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Export posts, pages, categories and tags using WXR XML to move content between sites. Expect shortcodes and formatting quirks to require manual cleanup after import, so plan a pass to fix broken embeds, galleries, and custom fields
Create a complete redirect map so every indexed URL points to its new location with a permanent 301 redirect. Missing mappings or temporary 302 redirects are common causes of ranking instability, so validate redirects before and after cutover
Copy MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records exactly to the new DNS zone and keep the old mail server accepting mail for 48–72 hours during cutover. This prevents lost messages and ensures email deliverability while DNS propagates
Build and test the new site privately in a staging environment before pointing the domain at it. Use this phase to catch broken features, plugin conflicts, and performance issues so they can be fixed before go-live
After go-live, monitor Search Console and server logs for 404s, crawl errors, and ranking drops so you can respond quickly. Continuous monitoring during the first days reduces downtime and helps identify any remaining redirect or indexing problems