?
Yes. (Phew.)
In this client’s case, we’re working with their web developer to map and reapply the SEO from their old site to their new one.
However, it’s not an instant fix. Google needs time to re-index the changes, and you may need to rebuild your authority with the platform. But the good news is that if your site performed well before, it absolutely can again.
It just takes some consistency and patience.
The takeaway?
Before launching a new site, talk to your web developer about transferring your SEO. Better yet, get someone who understands both design and digital performance to handle the migration properly.
Because a stunning new website is only as good as the people who can find it.
Need help making sure your new site doesn’t lose its momentum? Book in a free 30 minute Marketing Kickstarter and let’s make sure your digital foundations are working with you, not against you.