CMS switch: What happens to your URLs and how to save them
Typical changes
- Extensions are removed or added (.html, .php).
- Blog posts get a date or a prefix like /blog/.
- Page IDs are replaced with descriptive names.
- Images and documents are in new folders.
Clarify beforehand
Before the content moves, it should be clear what the new addresses look like. Many systems allow the old structure to be replicated, in which case few redirects are needed. Where this is not possible, a redirect map is required.
Redirects in the new system
Redirects can be set up on the web server or within the CMS itself, for example in WordPress via a redirect plugin. It is important to decide on one location so that rules do not contradict each other.
Modular systems
With website builders, access to redirects is often limited. Check before switching whether and how many redirects are possible, and what happens if you switch back later.
Printed codes
A CMS change is the classic moment when printed QR codes lead to nowhere. With a dynamic code, you can adjust the target after the change; Same-QR also reports dead targets the night after go-live.
Frequently asked questions
Often partially. Many systems allow custom addresses per page. Where this is possible, it saves redirects.
Not by WordPress itself. Losses arise from missing redirects, lost content, or slower loading times.
If they are frequently called or linked, they should also forward.
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