How do you design and implement a content migration plan for your CMS to avoid errors and losses?

1 Assess your content inventory

The first step in your content migration plan is to assess your current content inventory. This means identifying and documenting all the content assets you have, such as pages, posts, images, videos, documents, and metadata. You can use tools like Screaming Frog or Content Analysis Tool to crawl your website and generate a content inventory spreadsheet. This will help you evaluate the size, scope, and status of your content, and decide what to keep, update, delete, or consolidate.

2 Define your content requirements

The next step in your content migration plan is to define your content requirements for the new or updated CMS. This means specifying the content types, formats, structures, and standards you want to use, as well as the features and functions you need from the CMS. You can use tools like GatherContent or Contentful to create content models and templates that outline the elements and attributes of each content type. This will help you design and organize your content in a consistent and user-friendly way, and align it with your goals and audience needs.

3 Map your content migration

The third step in your content migration plan is to map your content migration. This means creating a detailed plan that shows how each content asset will be moved from the source CMS to the destination CMS, and what actions and transformations will be applied to it. You can use tools like Excel or Google Sheets to create a content migration map that includes columns for the source URL, destination URL, content type, content owner, migration method, migration status, and notes. This will help you track and manage your content migration process, and identify and resolve any issues or gaps.

4 Test your content migration

The fourth step in your content migration plan is to test your content migration. This means verifying that your content has been migrated correctly and completely, and that it meets your quality and performance standards. You can use tools like Sitebulb or Screaming Frog to audit your migrated content and check for errors, broken links, duplicate content, missing metadata, or formatting issues. You can also use tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to monitor and measure your content performance and user behavior. This will help you evaluate and improve your content migration results, and ensure that your content delivers value and satisfaction to your users.

5 Launch your content migration

The fifth step in your content migration plan is to launch your content migration. This means making your migrated content live and accessible to your users, and redirecting any old URLs to the new ones. You can use tools like Yoast SEO or Redirection to create and manage 301 redirects that preserve your SEO rankings and avoid 404 errors. You can also use tools like Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to submit your sitemap and request indexing of your new content. This will help you optimize and promote your content visibility and discoverability, and attract and retain your users.

6 Maintain your content migration

The final step in your content migration plan is to maintain your content migration. This means keeping your content up to date, relevant, and engaging for your users, and ensuring that your CMS supports your content needs and goals. You can use tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to analyze and optimize your content performance and user feedback. You can also use tools like ContentKing or SEMrush to monitor and improve your content health and SEO performance. This will help you sustain and grow your content value and impact, and achieve your business objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?